Tank Plants?

Question

I have a 20 gallon freshwater tank. I bought three plants from Petsmart and they had snails on them! Also, buying plants like that is expensive! I was wondering if I can buy a plant at Home Depot (or wherever) like mondo grass or something. Then rinse the dirt off of the roots and put it in my tank. (which has gravel) Is that possible? Or does it have to be especially for aquariums? Mondo grass is one of the plants I bought at the pet store. Is there a different kind of plant that would be better?
Thanks to anyone who can help!
~~Lauren*

Answer 1

There are lots of plants that might do well in your tank. The best place to get them is from other hobbyists, short of that you are stuck getting them from a pet store. Anacharis, hygrophila, bacopa, rotala rotundifolia, java fern, anubias, and most mosses should do well under most conditions. Mondo grass is not aquatic and will soon rot in your aquarium. Take it out and put it in a pot of soil if you want it to live. For more information regarding planted tanks, try plantedtank.net or aquaticplantcentral.com.

Answer 2

I have to agree with yoink, plants are a great addition to your tank. snails can be avoided but i find that they are beneficial by eating "plants" that are pests such as algae. disagreeing with Loren plants are definitely worth it. Some aquarists, including me, request snails when buying plants. the mondo grass is not aquatic and will slowly die in your aquarium. such plant as wisteria, apognaten, and cryptocrene are good choices. a great site for research is: http://www.aquahobby.com/e_garden.php.
For plants you may have to buy a new lamp so the plants will grow. the most it can cost, depending on size and purchase place, is $35. I got mine for ~ $20. A timer is also advisable, as it becomes a chore to turn on and off the lights on a strict schedule. CO2 is not necessary because the fish and plants themselves shall provide that. Be advised that plants only oxygenate the water while photosynthesis is occurring, i.e: when the lights are on; and will consume oxygen at night. This is natural but don't overstock and provide good filtration, encouraging water movement. I fertilize my plants but i guess it is not necessary. I have also stopped cleaning my gravel, not to disturb the roots. plants also remove ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate but regular water changes should still be observed. all in all plants are beneficial for. They are both aesthetically pleasing and do not tear up fish fins.

Hope this helps,
Markushka

Answer 3

Sorry, nice idea but it won't work. There are terrestrial plants and aquatic plants and you can't really swap the two. Stick with the aquatic plants, others will simply die in the tank fairly quickly.

The mondo grass you bought at the pet store was one of the hazards of buying plants. All too often stores have plants and don't know what they have. Some unscrupulous suppliers will use cheaper terrestrial plants and sell them as aquatic plants to make big bucks. Bad for me and you unless we really know our plants. I suggest a decent plant book that you can take to the pet store with you to help select true aquatic plants for your tank. Yes, the internet has some great info and wonderful pics of plants, but it's much harder to take to the store with you.

Best of luck with the plants, they can make a tank look awesome!

MM

Answer 4

Snails are actually good for your tank, and your going to get them sooner or later. It is best to buy plants from the pet store because you need plants that are ment TO GO UNDER WATER!!!! Probably the cheapest plant is java moss. Look it up on the internet.

Answer 5

I don't have any plants in my tank. Except for a bit of oxygen weed. I find that the snails eat the plants so its just not worth it. I use filters that provide and circulate oxygen in the water.