Aquarium plants?

Question

dose anyone know of any plants from the garden departments in the aquarium? (lowes, wallmart ect) Aqurium plants are so small and exspensive and I have 2 50gal. tanks. I was thinking if I bought from the garden area I would get bigger plants to seperate cheaper. I really would like to have some live plants for decoration and fry. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Well, most pond plants are floating plants or semi-aquatic plants. If your tank doesn't have a lid, then by all means; the plants will grow past the water level. However, if you try to contain them within the tank water, they will die and rot.

Plants at the fish store are really expensive, but local hobbiests are a great source of cheap plants. Where do you live? Try to locate the fish club in your area, or even try craigslist.com - you can likely find plants for sale for 2-3$, and if you find someone with a lot of plants, they may give you little pieces from their plants which will spread rapidly in your tank. You can also attend your fish club auction - great place to get cheap, nice, big plants.

Answer 2

Pond plants will grow in an aquarium, but remember that pond plants are usually meant to grow up OUT of the water. Some pothos will do okay underwater for a short while.

The best plants for fry are java moss and hornwort, they both grow quite fast, so should be fairly cheap to buy. If not at a petstore, contact your local Aquaria Society, most groups have monthly meetings where they auction off the cheaper, faster growing plants. Because they are such fast growers, most people already have lots, so the auction price is usually very low. Barring attending a meeting, there will most likely be members who will sell you the plants for a very reasonable price, maybe even give them to you, just to get rid of their excess!

Answer 3

i get plants on ebay -- there is one that sells bulk groups of plants -- enough plants to cover a 20-30 gallon aquarium for like 30 dollars. i usally don't recommend it because some plants are a lot harder to grow than others and they are grouped to look good together -- not by their needs. you can buy bulbs and tubers in little packets but you don't know what you are getting -- just an assortment. in general learn the names of aquatic plants and you can pick up stuff for cheap. i know you can grow mondo grass in aquariums. i don't know how you transfer them from a dirt pot to an aquarium though. i have seen peace lilys and drachneas grown submersed in water too.

Answer 4

i only paid 1 dollar for all the plants in my tank , listed here
http://www.bridgewatertaekwondo.com/Aquarium.html

it was either walmart , or pets unlimited i bought them at