Deatils On Live Plants

[QHowes]

I currently have no live plants in my tank for my Platty's. A couple of plastic plants and gravel is the excitement level in my tank. Should I purchase a plant or two (10 gal tank) for my Plattys?

 

[MAM]

thats really up to you. plants can help with keeping down the levels of toxins and look nice. but they require care and light. check out the "how does your garden grow" section. i belive there are some pinned article there you could read. you also might want to repost this questionthere, you'll get more response. but plants are not vital to your platies happiness.

 

[Moe]

I think most fish feel more comfortable when there are live plants in the tank. You should be able to grow some low light plants in a 10G. Just make sure your light is a fluorescent light. Incandescent lights that come with some fish tanks can run very hot, increasing the temp in the tank drastically when you leave them on for extended periods of time. When you have live plants, even low light plants you need to leave the light on for about 12 hours a day. If you want a really easy starter plant I'd go with java fern. You have to attach it to a rock or piece of driftwood. It does well with minimal light. I also have some water wisteria that is growing well in a 10G using the light that came with the tank.

 

[QHowes]

Its good to know they arent vital to the tank. Perhaps it is something to look into when i have more time and money to afford a larger tank. A friend of mine is giving me their 50 gal. tank for free so that will be very exciting!

 

[MAM]

don't get me wrong, live plants are nice to have. if i had a proper light system in my hood i'd have more. but my molly tank is all plastic, my bettas have both soft plastic and silk, one does have a live banana plant, and the puffer tank has mostly plastic save for one other banana plant. do a little research, maybe you'll find you do want some and can plan for it down the road. you can always add them.

 

[QHowes]

Thanks! So many ideas! So little time and money!!! Argh!