what plant is right for me?

[RENEGADE]

i have a 10g FW tank with one red claw crab and i would like to get a plant. but being a newbie i don't now what to get. what would be good?

[Wes]

You can grow alot of different plants in a 10g due to its shallow size. What kind of ligts do you have (watts)? If you have a low light tank, 1 watt per gal or less, I would go with some low light plants like Java fern, anubias, crypts. I have grown green hygro in 1 watt per gal. I don't know of too many other stem plants that do well in low light, low CO2 ( which I assume you are not supplementing). I have no idea about crabs with plants so maybe someone can chime in on that subject.

[RENEGADE]

i got a "aqua rays" 15w and no CO2(i'm still a newbie keeping it simple)

[Slappy*McFish]

Java Fern all the way

[NJ Devils Fan]

That aqua rays bulb come with all tanks, it's funny cause I see them in all new tanks.

Only get a jave fern if you have driftwood in the tank because javas do not grow in the substrate.

You could try what nearly every plant keeper has, anacharis. They grow fast and do reasonably well in all tanks.

[RENEGADE]

i don't have any driftwood. i was surfing the net and came across hornwart, any good? i'm looking at the anacharis, i like it alot, do i have to prun it any special way?

[NJ Devils Fan]

Nope, all you do is cut it where you want, that's it. It really can't be any easier unless it could cut itself. ;) Believe me, you won't be disappointed with it.

[tfish]

I had a 10 gallon with similar lights and absolutely no CO2 for a long time. VERY low tech, VERY basic. Not even use of fertilizers! Just fish poop! Here was my experience:

I tried the anarchis and the hornwort. Grew too fast and too lanky. Also very messy at times. I did not like them at all -- looked more like weeds to me -- but that is just my OPINION. :) I also tried java fern. I did not have driftwood to attach it to. I just let a few gravel rocks hold it down. The java fern won't do AS WELL in this type of manner, but as long as you don't bury the rhizome (the stem that the leaves and roots grow from) you should be fine. My most successful plant, hands-down was the cryptocoryne wendtii. I had three different varieties -- green, red, and bronze. They were absolutely beautiful, ranging in the different colors and growing at just the perfect height for my 10 gal. They grew to be very full and even sent out runners and began spreading across my tank.

I am now planning on setting up another 10 gallon planted tank. I will for sure go with the crypts again as well as java fern (with some driftwood I recently picked up). I will also try some anubias. These are low light tolerant plants that are said to be quite easy and beautful to grow.

GOOD LUCK!

[Starry]

I actually think hornwort is pretty, especially if it's the only plant and you're not going crazy "aquascaping" a tank. In low light it might lose its little needle-like leaves and it makes a HUGE mess! You can try it out, because it's really cheap, but if it starts yellowing throw it out before you have a mess on your hands. If the tank also gets sunlight it has a better chance of living.

Also, anacharis/elodea might grow too. I had some in a little 1-gallon with no extra light, it wasn't even next to a window, and the plant still grew, even put out side shoots and rooted in the gravel. It's also a cheap one, so you won't lose a lot of money if it doesn't work out.

With the Cryptocorynes (aka Crypts), they will grow in low light but they can be fussy. They seem to rot for no reason sometimes, which can be annoying. They will bounce back though, so don't throw it out if it loses leaves.

[RENEGADE]

thanks for all your help. i'm going to the LFS today so i should have a plant tonight, i'll let you know

[NJ Devils Fan]

AHHH, the anxiety is killing me. ;)