I would appreciate any advice or help and thank you in advance..I am wanting to put plants in my 60 gallon long tank and I have never dealt with plants before. All I know about the lighting right now is it’s led ( I am trying to find out more info on this). I am looking for tall plants for the back to cover hoses and then a few spread around that may even float on top. when I do figure out what plants I want is it best to buy them at my LFS or can you safely order it online?
Some fish shops don't always have live plants in stock. I would order the plants from online if I where you. I can give you a list of some live plants I know and info about them:
Java Moss:
Java Moss is one of the most common plants in a tank. It’s low-maintenance, difficult to kill, and grows quickly.
If you attach it to a rock, it’ll crawl over the surface of your tank. it has been known to float, so it’s best advised to attach it to something to prevent any float-away.
Appearance: Low, carpetlike growth pattern. Appears ‘fuzzy’.
Water Preferences: Tolerates anything between 72-90 degrees Farenheight. Growth is fastest around 73 degrees.
Lighting Preferences: Grows well in any lighting. However, growth is fastest in medium-high lighting conditions.
Dwarf Baby Tears:
These are my most favorite plant. It’s tough, hard-working, and a healthy carpet of DBT looks beautiful in many of the common aquascaping styles.
As a bonus, if they’re producing oxygen, Dwarf Baby Tears have beautiful little bubbles that form on their leaves.
Appearance: Low, carpetlike growth pattern. Healthy carpets of DBT are thick and vibrant.
Water Preferences: Tolerates anything between 72-85 degrees Farenheight. Growth is fastest around 73-75 degrees.
Lighting Preferences: Grows best in bright lighting conditions, thought amount of light affects growth patterns. Brighter light means more compact growth.
Dwarf Hairgrass:
The aquascaping possibilities are endless with this type of plant. It looks beautiful next to Stone, as well as contrasting perfectly with dark sand or soil.
It’s incredibly easy to grow. So much so that you’ll probably find yourself trimming this quite a bit!
Appearance: Small to medium sized strands of what would appear to be grass. Carpets easily in most environments.
Water Preferences: Tolerates most environments. Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences: Grows best in bright lighting conditions.
Marsilea Minuta:
the aqua escaping possibilities are endless with this type of plant. It looks beautiful next to Stone, as well as contrasting perfectly with dark sand or soil.
It’s incredibly easy to grow. So much so that you’ll probably find yourself trimming this quite a bit!
Appearance: Easily identified by the ‘clover’ appearance of its leaves. Carpets easily in most environments.
Water Preferences: Tolerates most environments. Grows best in water that’s 73-78 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences:Grows in most lighting conditions. Does best in medium lighting.
Amazon Sword:
The Amazon Sword is the staple of most aquascapes. It’s easy to maintain, fast-growing, and can be quite beautiful when arranged in the appropriate area.
Note that these can grow quite big (up to 20 inches), so they’re most often planted in the mid-background area.
Appearance: Large swordlike leaves
Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-82 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences:Growth is optimal in medium lighting.
Java Fern:
Java Fern is very a very low maintenance plant, and has a unique look that appeals to most aquascapers. Its biggest benefit is its ability to be planted in nearly any area of the aquarium without distracting from the hardscape. It also looks quite good!
Appearance: Semi-striped, thick leaves. Appears in bunches.
Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences:Growth is optimal in low-medium lighting.
Anubias Nana:
Anubias Nana is one of the more appealing midground plants you’ll find in aquascaping. It tolerates nearly any water quality or environment.
With curved stems and large semi-round leaves, it’s a great match for the stone aquascaping present in most aquariums.
Appearance: Curved stems with medium-sized, semi-round leaves.
Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences:Growth is optimal in medium lighting.
Pygmy Chain Sword:
This plant isn’t often seen in aquascaping. Mostly because it’s very similar to what we see everyday of our lives—grass. It’s useful for placement around hardscapes, and is beautiful when properly trimmed.
However, it’s nearly impossible to accidentally kill it!
Appearance: Strikingly similar to most lawn grass.
Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences:Growth is optimal in medium-bright lighting.
Pogostemon Helferi:
Besides having an interesting name, this is one of the most unique foreground plants available to aquascapers today. It has a striking zig-zag shape in its leaves, and grows in a ‘blooming’ pattern that’s visually appealing in front of hardscapes.
Appearance: Beautiful ‘blooming’ growth pattern. Zig-zag shaped leaves.
Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences:Growth is optimal in medium lighting.
Dwarf Sagittaria:
Dwarf Saggitaria is an easily-maintained plant that maxes out at around 4-6 inches, making it perfect for midground aquascapes. Placing Dwarf Saggitaria around stonework or driftwood is an ideal location, giving it a perfect place to root into the wood or stone, and is an ideal complement.
Appearance: Vibrant green leaves with curved blades.
Water Preferences: Grows best in water that’s 72-78 degrees Farenheight.
Lighting Preferences:Growth is optimal in medium lighting.
Hope this helps
~Karen
