Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the process of cycling my new 125l tank and I'm looking to add some plants. I'd prefer to avoid using CO2 and I'm interested in low-maintenance options. My tank has a mix of 1 inch of 2-4mm natuflake gravel and river cobbles, with no separate planting substrate underneath.

When it comes to choosing plants, what should I be thinking about? I've been considering Amazon sword, Java fern, and moss balls, but I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have.

Thanks

I've had good luck with java fern in low-maintenance setups, it's quite hardy. I've also got val and anubias in my axolotl tank, which is kept at a pretty low temp of 18 degrees Celsius and is really dimly lit - the axies love cold, dark water and the plants seem to thrive in those conditions. I'm just using a simple beach sand substrate and don't add any fertilisers, which keeps things nice and straightforward.

I've also had success with Ludwigia and Wisteria in my low light tanks, they've grown really well for me.

lukayo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 1:45 pm I've had good luck with java fern in low-maintenance setups, it's quite hardy. I've also got val and anubias in my axolotl tank, which is kept at a pretty low temp of 18 degrees Celsius and is really dimly lit - the axies love cold, dark water and the plants seem to thrive in those conditions. I'm just using a simple beach sand substrate and don't add any fertilisers, which keeps things nice and straightforward.

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'll give the java fern a go, sounds like it's pretty hardy and low maintenance.

breezo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 4:17 pm I've also had success with Ludwigia and Wisteria in my low light tanks, they've grown really well for me.

Thanks

Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm more concerned about the lack of planting substrate and no co2 in my tank. I want to make sure the plants can thrive in these conditions.

I've got a similar setup, just 1 inch of natuflake gravel and river cobbles, no specific planting substrate in sight.

I've had good luck with Wisteria in my gravel-only tank. I've also got a plant that I'm pretty sure is an Anubias, and it's doing just fine without any fertilizers or CO2.

Considering your tank setup, I'd recommend looking into a liquid carbon additive as a substitute for CO2 - it's not ideal, but it's better than nothing. Given the dual T5 light fixture on your rio 125, I'm guessing you've got a pretty high output light unit, which will make plant growth challenging without any CO2 additive.

Well-growing plants are relatively low-maintenance. They'll require the occasional trim and removal of excess growth, but that's about it. If your tank is well-oxygenated, you can get by without CO2. Regular water changes - around 30 to 50% weekly - are still essential, though.

The biggest challenge with plants is usually algae growth getting out of control. This is often down to a nutrient deficiency. Sometimes, your tap water just doesn't have enough nutrients for your plants to thrive. If plant growth is slow or non-existent, algae will start taking over. If that happens, I'd recommend fertilizing with a comprehensive fertilizer like SeaChem Flourish. I've had good results with it. More frequent water changes might also help.