Plants for 20 long or smaller tanks

Lupin

Elodea densa
-not suitable for tanks with temps soaring above 27. I've tried my elodeas in my Discus tank with temp of 32 and ended up killing them.

-Hard alkaline water would be preferred. As mine is soft, it didn't even survive long-term even without the temp above 27. At least, there would always be consequences for elodeas living in soft water.

-Lighting should moderate to bright. The lushes are greener if kept in a tank with high lighting, of course.

-Fine substrate(fine gravel is ok). Coarse ones will not work. At least in my experience.

-Can be either floated or planted. I prefer the latter as it seeks anchorage and will serve as home for catfishes and even apistogrammas.
-I have used only fertilizers, no special substrate. They seem to grow well if ferts are combined without correct lighting(should not be too dim).

-Not demanding to CO2. Never tried CO2 on this plant yet but it grows quite well even without CO2 injected.

-Plant them singly. Planting in bunches can have dire consequences to the elodea particularly yellowing of the lower leaves(around the base).

Lastly, pls be careful with what fish you choose. I had my angelfish mowed down the elodeas. I stopped using elodeas as the consequence was also weighed down by improper water conditions apart from the wrong substrate which I have replaced.

Lupin

Nice sig there, mate.

Andrew

So true! bigger the volume of water the easier it is to stay on top of the chemistry.

fish_4_all

Common peoples, there has to be someone else out there that has been succesful in growing plants in a 20 gallon long or smaller tank! I can only grow so many species as I only have 3 of them going. Even if you weren't succesful, post your results. All of it can be used to help others set up and maintain smaller planted tanks and do it right.

Anyone else with planted experience in smaller tanks, good or bad?

crazie.eddie

5.5 gallon (21.8 liter) tank (16"x8"10") - NO FISH
Specs:
70°F (21° C) no heater
No ferts
No CO2
40 watt desk lamp (7wpg) @12 hours/day
pH 7.2
Water top offs only when I remember
No susbtrate

Plants (ALL floating):
Carolina fanwort (Cabomba carolina)
Taiwan Moss (Taxiphyllum alternans)
Guppy grass (Naja guadalupensis)

Note: Junk tank where I just throw unwanted or extra plants/clippings.

20 gallon (75.7 liter) long tank (30"x12"x12") - Zebra & Shrimp tanks
Specs:
82°F (28°C)
No ferts
No CO2
pH 7.2
20 watt flourescent (1 wpg) @ 12 hours/day
Water changes at about 25% every 5-7 days
Sand, Black Beauty (size is similar to pool filter sand)

Plants:
Carolina fanwort (Cabomba carolina)
Taiwan Moss (Taxiphyllum alternans)
Guppy grass (Naja guadalupensis)
Sword (haven't ID'd it yet)
Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis)
Crytpicorne species
Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri)
Tropic sunset (Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig')

Note: The swords, crypts, & java ferns were all recovered from my 125 gallon tank. They were algae ridden and/or dying. So I cut the dead parts and bleached dipped the rest and just threw them in the 20 longs. After about 3-5 months, they are still doing very well.

bettababy

Oh wow, where to begin, lol.
I've grown these plants in 20 or smaller, under various types of light, and I don't use fertilizers. I am a strong believer in the "natural aquarium" and mine thrive.
Teardrop rotala
Bacopa
Ludwigia (broadleaf and narrowleaf)
Java Fern
Java Moss
Anubias (Barteri tend to get huge leaves... the smallest species is nana)
Compacta sword (dwarf species of sword plant)
Hornwort
Elodea (another common name is Anacharis)
Wisteria (I trim mine from the bottom instead of the top as most do)
Crypt lutens species
Micro sword (not for the beginner)
Dwarf sagitaria (grows just tall enough to make a good background plant, can be trimmed at the top if it gets too long)
Moss balls

Plants I stay away from in small tanks:
Most swords
All Anubias other than nana
Onion plants
Most crypts
Needle Sagitaria (gets way too tall)
All of the val plants (get way too long and shed alot, which pollutes water quality fast)
Aponogetan any species (grows way too large)

I can probably keep the list going once I sit and give more though to the many many tanks I have kept over the years. The thing to remember is that any plant will require trimming to some extent if it does well in a small tank. Some grow tall, some grow wide (like Anubias), and some grow in every direction. Just like with fish, you should always know what it is before bringing it home, and have some understanding of what it needs. Some plants require low light, some high, some prefer cooler temps, some warmer, some require extra fertilizers such as iron to keep their color good (especially the plants with red tones in them), some do fine without fertilizers. Every plant has special needs, and knowing them is 1/2 the battle. There are some good books, and if anyone here is interested, I can look up some titles/authors for you, simply let me know. One website I've found to be pretty accurate and offer a lot of information on plants is http://azgardens.com
One other note... always check to see if the plant you've chosen is amphibias or fully aquatic. There are often plants found at LFS's that are amphibias in nature, and once submerged, don't do well, and over time die out for no reason. There is a reason... most LFS's don't know 1 plant from another, making it your own responsibility to know what you're spending your money on.

trreherd

I keep three anarchis in my 5 gallon tank and if i dont trim them they get out of control. The plants are prety good looking and the baby guppies like to nest in them at the top. at one side of my tank i let them grow wild this is were the direct sunlight hits my tank the plants act like a super natural filter.

StickyGreen

yea i have a Wisteria and swords in my 5gal corner and they do great just need a little more love

Piranha Joe

I have banana plants in my small tanks...the bottom has a bunch of rhizomes that look like little green bananas! The leaves look like water lilies and will bloom a little white daisy like flower. There is something about the banana plants that helps the water too; but I can't remember what now.
Also, I have put small sticks of bamboo totally under water, leaves and all; gives the fish something to float thru/around and adds to the look of the aquarium.