Advice for plants to keep in my tank

[Lax213...]

Hey guys! I’ve recently got a betta(named moose) and a mystery snail(named Jeff), so far they both doing great and very active. I’m going to be upgrading my tank from 2 Gallon to either a 5 or 10 gallon within the next month so I’ll have a lot more room for plants. I was wondering if anyone had any easy to take care plant recommendations, I’ve currently only got some plastic ones but I think live ones might look better and be better for Jeff. Let me know what you think!

 

[Ellie Potts]

Depends what look you want. Java moss, or dwarf baby tears will easily grow as a carpet plant. Java fern grows upwards with long, flowing leaves. I've read Bettas like plants that float at the top of the tank (I'd go with frogbit or large duckweed). You could also look into anubias plants or water wisteria if those don't fit the bill.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Get a 10 gallon tank or 20 gallon tall tank. They have much more space for plants and only cost a few dollars more. They also take up a similar amount of space to the smaller tanks.

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LIGHTING FOR PLANTS
Most aquarium plants like a bit of light and if you only have the light on for a couple of hours a day, they struggle. If the light doesn't have a high enough wattage they also struggle. Try having the tank lights on for 10-12 hours a day.

If you get lots of green algae then reduce the light by an hour a day and monitor the algae over the next 2 weeks.
If you don't get any green algae on the glass then increase the lighting period by an hour and monitor it.
If you get a small amount of algae then the lighting time is about right.

Some plants will close their leaves up when they have had sufficient light. Ambulia, Hygrophilas and a few others close their top set of leaves first, then the next set and so on down the stem. When you see this happening, wait an hour after the leaves have closed up against the stem and then turn lights off.

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PLANTS
Some good plants to try include Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, H. ruba/ rubra, Elodia (during summer, but don't buy it in winter because it falls apart), Hydrilla, common Amazon sword plant, narrow Vallis, Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta).
The Water Sprite normally floats on the surface but can also be planted in the substrate. The other plants should be planted in the gravel.

If you add an iron based aquarium plant fertiliser, it will help most aquarium plants do well. The liquid iron based aquarium plant fertilisers tend to be better than the tablet forms, although you can push the tablets under the roots of plants and that works well.
I use Sera Florena liquid plant fertiliser but there are other brands too.

Do not bother adding carbon fertiliser to the tank because they are not necessary.

-----------------
LIGHTS
Stress from tank lights coming on when the room is dark can be an issue. Fish don't have eyelids and don't tolerate going from complete dark to bright light (or vice versa) instantly.

In the morning open the curtains or turn the room light on at least 30 minutes (or more) before turning the tank light on. This will reduce the stress on the fish and they won't go from a dark tank to a bright tank instantly.

At night turn the room light on and then turn the tank light off. Wait at least 30 minutes (or more) before turning the room light out. This allows the fish to settle down for the night instead of going from a brightly lit tank to complete darkness instantly.

Try to have the lights on at the same time each day.

 

[2tank]

Plants are so exciting to grow, enjoy.

 

[Lax213...]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Get a 10 gallon tank or 20 gallon tall tank. They have much more space for plants and only cost a few dollars more. They also take up a similar amount of space to the smaller tanks.

-----------------
LIGHTING FOR PLANTS
Most aquarium plants like a bit of light and if you only have the light on for a couple of hours a day, they struggle. If the light doesn't have a high enough wattage they also struggle. Try having the tank lights on for 10-12 hours a day.

If you get lots of green algae then reduce the light by an hour a day and monitor the algae over the next 2 weeks.
If you don't get any green algae on the glass then increase the lighting period by an hour and monitor it.
If you get a small amount of algae then the lighting time is about right.

Some plants will close their leaves up when they have had sufficient light. Ambulia, Hygrophilas and a few others close their top set of leaves first, then the next set and so on down the stem. When you see this happening, wait an hour after the leaves have closed up against the stem and then turn lights off.

-----------------
PLANTS
Some good plants to try include Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, H. ruba/ rubra, Elodia (during summer, but don't buy it in winter because it falls apart), Hydrilla, common Amazon sword plant, narrow Vallis, Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta).
The Water Sprite normally floats on the surface but can also be planted in the substrate. The other plants should be planted in the gravel.

If you add an iron based aquarium plant fertiliser, it will help most aquarium plants do well. The liquid iron based aquarium plant fertilisers tend to be better than the tablet forms, although you can push the tablets under the roots of plants and that works well.
I use Sera Florena liquid plant fertiliser but there are other brands too.

Do not bother adding carbon fertiliser to the tank because they are not necessary.

-----------------
LIGHTS
Stress from tank lights coming on when the room is dark can be an issue. Fish don't have eyelids and don't tolerate going from complete dark to bright light (or vice versa) instantly.

In the morning open the curtains or turn the room light on at least 30 minutes (or more) before turning the tank light on. This will reduce the stress on the fish and they won't go from a dark tank to a bright tank instantly.

At night turn the room light on and then turn the tank light off. Wait at least 30 minutes (or more) before turning the room light out. This allows the fish to settle down for the night instead of going from a brightly lit tank to complete darkness instantly.

Try to have the lights on at the same time each day.

wow thanks so much!!!! This is so helpful. I’ll definitely go with the largest tank size I can fit in my space! Right now I just have like the basic river rocks that you get from petsmart as the bottom of my tank, should I switch those out for something else?

 

[Lax213...]

Depends what look you want. Java moss, or dwarf baby tears will easily grow as a carpet plant. Java fern grows upwards with long, flowing leaves. I've read Bettas like plants that float at the top of the tank (I'd go with frogbit or large duckweed). You could also look into anubias plants or water wisteria if those don't fit the bill.

thanks!! I’ll definitely look into them

 

[utahfish]

Hey guys! I’ve recently got a betta(named moose) and a mystery snail(named Jeff), so far they both doing great and very active. I’m going to be upgrading my tank from 2 Gallon to either a 5 or 10 gallon within the next month so I’ll have a lot more room for plants. I was wondering if anyone had any easy to take care plant recommendations, I’ve currently only got some plastic ones but I think live ones might look better and be better for Jeff. Let me know what you think!

Anubis do well in smaller low lit tanks. Moss balls are great for absorbing nitrate. Floating plants like frog bit are great ammonia traps. Most hygrophila species are fast growers. If plants are rooted get some root tabs. If just floating plants and rhizome plants like anubis that attach to decor no need for tabs just get a comprehensive liquid fert, if both types of plants get liquid fert and root tabs.
As always provide light in spectrum of 6500-6700 K with at least 20 lumens per liter

 

[hansgruber7]

My bettas love java ferns. Dwarf sagittaria is a good plant too. Anubias are great.

 

[Colin_T]

wow thanks so much!!!! This is so helpful. I’ll definitely go with the largest tank size I can fit in my space! Right now I just have like the basic river rocks that you get from petsmart as the bottom of my tank, should I switch those out for something else?

I don't know what PetSmart has, can you post a picture of the river rocks?