Suggestions for low light plants?

[Lance M.]

I'm getting rid of my larger amazon sword plant since it's gotten too big for the tank. I wanted to get some more plants to fill the space that would only get a max of 8-9 inches tall. Any suggestions? I also have a baby amaazon sword, one stem of a giant hygro, and a piece of driftwood covered with lace java fern.

 

[TankGirl]

Crypts might be the ticket - is there room in that tank for plants?

 

[Maillis]

Most crypt and anubias species will do fine in low light. Anacharis, hornwort, and java moss too.

 

[Lowcoaster]

With the myriad of Java Fern, Cryptocoryne and Anubias species available, any low light tank can be just as diverse and beautiful as a hi-light, hi-tech tank. Look around and you will find some awesome stuff.

 

[gheitman]

I agree with the other posts here and specifically recommend Cryptocoryne wendtii "red". It does well in both low and high light (I grow it in tanks with 1.5 to 3 wpg) and adds a nice red color as an alternative to that boring green

 

[Lance M.]

When I take the amazon out it opens up half the tank for planting! I guess I'll go with the crypt wendtii. I don't know how much light I have in the tank though. I have 2 ten watt flourescent bulbs (total 20 watt in ten gallon) so 2 watts per gallon, but I haven't replaced the bulbs yet and I'm pretty sure they have dulled in their output- that's y the amazon has just started to really take off and grow.

 

[Lance M.]

I was also thinking about adding some dwarf sag. I've had it before in another tank with goldfish, but they ate it so I never had a chance to see how it would do. Any suggestions?

 

[Lowcoaster]

Sagittaria sp. is a cool water plant and doesn't thrive above 79 F. Cryptocoryne balansae is a better choice as it is "val or sag-like" and does well in low light tanks.

Lots of luck in your search.

 

[Lance M.]

Ok. I don't think I've ever seen Cryptocoryne balansae or heard of it before.

 

[Lowcoaster]

Go to google, choose images and type in Cryptocoryne balansae--you will find a lot of images. I think you will like the plant.

 

[Lance M.]

I looked at it on Google and the sites I visited said it needed strong light and grew to 20 inches. That would be too big and I don't have strong light. It also seems to be hard to find and it said it needed pH of 7.0-7.5 and my tank has pH of 6.6 (I checked yesterday)

 

[Lowcoaster]

Crypts are very adapatable and many of them thrive in a wide range of conditions and you will find perople's experience with them equally as diverse. My info says medium light, a pH of 6-8 and soft to very hard water. Though they say they grow tall, I have had them for years and never had one taller than 8 inches in a tank with lots of cover and a pH in the 6.5 range. Crypt. retrospiralis, a relative, gets much taller. I have them in stock right now, or you can bid for them on Aquabid.

 

[Lance M.]

Hmm... So basically just try them and see if it works out. I'm thinking about getting 2 small dwarf sags and putting them straight under the light bulb cause I know they need good lighting and I'll get some small crypt. wendtii and see how it goes.

 

[Lowcoaster]

That sounds fine---I find plants to be more adaptable than some people give them credit. Give it a try!!!

Lots of luck and keep us informed.

 

[Lance M.]

I'll try it but I don't know when I'll be able to go to the lfs and get the plants. :?