Plant suggestions?

[amandalou]

Help! I need plant recommendations! I have a 55 gallon tank. I would like to have a planted tank, but I want to keep the needs of my fish buddies in mind. I have kissing gouramis who would like more shade; right now there are artificial lilly pads floating on the surface to provide shade. Also, I would like to fill in some of the greenery with some ground cover (is "ground" cover the right phrase?) but I keep cories, and I want to preserve playing and foraging space for them. Any suggestions I can get will be much appreciated! Right now all I have is an amazon sword, some leafy green and white things, and some plastic plants. Help!

[Buddha_Red]

i found this


In nature Kissers are usually found in slow moving heavily vegetated ponds or marshes. They are a hardy fish that will tolerate a range of water conditions. However, they need a lot of space, with access to the surface, warm water, and plenty of vegetation. Because they are fond of plant matter in their diet, use artificial plants or sturdy live plants such as Java fern or Java moss. Tender plants are likely to be eaten down to the stem.

[AngelMom]

I have 7 gouramis in a 60 gallon (rectangular tank) that is heavily planted. They will eat fine leaved plants (rotalla, cabomba, etc) but I have not had any problems with them eating wisteria, crypts, vals, anubias or the java ferns. Water sprite is a good plant to have floating as it receives most (if not all) of it's nutrients through its leaves. Also, the wisteria should grow tall enough to offer some shade or you can do what I do and let water onions and jungle val grow so long the upper part of the leaves float on the top of the water.

[amandalou]

thanks for the suggestions! I'll see what I can find - most of the shops around here, though, keep plants as an afterthought, often not even labeling their product.

[AngelMom]

I've had very goog luck with bying plants online from either Live Aquarial/eTropicals (www.liveaquaria.com) or Arizona Aquatic Gardens (www.azgardens.com). Arizona Gardens plants are a bit less expensive, but sometimes you have to buy a particular quantity and they require a minimum $35.00 order. On the other side of the coin, their plants are some of the nicest I've ever seen.

[Buddha_Red]

http://www.thezengardens.com

has some good plants and no minimum. i have bought a ton of plants but mainly they are beginner plants. not a whole lot for advanced plant growers.

good selection though. tell dave shane (buddha_red) sent ya. he is a great guy.

[aquak]

I got a good deal on a variety pack of plants on ebay. My gouramis have never eaten any of my plants, at least not that I've noticed. The one I have now seems to pick at the small leaves on one, but they are far from eaten down to stalk.

[Buddha_Red]

i trust you more than what i found. experience beats books anyday.

[amandalou]

Found some java fern (I only bought one little one - it is living on a new piece of upright driftwood - yes, well-soaked) and some nice long (tall?) water onions, which the gouramis have been investigating but not ripping to shreds. The tank is looking much better - I didn't fully realize that a few plants could make that much of a difference. But I'm not done yet. I'd like to fill it out nicely - and I think the fish are enjoying it, too.

[Buddha_Red]

if you can find the right plants for your fish it will make your fish more at ease. Gives places to explore and hide when they need to.

also i am addicted to plants as well. planning my 55g redo. no fish loss but plants and slate. I hope you have as much fun as i have had.

good luck and post pics as you can, we all will love to see them.