Good Plants for Clean Water?

[eeyipes]

I know all healthy plants contribute to cleaner, better oxyenated water and happier fishies, but are some varieties better than others at removing toxins, nitrates, etc from the water?

Whats the best bang for the plant buck, so far as water quality is concerned?

 

[inkyjenn]

something large and grows rapidly i would guess....

water wisteria is easy and grows like mad. not to mention pretty much any leaf fragment you get off of it will probably grow roots and turn into a new plant.

hornwort grows like crazy and is just about impossible to kill. its a floater though.

 

[Hurley]

Well, even with plants the best way to get great water quality is water changes. But, alot will depend on what kind of lighting you have or want to upgrade to and how much work you want to put into the tank in terms of fertilizers and if you want to inject co2. If you don't want alot of maintenance then low light, low tech plants might be the best option for you. Java fern, anubias, and crypts are some options. Other options that require a little more light are anacharis and hornwort which grow pretty fast. But, again, alot will depend on how far you want to take it.

 

[eeyipes]

I have anubias, peacock moss and guppy grass, and am expecting to add hornwort, java fern and african water fern later this week.

I'm just wondering if some are better at doing their job than others. So if your space was limited, which plants would give you the most benefit.

 

[Hurley]

If you are limited on space I would go with fast growers like the hornwort and anacharis.

 

[jmhart]

Wisteria or Water Sprite...fast growing stem plants. They'll take over your tank if you let them.