Plant and forget?

[Weasel6]

Is there a such thing as a "plant and forget" plant? I want some plants for their attractiveness and ecology but I don't have alot of time and money put into them. Taking care of the fish is fine and all but I can't afford to get into the CO2 injector system, particular organic substrates ( my gravel is about 3/4" deep), fertilizers etc. Pruning is fine,everything else is a bit much for me at this time. Got a wedding to save for.
I'd like to ideally find something I could plant and forget outside of the occ. pruning and maybe fertilizer sprinkling. Is their such a thing or do I need to forget it and buy plastic?

[kveeti]

The plants of mine that fit your description are java moss and aponogeton crispus (really nice ruffly leaves) and crinum thaianum (onion plant).

There's also java fern and anubias but mine grow too slow for my liking.

edit: oops I see on another thread that you bought the aponogeton bulbs and they haven't done much for you. I actually got mine already sprouting at a fish store, not Wal-Mart.

[Fishiebusiness]

Anubias species and java fern are both definitely good candidates as plant and forget. You wont have to prune them either at the slow rate which they grow. Javamoss can be a bit high maintenance as it traps a lot of detritus.

[Richer]

Agreed, anubias is a good plant if you want to plant and forget. They grow slow, so you might want to get a bunch of them to begin with, else your tank will look a little empty for a good while. I had an anubias plant in one of my experimental tanks once.. this tank went through everything, algae blooms, pH crashes, etc. etc. Back then I didn't know what plants did what, so it was planted near the back of the tank and was covered by the larger plants. When I tore it down, I found the plant in the back.. was twice as big as it was when I first got it, and was very healthy.

HTH
-Richer

[Skippy]

I agree with the Aponegeton, how much lighting do you have over your tank? That comes into play too.

If you see Foxtail around grab some. It's a frilly stem plant that Iput in tanks to eat up traces and waste. It actually tends to out compete algae for food given a little light. This stuff even grows in my tank with 4 mbuna in it that eat and tear up most plants.

[punch]

I vote for the anubis, there very pretty, as for them growing slowly, my nana grows pretty quick. Not fast, but it bushed out quite nicely in the 7 months I've had it.

[jafo]

If you wouldn't mind sticking a fertilizer root tab down in the substrate once every month or so, get a Crypt Wendtii or 2. They grow like little bushes and only need to be fertilized at the roots.

[plantbrain]

Floating plants are the best option for your requirements.
Water sprite is super.
It doesn't need CO2, it gets it from the air.
Doesn't need high light since it's right next to the lights already.

Grows fast.
No need to worry about aquascaping or uprooted plants, floats(you have Geophagus).
Easy to prune, right at the surface for easy removal.

Anubias/Java ferns attached to wood etc are the other plants that make a suitable plant for you.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[wannabesan]

Isn't it about time someone whip up a chart/spreadsheet with the most common plants species that lists the vitals for growing them like ph/kH/Ca/Fe/temp/Co2/light watts/etc ranges. I know I would make this into a wall poster. :D

Something relatively tight and concise instead of browsing dozens of web pages. I've been scanning the web for a while now and have not seen such a thing and yet there is a dire need for it.