Plants For A Beginner?

[KCB]

I'm looking to plant my tank but have no idea which ones to use or where to start! I am a complete newbie at caring for live plants, I've always had the artificial kind. I've read that Hygrophila polysperma is a good choice for a complete beginner, is that so? I'm looking for a plant that's very forgiving and only requires the addition of fertiliser. Also, I'm 28 days into a fish-less cycle, can I add plants now or should I wait till after the cycle is complete?

Some water parameters that may affect my plant choice:
pH 8.2
Hard water area
Rough temp. 24oC

Also the fish I plan on keeping:
Endlers
Black Phantom Tetras
Corydoras habrosus

Thank you!

 

[Ps3Steveo]

You can add plants anytime really, Java Fern, most Crypts, Swords, Anubias and a few stems like Hygrophila are a good idea.

 

[daz4321]

Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus
Windelov Java Fern, Windelov Fern - Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov'
Narrow Leaf Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus v. 'narrow leaf'
Java Moss - Vesicularia dubyana
Green Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma
*Sunset Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig'
Ceylon Hygro - Hygrophila polysperma 'Ceylon'
Rotala Rotundifolia - Rotala rotundifolia
Rotala Rotundifolia sp. Green - Rotala rotundifolia sp. 'Green'
Rotala Indica - Rotala indica
Hornwort - Ceratophylum demersum
Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum
Moneywort, Water Hyssop - Bacopa monnieri
Brazilian Pennywort, Pennywort - Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Crypt Wendtii - Cryptocoryne wendtii
Crypt Balansae - Cryptocoryne Balansae
Pygmy Crypt - Cryptocoryne pygmaea
Guppy Grass - Najas guadalupensis
Anubias barteri - Anubias barteri v. barteri
Anubias barteri 'marble' - Anubias barteri 'marble'
Anubias barteri v. 'glabra' - Anubias barteri v. 'glabra'
Anubias nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana'
Coffee leaf anubias - Anubias barteri v. 'coffeefolia'
Crypt retrospiralis - Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
Crypt spiralis - Cryptocoryne spiralis
Golden nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana golden'
Narrow leaf nana - Anubias barteri v. 'nana narrow leaf'
Petite nana - Anubias barteri v. nana 'petite'
Philippine Java Fern - Microsorum pteropus 'Philippine'
Red Java fern - Microsorum pteropus "red"
Crypt Becketii - Cryptcoryne becketii
Pelia - Monosolenium tenerum
Waterwheel Plant - Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Bacopa - Bacopa caroliniana
African Water Fern - Bolbitis heudelotii
Hornwort - Ceratophyllum submersum
Crypt Aponogetifolia - Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia
Micro Crypt - Cryptocoryne petchii
Tropica Sword - Echinodorus parviflorus 'Tropica'
Downoi - Pogostemon helferi

*Does not need high light to attain pink color. Dosing iron can bring out this color.

 

[phantomlink]

I just started using live plants and like you, I'm a total beginner. I have a 125g tank and only 50 watts of light ( so 0.4w/g ) so I couldn't use anything that needs alot of light. I went with Amazon Swords, Watersprites and various crypts. I'll try and use some Java Fern or something once I get diftwood in my tank. Water Sprites are nice and really fast growers mine have only been in thet ank for a week and I can already tell they've grown some.
http/www.plantedtank.net/forums/myPlants.php?do=view&p=49&n=Water_Sprite_Ceratopteris_thalictroides

 

[KCB]

Thanks for the help guys, I'll have a look at my LFS for the ones you suggested

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I don't like hygrophila, I do have it in my shrimp tank and you can't kill it (had it in a deactivated tank for 2 months in a dark corner and it was good as new when I restarted the tank up! But, the reason I don't like it is that it grows roots like mad and it looks messy because of it. I prefer different types of bacopa, similar look and I've not had any problems with it.

 

[andrewpaul]

Hi very innovative discussion here. Well discussion on gardening growth of plants. Do anyone know about Hydroponic Systems? It is best way for fast growth of plants.

 

[Bugdozer]

I don't like hygrophila, I do have it in my shrimp tank and you can't kill it (had it in a deactivated tank for 2 months in a dark corner and it was good as new when I restarted the tank up! But, the reason I don't like it is that it grows roots like mad and it looks messy because of it. I prefer different types of bacopa, similar look and I've not had any problems with it.

Do you find your shrimp pick holes in the leaves? Mine do. Little buggers. I think they are eating brown algae off the leaf surface but end up damaging the leaves.

 

[snazy]

I don't like hygrophila, I do have it in my shrimp tank and you can't kill it (had it in a deactivated tank for 2 months in a dark corner and it was good as new when I restarted the tank up! But, the reason I don't like it is that it grows roots like mad and it looks messy because of it. I prefer different types of bacopa, similar look and I've not had any problems with it.

I love hygrophila corymbosa var. glabra, it's very different than the polysmerma type. I have never noticed messy roots, although it does grow strong root system. It's a very hardy plant, doesn't require anything, grows fast and makes a nice little forest. Here is a picture of it in one of my tanks. It's the green bush to the left:

 

[boxcar]

anybody try planting Utricularia graminifolia.i like the look of it in a tank,it gives it a lovely grass feel which is what i wanna go for in my new setup but i hear its a difficult plant to grow/maintain

 

[snazy]

I did. It melted in my tank before it kind of started growing, but very slowly. I don't think I have the light for it but some of it has grown slightly in the last month It is a carnivorous plant but so far hasn't eaten any seed shrimp or small corys

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Lol it won't grow the bladders that eat small insects if it's given enough ferts, CO2 and light, I have it in my 60 as a carpet plant, it likes lower light and lots of nutrients while getting established but once growing you can crank the light up, I used 2 pots and 2 1-2 grow pots and the 1-2 grows I got by far 5 x the amount so worth paying the extra £2 for, beautiful plant too.

 

[snazy]

I was only joking. As far as I know it can't eat anything that big, even baby shrimp.