Easy to keep plants

[teflon]

Im looking at planting my 3 foot community tank but I have no idea which plants are good for a novice

I want something that don't really need fertilizer or any special lighting

So all comments are appreciated

[timmy2422]

I dont have many planted tanks anymore but in my experience Java Fern is a very easy to keep, hardy plant

[wormboy]

Yup, java fern is good. vallis is also good but it can be a little hot/cold. When it grows it grows like a mainac, but when it decides to stop nothing can coax it to grow. On the upside, its cheap and readily available enough to experiment a bit.

-Mat-

[gizmo42au]

I use Elodia, java moss and wisteria in my 4 foot tank. No ferts, no CO2 and only a single light.

[teflon]

Thanks for the replies guys

Would Amazon sword also fit my specs or do they need something special?

If anyone else has anymore suggestions it would be greatly appreciated as I want to try a few different types

[wormboy]

swords are quite good but are like vallis, can either go nuts or die back to nothing.

As a general rule ask "are they fully submersed naturally or emergent?"

If they are naturally submersed plants move to the "are they purple/red or green? If they are green they will likely need less light than a purple/red plant.

If a plant passes both of these tests, give it a bash.

-Mat-

[wui39]

I've found Riccia easy to keep as long as they get enough light.

[teflon]

Cheers for the replies guys

[Eddie Salita]

Dont forget crypts either. Several types grow well for me without co2 or fertilisation, and in hard water. Along with anubias, they grow well for me, and are good foreground low height plants.

HTH,

Jason

[Modes]

Would seem most plants are relatively easy to keep when you add a simple Coke bottle co2 system. Barry

[vwboy53]

Why dont you try some anubias, most cheap varieties are tollerent.

Amazon swords seem good as long as you put a bit of fertilier at their roots, which is simple cause some last over a year!

Val, can look ratty sometimes, but almost impossible to kill.

Crypts are alright, very tollerent. With those generic type of plants, you can get heaps of variations and create a stunner of a tank.

The best part about all the plants i mentioned, is that they are fairly cheap. Good luck!

[patchy]

i think i'll be the guy who swims against the tide , swords are easy to keep but if you want them it stay tall, strong and flourishing then it will take more then just planting it and turning the light on and off routinely.

usually in average conditions (above) they grow short and slowly, only slightly faster then anubias nana. Some varieties will have long, fragile leaves instead of broad ones because of the lack of optimal conditions (ie Echinodorus Beheli(shocking spelling), (this is not attributed the emsersed growth vs submerged).

All this i have experienced first hand. My planted tank is still no great Amano tank, it's got a deep substrat with root ferts and laterite balls under each plant however there is only 1.3w/gal and no co2. My Echinidorus in these conditions are very varied, i suspect the lack of adequate light to be the trouble as the special breeds tend to grow slower and stumpyer then the originals, i recomend sticking to original species.

If your prepared to add alittle effort into them like root ferts and laterite balls, have greater then 1.5w/gal and prepared to trim off decaying leaves (especially if the leaves have been grown emersed) then you'll be rewarded, other wise dont be too surprised if they dont turn up like on the net.