Low Maintenance plant for tall tank?

JazzyB

JazzyB

The Boys on the Move!
Sep 20, 2003
142
0
0
Canada
I'm looking for a low maintenance tallish plant for a hex. tank. I'm keeping the light on this tank very subtle and simple so I'm looking for something that will fill the height of tank and provide some cover. I was thinking of keeping a pair of dwarf gouramis with a few rams or 1 or 2 blue-eyed cichlids.:cool:
 
Cardamine lyrata is a vine-like plant that could look nice in you aquarium and it doesn't block light from its lower leaves as much as a plant like Heteranthera.

You could try some Ludwigia repens. Mine gets quite tall quite fast if I don't prune it, but in your tall tank, don't let it get too bushy, or it will block out light to its lower leaves too.

I might have missed something, so if I remember something I will let you know, unless someone else does before me.

Also, where are you located in Canda?

Graeme
 
I don't know the name but I bought a grass plant for my parents tank that just keep growing up and then falls over the surface. I give it a little trim every so often but my parents don't add ferts and probably have the light on for less than 5 hours a day.
 
I wouldn't use repens as it usually requires ferts and high lights to maintain a good color and condition.

Java Fern is always a good standby and you'd be surprised how impressive a big bunch of mature leaves can look. No pruning. No real ferts. No high lights. Most fish won't eat it.

I've had very good luck with hydrocotyle leucocephela...it even grew under less than 1wpg for me. You may want to look into this plant. It doesn't really cause any amount of shade underneath it and will even cascade across the surface if you let it. You can also train it to be a low profile bush. Its a pretty versatile plant:)

Vals would be good, depending on teh size of your tank though.
 
Originally posted by Leopardess
Vals would be good, depending on teh size of your tank though.
Click to expand...

Good point. Be careful what species of val you buy. Some will be better suited to your tank because they won't get as big. Most LFS have vals (that I have seen anyway) so you could go check out what specific types are available then do a little research on the net.
 
Some of the cryptocoryne's get pretty high, as well as Java Fern. I've got both in my 29G w/ 20W w/o CO2 or ferts, and they've grown surprisingly well. I think that Bolbitis would also work.
 
Cardamine Lyrata doesn't really like my 30 gallon with only natural light, no CO2, fertilizer, etc... however, it is still alive. I vote for a nice sword, they look great and are relatively tall ~6".
 
I would also go with a sword. If you have somewhat lower light, just go with the regular green Amazon ones. If you have higher light, the Red rubin is beautiful and gets a little taller depending on what size hex you have. I also like vals, I would try the Italian or corkscrew vals they stay smaller. I also like Rotala Indica, it can be really tall. But, the bottom parts get a little messy when they get tall over 15" or so. In fact a lot of the stem plants will grow tall if you let them. I kinda like giant hygro for mid light setups. Just my two cents.
 
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