why should we keep live plants?

sam9953

I am planning to buy some live plants and i am having some black mollies. as i have read black mollies live better in brackish water and live plants cant tolerate salt so here the 2 statements are contradictory so should i keep live plants or not and what is the advantage or disadvantage of keeping them?

Mean Harri

In before Angel :)

For the brackish water and plants I can't speak much to that.
For planted tanks in general, it is my opinion, that they make a much more natural environment for both fish and us. Real plants are way better looking than fake plants. And having real plants helps consume the waste by-product of decaying foods, fish waste, etc...
All of which create ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Plants will intake ammonia, which in a newly started tank, is beneficial in that there isn't "much" of a cycle. Planted tanks can be stocked very earlier with little harm or stress to the fish because ammonia is kept in check and consumed by the plants.

I'm a noob to planted tanks so this is just a generalization of some benefits.

sam9953

well now for me the problem is that as molly needs some salt so i cant keep the live plants as salt is harmful for live plants so what should i do?

Mean Harri

I would give others who are way more knowing some time to chime in here. Angel, Byron, and others can direct you a lot better then I can as to your specific needs and concerns.
I'm sure something can be done. I don't know much about Mollies really. Hang tight and by tomorrow you should have some good help posting.

sam9953

Then too i am thankful to you for your valuable time

Angel079

They don't NEED salt. I kept some extremely nice (and large) Mollies back in the day in a 55g and they never had salt; but they did have a bunch plants (FYI my breeder who' a well respected man overseas in the hobby didn't use any neither - so give it a thought)

Best brackish set up plants I can think of before my 2nd coffee here: Java Ferns, Water Spirte, Hornwort, Anubias, Anacharis

Byron

Agree with Angel. It is a commonly-held misconception that mollies (and some think all livebearers) need salt. FALSE.

Livebearers occur in slightly basic/alkaline water that has a degree of mineral hardness. Not as significant as rift lake cichlids, but along those lines. As opposed to any of the tetras, rasbora, etc. So while livebearers must have minerals in the water, this is not common salt. The use of the word "salt" for these minerals is correct but misleading, as the minerals are calcium and magnesium and such, not sodium salt.

Mollies can tolerate salt, and will manage in brackish water. But as there is no reason to do this, and it will kill your plants [there are only a few that tolerate brackish water], don't bother. If your tap water is basic and moderately hard (pH above 7, hardness comparable) you're fine.

Ideal plants for mollies and all livebearers are Vallisneria. It does extremely well in such water, better than is soft acidic water, and mollies love to graze algae from the leaves. Some of the swords will also fare well, Echinodorus bleheri is one. Plus those Angel mentioned.

Byron.

Angel079

Just really wanna outline 2 important words there from Byron so they're not overlooked.
Much like other fish, like a poor Betta in a cup for example; what they CAN tolerate over time and what's IDEAL for them if often 2 entirely different matters...Give it a thought

sam9953

Thanks to byron and angel. Now today i have got a few plants for my molly and so i will be putting them but i dont know what these plants are called so i will take a photo of them and post it in my next post so that you people can identify the plant

HollyinWA

You are right, they do not "need" salt. I had them as a kid sucessfully and never used salt.