Low Light Plants?

Good Wolf · 04-06-2008, 05:19 PM

I have found that the following plants only need low light to do well. Can you please verify this, and also let me know if there are any more.

Java Fern
Java Moss
Dwarf Hair Grass
Anubias
Cryptocorynes

I've heard that Anarcharis and Ludwigia can survivie on low light but have found conflicting information online.

Here is one of the sources I've been using.

http://www.aquahobby.com/e_aquarium_plants.php

Any suggestions or advice you have is appreciated.

COM · 04-06-2008, 05:29 PM

I have heard the same but I'm very new to plants. I only once tried plants about 11 or 12 years ago and it didn't go very well.

emc7 · 04-06-2008, 07:03 PM

I don't know about the hair grass, but I think you are right about the others. Hornwort and duckweed also do ok in low light, but I don't know if you call them plants.

Clerk · 04-06-2008, 07:05 PM

Hair grass is high light.

Many crypts are low light, but will rot away and grow out roots, before they come back with new growth. So if this happens dont throw away the stub.

Obsidian · 04-06-2008, 07:05 PM

Do any of those grow along the top surface of the water? I am looking for low light floating plants.

**Scuba Kid** · 04-06-2008, 07:09 PM

Be warned, if you put duckweed in, you may find it impossible to get it out if you ever wish to do so.
Duckweed is a fast spreading, floating plant. I think its kind of pretty and I actually enjoy it, but others see it as a pest.

This is duckweed (and a frog.

)

It will quickly cover the whole surface of your tank.

Clerk · 04-06-2008, 08:35 PM

Obby I would recommend frogbit if you can find it. Its nice in size, grows fast, and seemed to do fine in the shade of a pond I built for someone last summer.

Other options would be water lettuce, and Salvinia (Which I currently have.)

emc7 · 04-06-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Many crypts are low light, but will rot away and grow out roots

Thanks for this, the one I got the auction looks pretty sick.

emc7 · 04-06-2008, 09:21 PM

Hornwort floats rather than sinks, but stays under water and tends to get piled in one corner by the filter outflow. Its funny to watch the big male kenyii aquascaping with hornwort as well as with gravel. He kept moving a strand of hornwort away from his "courting stage" and it kept moving back. Then he started stripping the "needles" off and was able to relocate the bare stalk.

**JustOneMore20** · 04-07-2008, 08:45 AM

I agree with Clerk, dwarf hairgrass is high light. It will brown and die in low light (or in low co2). Its pretty picky IME. It also grows best in a nutrient rich substrate.

The rest of your list is good though. Crypts get upset when you move them. Leave them alone and they will thrive. Trim off any dead or dying leaves and they will eventually grow back.

Anacharis will grow in low light. I have never had any Ludwigia grow in low light. Ludwigia repens, especially, died on me in less than 2wpg. To get that nice red color on the leaves, you need 3wpg+ and co2/ferts IME.

Rotala rotundifolia will be green and live in around 1-2wpg, but probably not less than that.

Good Wolf · 04-07-2008, 09:03 AM

Thanks for the feed back guys/gals.

I'll be picking up some more plants and little bit better lighting.

I'll most likely end up taking out the ludwigia. That is what I get for listening to the LFS.

04-06-2008, 05:19 PM	#1
Good Wolf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 237 User Feedback: (0)	Low Light Plants? I have found that the following plants only need low light to do well. Can you please verify this, and also let me know if there are any more. Java Fern Java Moss Dwarf Hair Grass Anubias Cryptocorynes I've heard that Anarcharis and Ludwigia can survivie on low light but have found conflicting information online. Here is one of the sources I've been using. http://www.aquahobby.com/e_aquarium_plants.php Any suggestions or advice you have is appreciated. __________________ ~Chris~ *55g planted; 30g planted; 5g planted*

04-06-2008, 07:05 PM	#4
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462 User Feedback: (0)	Hair grass is high light. Many crypts are low light, but will rot away and grow out roots, before they come back with new growth. So if this happens dont throw away the stub. __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

04-06-2008, 07:05 PM	#5
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 995 User Feedback: (0)	Do any of those grow along the top surface of the water? I am looking for low light floating plants. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 6 Cherry Barbs 4F 2M; 8 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Bristlenose Pleco 10 gallon 5 Zebra Danios 5.5 gallon Betta 100 gallon 8 giant danios; 4 Rosy Barbs, 2 German Blue Rams, 5 Julie Cory cats, 2 Burmese Loaches

04-06-2008, 07:09 PM	#6
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,142 User Feedback: (1)	Be warned, if you put duckweed in, you may find it impossible to get it out if you ever wish to do so. Duckweed is a fast spreading, floating plant. I think its kind of pretty and I actually enjoy it, but others see it as a pest. This is duckweed (and a frog. ) It will quickly cover the whole surface of your tank. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks Last edited by Scuba Kid; 04-06-2008 at 07:12 PM.

04-06-2008, 08:35 PM	#7
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462 User Feedback: (0)	Obby I would recommend frogbit if you can find it. Its nice in size, grows fast, and seemed to do fine in the shade of a pond I built for someone last summer. Other options would be water lettuce, and Salvinia (Which I currently have.) __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

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04-06-2008, 05:29 PM	#2
COM Rebel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 504 User Feedback: (0)	I have heard the same but I'm very new to plants. I only once tried plants about 11 or 12 years ago and it didn't go very well.

04-06-2008, 07:03 PM	#3
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,854 User Feedback: (0)	I don't know about the hair grass, but I think you are right about the others. Hornwort and duckweed also do ok in low light, but I don't know if you call them plants.

04-06-2008, 09:21 PM	#9
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,854 User Feedback: (0)	Hornwort floats rather than sinks, but stays under water and tends to get piled in one corner by the filter outflow. Its funny to watch the big male kenyii aquascaping with hornwort as well as with gravel. He kept moving a strand of hornwort away from his "courting stage" and it kept moving back. Then he started stripping the "needles" off and was able to relocate the bare stalk. Last edited by emc7; 04-06-2008 at 10:08 PM.

04-07-2008, 08:45 AM	#10
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,477 User Feedback: (2)	I agree with Clerk, dwarf hairgrass is high light. It will brown and die in low light (or in low co2). Its pretty picky IME. It also grows best in a nutrient rich substrate. The rest of your list is good though. Crypts get upset when you move them. Leave them alone and they will thrive. Trim off any dead or dying leaves and they will eventually grow back. Anacharis will grow in low light. I have never had any Ludwigia grow in low light. Ludwigia repens, especially, died on me in less than 2wpg. To get that nice red color on the leaves, you need 3wpg+ and co2/ferts IME. Rotala rotundifolia will be green and live in around 1-2wpg, but probably not less than that. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

04-07-2008, 09:03 AM	#11
Good Wolf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 237 User Feedback: (0)	Thanks for the feed back guys/gals. I'll be picking up some more plants and little bit better lighting. I'll most likely end up taking out the ludwigia. That is what I get for listening to the LFS. __________________ ~Chris~ *55g planted; 30g planted; 5g planted*

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