What plants and how many?

newfiedragon

I have a Marina 2.65 gallon tank for my betta, and I'd like to put some live plants in it. I've already got a silk plant in there. Here's the setup that I've got now...you can see my boy Goober down in the corner peeking out...


So if I kept the silk plant in there, would I be able to add some live plants, or would there be no room? And what plants would be best?

Or would I have to take out the silk plant to make room for live plants?

Byron

Hi, and welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping forum.

I think live plants will work well in your aquarium, as it seems to be under a window for sufficient light. The fake plant you have is Brazilian Pennywort, and the real plant would grow fine in that setup. It is a stem plant that also looks nice floating. Ceratopteris (Water Sprite) is another excellent floating plant for a betta, as they love the dangling roots. Pygmy chain sword (Echinodorus tenellus) would grow in the substrate and not get too big; or corkscrew Vallisneria probably. Crypts would do well but they can be fussy for someone new to planted tanks.

For plants included in our profiles, the name is shaded so click on the name to see the plant profile; same works for fish species. One bunch of Pennywort, or one pygmy sword, or one Water Sprite, would be sufficient because all these multiply fairly rapidly. You keep them thinned out by removing some during the weekly partial water change.

You will need a good liquid fertilizer. I recommend Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium. A small bottle will last you months if not years with only this tank, as you use very little once a week. Flourish provides all the essential mineral nutrients.

Byron.

newfiedragon

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to leave the tank where it is. I'm concerned about algae growth and fluctuating temps, so I might end up moving it to a place that's not in direct line with the window. The light is incandescent, so I don't know if that would help a live plant or not. Would fluorescent be better for a plant?

Byron

With incadescent the best bulb is a compact fluorescent (they screw in normally). These are better because they produce more light of the correct spectrum with much less heat and less energy. Plants do very well under CF bulbs. A natural daylight with a kelvin rating around 6500K, at the smallest wattage available, would be adequate. Away from the direct window light, this bulb on for 8-10 hours a day woould probably be fine; if algae increases, reducing the duration would help.

Byron.