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why should we keep live plants?

5K views 22 replies 5 participants last post by  sam9953 
#1 ·
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?
 
#2 ·
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.
 
#4 ·
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.
 
#6 ·
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
 
#10 ·
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

You are right, they do not "need" salt. I had them as a kid sucessfully and never used salt. :)
 
#7 ·
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.
 
#8 ·
Mollies can tolerate salt, and will manage in brackish water.
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 :-D
 
#9 ·
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
 
#11 ·
Now today i have got a few plants for my molly a
:thumbsup: plants are always good !!!

I'm running around today; but will keep an eye out for plant ID post, all else Byron will be here too to help he knows any plant out there :lol:
 
#16 ·
They are a fairly easy plant to grow. They adapt well and can grow with low to medium light. They do like being fed at the roots though. A root tablet, such as Seachems Flourish Root tabs should be placed near the base for the roots to intake the nutrients.
 
#18 ·
A good liquid fertilizer will suffice if you can't get substrate tabs/sticks. I don't know what may be available to you, but my recommended fertilizers are:

Kent Freshwater Plant (liquid)
Nutrafin's Plant-Gro (liquid and sticks)

And of course the Seachem Flourish Comprehensive Supplement (liquid) or root tabs, but you say you can't get Seachem.

If you have something other than the above available, and can send me the full name including manufacturer, I may be able to track down info and offer advice on it's probable usefulness. Not all fertilizers work, or are good for aquaria.

By the way, the two plants are Echinodorus but I don't think they are E. bleheri. They look more like E. cordifolius or E. macrophyllus. The leaves on them now will yellow and die, they should be cut off when they start yellowing provided new growth is emerging from the centre of the crown. When the new leaves get about half as tall as the current leaves, it is OK to remove the current leaves (assuming they are then yellowing). This present growth is emersed growth; nurseries grow the plants emersed because it is quicker and less expensive. Swords are bog plants that live half the year emersed (roots in water as in a marsh) and half submersed. The leaf forms of each differ, so when planted permanently underwater the emersed leaves will die off and new growth will be the submersed form; the leaves will be quite different in shape and texture. That's why it can be tricky identifying species; they can look completely unrelated in some species.

Byron.
 
#19 ·
sir right now i am not planning on using any fertilizers. thanks a lot for the detailed reply but as i am a novice in using live plants so sir i would like to put up a question. Some points which you have stated could not be understood by me so i would like to ask you in short that looking at the present condition of my plants what all do you suggest me to do with the plants so that i can make them grow and which all portions and where all do i need to cut the plant?
 
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