Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm about to order some plants for my 10 gallon tank, which is home to neons, black neons, serpae, and von rio tetras - I know, it's overstocked. I'm planning to get another tank soon to give them more space. I've got my eyes on Anubias nana petite, Java fern microsorum pteropus, a cryptocoryne plant, golden Lloydiella, and red myrio. My pH is around 6.6 to 6.8, but I'm not sure about my gH. I already have two Zorczon swords in there. Are these plants a good choice or should I consider others? I'm using Markus fishtanks since they're my best option around here - Petco and Pet Smart are my only other choices, and I think Markus will be cheaper in the end, plus they have a good variety.

I've heard that Anubias and Java fern are pretty low light plants, so I'm hoping they'll do alright in my tank. Never came across golden Lloydiella before, so I'm not sure what to expect from it. Cryptocorynes seem to be slow growing low light plants as well.

I'm using Markus fishtanks, and I've got two Zorchzon swords in there already. What I'm wondering is what kind of light would be best for these plants? I've got a setup with a certain light above the aquarium, but I'm not sure if it's suitable. The light is on for a decent amount of time, but I'm not sure if that's enough.

Do you think I should be adding an aquarium plant fertiliser to help them grow?

Some other plants I've been considering are Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, and H. ruba/rubra. I've also looked into Elodia, but I've heard it's not the best choice during winter. Hydrilla and Water Sprite are also on my list. I've heard Water Sprite can float on the surface or be planted in the substrate.

I'm thinking of placing Ambulia, H. polysperma, Elodia/Hydrilla, and Vallis along the back of the tank since they're tall plants. Rotala macranda seems like a good choice for the middle section, and H. ruba/rubra could work well on the sides. Cryptocorynes are a bit smaller, but they come in a range of colours, so I'm hoping they'll add some variety to the tank.

Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate it. I'm still pretty new to live plants, I've just started getting into them. I've got Fluval plant substrate under the sand, so the plants should be getting the nutrients they need. My light is an AQ085-14w model, not really sure what brand it is though. It's on from around 6am to 9 or 10pm, depending on when I go to bed - I probably should start turning it off at a set time. The light's got three different levels, one with all white lights, one with a mix of white, red, blue, and green, which I think is the low level, and the third is the same as the low level but with an extra row of white lights, making it a bit brighter.

I can see a potential space issue here. Those Zorczon swords you have will quickly fill up a 10-gallon tank if conditions are favorable. They're small now, but trust me, they'll grow massive. Your plant choices are interesting, though - Anubias nana and Cryptocorynes are excellent picks, in my opinion. I've had Java ferns reach leaf lengths of over 20 inches, and a 10-gallon tank is just a fraction of that height.

It's not just the fish that'll be overstocked, but you might also lose your investment in plants if they don't have enough space to grow. You need a tank that's large enough to accommodate your ambitions.

Plants are a great addition to any tank, and floating ones like Anubias or Hornwort can really help keep the water clean. But let's be real, nothing replaces regular water changes. I mean, if you're changing a lot of tank water on a regular basis, you don't have to worry too much about the water chemistry. The changes will keep everything stable, and that's way more important than having some perfect water chemistry. Just keep the tank water really clean, and your fish and plants will be fine. A bigger tank is always better, there's just more water to help out if you mess up with tank management, like missing a water change.

TankWarrior wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 8:55 pm Plants are a great addition to any tank, and floating ones like Anubias or Hornwort can really help keep the water clean. But let's be real, nothing replaces regular water changes. I mean, if you're changing a lot of tank water on a regular basis, you don't have to worry too much about the water chemistry. The changes will keep everything stable, and that's way more important than having some perfect water chemistry. Just keep the tank water really clean, and your fish and plants will be fine. A bigger tank is always better, there's just more water to help out if you mess up with tank management, like missing a water change.

I've always attached my Anubias to driftwood or rocks, never used them as floating plants. I've found that securing them to a surface helps them thrive and keeps them from getting tangled or eaten by my fish.

sSjey wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 11:28 pm

TankWarrior wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 8:55 pm Plants are a great addition to any tank, and floating ones like Anubias or Hornwort can really help keep the water clean. But let's be real, nothing replaces regular water changes. I mean, if you're changing a lot of tank water on a regular basis, you don't have to worry too much about the water chemistry. The changes will keep everything stable, and that's way more important than having some perfect water chemistry. Just keep the tank water really clean, and your fish and plants will be fine. A bigger tank is always better, there's just more water to help out if you mess up with tank management, like missing a water change.

I've always attached my Anubias to driftwood or rocks, never used them as floating plants. I've found that securing them to a surface helps them thrive and keeps them from getting tangled or eaten by my fish.

I'll be tying the Anubias to my driftwood, didn't know they were meant to float.

I've already placed my order for the plants, so I'm hoping for the best. Since many of them are slow growers, I'm thinking that once they've matured, I'll be able to transfer some to a larger tank when I eventually get one. I was wondering, are these plants trimmable, so I can keep them at a manageable size? Also, are there specific spots in the tank where they'd thrive best? Would someone be able to give me a general idea of a layout for these plants, just to get me started?

sSjey wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 11:28 pm

TankWarrior wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 8:55 pm Plants are a great addition to any tank, and floating ones like Anubias or Hornwort can really help keep the water clean. But let's be real, nothing replaces regular water changes. I mean, if you're changing a lot of tank water on a regular basis, you don't have to worry too much about the water chemistry. The changes will keep everything stable, and that's way more important than having some perfect water chemistry. Just keep the tank water really clean, and your fish and plants will be fine. A bigger tank is always better, there's just more water to help out if you mess up with tank management, like missing a water change.

I've always attached my Anubias to driftwood or rocks, never used them as floating plants. I've found that securing them to a surface helps them thrive and keeps them from getting tangled or eaten by my fish.

Mistake. Typed Anubias, meant Anacharis. Anubias won't float free, needs a floating base like driftwood. Might try that sometime.

I've had success with Anacharis, it works well floating in my tank.