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I've been keeping Anubias for years but just got my first Bucephalandra. Which one do you guys think is better for a low tech setup? My tank's got sand substrate, low light, and no CO2.

Bucephalandra's got way more variety in leaf shapes and colors, but Anubias is way tougher. If your tank's chill with low light and no CO2, Anubias is gonna be the safer bet. Buce can melt if the water's not stable.

Anubias is practically bulletproof. I've had it survive in everything from hard tap water to soft RO. Bucephalandra's prettier, but it's pickier about water params. What's your pH and hardness, Fable7?

GentleFish wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 8:33 pm Anubias is practically bulletproof. I've had it survive in everything from hard tap water to soft RO. Bucephalandra's prettier, but it's pickier about water params. What's your pH and hardness, Fable7?

pH is around 7.2, hardness is moderate. You think Buce would still work?

Buce's dope if you're willing to baby it a bit. I've got some in a similar setup, but I had to tweak the flow and add root tabs. Anubias just sits there looking green no matter what.

I'd stick with Anubias if you're not into fussing. Buce can be a diva, especially when it's new. Once it settles, it's fine, but that initial melt phase is sketchy.

Anubias grows slower, which is nice if you don't wanna trim often. Buce can take off if it's happy, but like everyone said, it's a gamble in low tech.

Never tried Buce, but my Anubias is thriving with just a basic LED and weekly water changes. Why mess with what works?

Anubias all the way. Buce's too pricey to risk it melting on you.

I've had both, and Anubias is way easier. Buce looks cool, but it's not worth the hassle unless you're really into rare plants.