plants suggestions for 6.5 ph and 84 temp

I have had success with all of these

Amazon Swords
PURPLE Cabomba (not green)
Stargrass
Corkscrew Val
Italian Val
Jungle Val
Red Tiger Lotus (if you have a moderate - high light tank)
Java Fern (if you have a low lit tank)
Chain Sword
Red Wendtii
Java Moss

Actually I find that most any plant works as long as the leaves are heavier and not fine... Acachris for instance WONT live under these condition nor will most plants not listed above that are sold at most chain stores...

Keep in mind also some plants are sold as aquatic but are NOT aquatic... I bought one like this and I cant remember what it was but it didnt live.... Basically the plant will die if it stay submerged regardless of temp.

Also keep in mind that the plants when planted in the aquarium will usually change their leaves, the old ones will die off and new ones will replace the old ones... the new ones look different than the leaves that were on the plant when you bought them... the reason for this is most of the plants sold to LFS are grown in hydroponic systems and never were submerged so the leaves you see are the terrestrial form of them... and when you plant them you get the submerged form...

For example, Amazon Sword Terrestrial form leaves are long and narrow until they come to the tip where they bulge out a bit... the aquatic form looks like a large grass leaf... there is no bulge at the tip, it just tapers to a point. Amazon Sword and all I listed ARE true aquatics.

 

I dont know of any on Southside... I like Fin and Feather on Lakeside Ave for some plants and Azalea Aquariums on the corner of the Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Azalea Ave... Those are my 2 places to get plants and fish here in town.

I NEVER buy from Petco or Petsmart... They are the two NOTORIOUS for selling non aquatic plants.... also you get less for your money... At Fin and Feather I sometimes get one Sword with 4-8 babies on it for 8.99 where at Petsmart its 8.99 for just the one and it is half the size of the ones I get...

 

No problem!

 

Red/Green Tiger Lotus
Marimo Balls
Wisteria
Rotalla Wallichi
Moneywort
Java Fern
Dwarf Onions/Onion Plants
Java Moss
Dwarf Sag

 

Some of these plants Dawn and I listed DO require lighting aroun 1.75 - 3 WPG...

Java Fern WILL DIE if you have over 2 WPG IME

I also had/have Micro Sword... Dawn and myself both have had issues with algae growing in it though.... Its a hard plant to keep looking nice... That is why I didnt mention it... It grows fine for me, just that stupid algae growing between the plants that eventually smother them...

 

I got this package off ebay
<a class="postlink" href="http://stores.ebay.com/planted-aquariums-central_Plant-Packages_W0QQ_fsubZ352276017QQ_sidZ328295567QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://stores.ebay.com/planted-aquarium ... ec0Q2em322</a>

the discus one.

all these plants are easy growers. Java fern just plant in a shaded area or tie it off but leave it shaded and it will thrive. I planted mine under the pile of driftwood and by the time the next gravel vac came around i could barely see the wood.

i will watch the micro swords and algae.

 

just a warning--vals are flourish excel sensitive
and with the plants that have the red -- they require higher lighting and definitely benefit from the addition of iron (I used flourish iron)...but give it a go without adding anything at first (might be able to get away with it- and cheaper is always better!).

 

I agree with Dawn... and good call on the Java Fern... Odd, as simple as that sounds I never really tried growing it in a shady region...

 

I grow my light sensitive plants in shade, my corydoras sleep in a massive pile of crypts growing like wildfire in the shade. I have almost thinned out enough to complete my guppy tank and then Ill be offering up the trimmings.

I dont use excel, nope none and never again.

 

Crypts are light sensitive too? Hmmm that explains why my patch never got that thick.... They didnt die til I moved them but they dont grow as fast as everyone says...

 

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As soon as mine runs out (in the next day or so) I won't be adding anything either. I'm not planning on replacing it and figure what grows...grows...and anything that doesn't/ or looks bad will just be simply plucked!

Clippings usually goto my 10g when I feel spunky enough to plant them....anything seems to grow in them

my crypts were slow growers (planted towards the front where there's a bit less light)...and when moved did die..but came back eventually.

 

hey, you can give it a whirl.
alot of great ideas come from experimenting!

 

Building your own..options are endless.. (can put more bulbs in back and leave opening towards front to create less light in the front for the crypts and lower light plants).

Leds are really nice...I love the coralife 1w lunars...VERY powerful.

I stuck mine on the side of the tank and have it aimed at the back wall (not directly into the tank)...it lights up half the tank with a nice bluey glow...simply incredible! And it throws a cast on my one wall of the fish when they swim through ... totally freaks my dogs out but amuses the heck outta me. LoL