Lord help me - I did it (Pennywort)

Angel079

I just ordered a bunch plants to set up yet another 10g and a fishless-filterless tank....And with the issues with my 55g I wanted to also add a fast growing plant that's nice to look at....Lord help me I ordered Pennywort - Which I actually SWORN myself off of after it lifted the hood of my former 55g...but I do need a fast growing plant....so let's hope my water here is "bad enough" for it not to grow 1ft/week now

AND i finally found Stargrass too

Here's the old mess I'm referring to ...

Attached Images

tank 9-3.jpg (52.2 KB, 76 views)

rsheets

So, the pennywort is bad? Grows too fast? I wonder if it would be good for a tank w/ siver d's? They ate all of my plants down to nubs in just days. The java fern is still good though. I give them lettuce now, They sure eat a lot of it.
I like the way your tank looks. Are you saying that it is out of control?

Angel079

Well there's plants that grow well....then there's fast growing plants...and then there's Pennywort on the scale for me. Stuff's worst then weed, but if you need a fast growing plant (eg in my case fighting algae) THIS will def o it. I'm sure you could toss this stuff in a water bucket w/out lights and no nothing and it will STILL grow too lol.
I like its looks I really do, the leaf's are about $.25 in size...if only it wasn't growing SO FAST the picture above is what happened to my 55g after few days bus. trip when the pennywort was untrimmed for a few days below a more "normal" picture of the tank from when I first started it and then few weeks later but be4 the Pennywort took over

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	tank 9-1.jpg (51.4 KB, 62 views)
	tank 9-2.jpg (43.4 KB, 63 views)

Angel079

Oh and for your silver dollar - buy whole leaf spinach, poor boiling water over it and feed it to them as a treat, they love that too (I always just used a cloth pin and attach it to the side of the tank) also try cucumber slices with them (attached to a fork and take it back out after 1 day so it doesn't rot in the tank)

rsheets

Thanks for the tip.
I bought one of those aquarium clips that suck to the inside glass. Last night I put a whole leaf of lettuce in there and this morning everything was gone, even the stalk!
Do you think the pennywort will work for me?
The SDs are only a week in my tank and they are just now starting to come out of hiding. They are scaredy cats. When I feed the other fish they hide the whole time until the other fish are just about done, then come out. So, I'm glad to have this source of food for them, otherwise they could starve.

LisaC144

I have 3 silver dollars. Never tried putting live plants inthe tank because I just figured they would devour them. Rsheets....your SD's don't touch the java fern? i wouldn't min spending some money to try out a plant that they mightnot eat. How did you place yours in the tank? I hear you aren't supposed to bury the java fern.

Blaxicanlatino

i love pennywort but im having a slight trouble with mine. when i first bouught it, it grew like crazy! so i trimmed it then sold some of it. Now the plant is growng slowly and dark green spots are developing on the leaves and the roots under each leaf turn black

Angel079

I think it'll def be an option for you, not only for the SD's but also for the algae issue I just answered to.
How many SDs do you have? They can be skiddish if kept in small groups. And/ or larger tank mates can do that to them as well if you have any?

Angel079

Often they don't like plants such as Java fern, Anubias, Swords.
If you wanna go for Java, you're best up attaching it to driftwood or a larger rock any decor for that matter, I always found they grow best on DW thou.

LisaC144

Cool thanks. I just bought some silk plants to plant my tank more densely, but I might take a couple out and give java fern a whirl. Thanks for your help!