Venturing into live plants - need tips!

[webcricket]

I'm currently working on getting my 10 gallon tank set back up. I'm thinking of trying live plants with this one. The tank will be lit with two 10 watt daylight fluorescent bulbs (the kind you get cheap a Wal-Mart) as that is what I have in the hood. I'm not interested in any plants that are hard to keep or would require a co2 injector or special lighting. Other decor will be large rocks and a fine gravel. I don't mind having to trim plants back. Also, I'm not keen about having to order online, so easy to find suggestions would be great!

 

[frems]

I also just recently started doing live plants in my tank (29g tetra community). As i started planting my tank not only did my tank look healthier and more attractive but it gave me a sense of owning a real community. Now for your question some of the easiest and hardiest plants are the cripticorns and swords. However any broad leafed plant should do fine. Depending on how stable your tank is i would not put any foxtail or anything like that in your tank just yet as they can get cluddered with algae. Also i have never had any luck with rotalla and i am running about 3 wpg. so i wouldnt try that either

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

Java ferns, java moss, anubias, cryptocorynes are all easy-care, low-light plants that would likely work in your tank. They don't grow fast, and therefore don't usually require fertilizers, beyond basic fish feeding. Attach the javas and anubias to rocks or decorations with nylon fishing line or thread so that the roots aren't buried. Bury the cryptocoryn roots (but not the rhizome part above the roots) and don't move this plant if you can avoid it. If the plants need a little help, you can buy a bottle of Flourish and/or Flourish Excel carbon to supplement them. A tiny bit will go a long way with this stuff.

 

[phanmc]

The following plants are low light (which your tank is), easy to take care of plants:

java fern & moss
african fern
hornwort
anacharis
all anubias
most cryptocrynes
moss balls

I highly recommend getting alot of hornwort or anacharis. Both are fast growers even in low light conditions and are great nutrient absorbers to control algae. The rest are slow growers.

 

[webcricket]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I like the look of anacharis. In fact, if I wasn't go live I had a bunch of plastic anacharis I was going to throw in there. I will have to see what I can find!

One last question - this tank will be housing only 2 dwarf puffers. I know they are messy, so hopefully the plants will have enough nutrients. If I need to dose with Flourish, will this be okay for the fish (being scaleless)?