looking for recommendations

[Bethany1979]

I'm looking for some plants that will do well in my live bearer tank. My water parameters:

PH- 7.6
KH-180
GH-250

I do have aquarium salt in the tank. What types of plants would tolerate these conditions?
Thanks!

 

[Squawkbert]

Many plants will do OK with some salt in the water. You will find that you are more limited by light than anything else.

If you don't want to do a major upgrade on your lighting, at least try to get the best bulbs you can for the fixture you have (tell us what you have, we'll provide a few options).

Java Moss, Java Fern and some Anubias species will do OK in very low light situations. If you have low to decent light situation, it's a good idea to add a quick grower to the above (something like Stargrass, Hygro, Hornwort or Wisteria).

 

[Bethany1979]

Ok, so I have incandescent lighting, so I should stick to low light then? Are there flourescent bulbs that will fit the fixtures I have, or will I need to upgrade my hood?
it's a :All-glass aquarium 20" new "E" incandescent reflector
120 volt 50 watt 60hz

Thanks!

 

[petluvr]

What size tank is this? If this is a livebearer tank I would suggest some floating plants. Duckweed (although it can become a nuisance) frogbit, guppy grass things along this line.

 

[Bethany1979]

It's a 10 gallon, 5 fish (2 mollies 3 platies).

 

[BradH]

I think with 50 watts on a 10 gallon you could grow a wide variety of plants. I might be wrong, as I know lighting is different with smaller tanks, but I believe that that would be enough.

 

[centralharbor]

I think with 50 watts on a 10 gallon you could grow a wide variety of plants. I might be wrong, as I know lighting is different with smaller tanks, but I believe that that would be enough.

Actually, it's not fluorescent lighting, so it doesn't really count as 50 watts. If you use CFLs, those would be good for growing plants, and you won't have to go buy another light fixture.

 

[Riiz]

In my molly breeder, i use alot of floating plants, they help with protecting the offspring and do amazing job keeping nitrates down.



Another thing about livebearers, they dont need the addition of salt, its a very outdated aqaurium myth/tradition. With your water paremeters your fish will be fine with your tap.

 

[AshK]

Switch out those incandescent bulbs with compact flourescents if you're interested in growing plants.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Yeah, you have to replace the lights with CFLs, much more efective and cleaner looking in my opinion. When you do, you can grow some java moss floating around to give the molly babies a place to hide.