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What are some recommeneded lowlight background plants? I'm not liking my Asian Ambulia because its too messy and fragile. Plus, the needles keep clogging up my intake valve. I would like a plant that is sturdy.

I have 1.3WPG so that will limit my choices.

[span class="edited"][Edited by sly 2004-08-05 11:59][/span]

hmmm... 1.3 wpg... the tallest i can think of is java fern or some apon bulbs you can buy from wal-mart. how big is your tank again??

i am starting to hate my cabomba, anacharis, and sometimes red temple, they shed a lot especially cabomba, my intake is clogged as well. ]:| i am trying to convert all to vals for my background, they are pretty nice plants. for you... if you can add just a little bit more light, like... 2wpg you can try vals, they are pretty awesome

Don't Vals grow very very tall? Whats the shortest growing val? My tank is 36L, 12W, 16H.

My Anubias and Java Ferns are doing great! The Anubias is has already grown new leaves! While one of my Java Ferns is sprouting a new stem as well.

[span class="edited"][Edited by sly 2004-08-05 13:28][/span]

I've heard corkscrew val is smaller.

At 1.3wpg you could try Hygro Polysperma, Wisteria, Water Sprite and you might get away with Ludwigia Repens.

These are all pretty easy fast growing plants. Just give them time to reach the desired height and then get your scissors out and cut them when they get too tall and plant the tops somewhere else. This will also wake them grow more bushy to fill in the back nicely. Easier to control then Vals which do get big, but not easy to control the height of Vals without ruining the look of the plant.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Ok, I ordered the following:

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1x Sagittaria subulata
2x Anubias barteri v. barteri
2x Microsorum pteropus (Java Fern)
3x Anubias Nana (Anubias barteri v. Nana)

Aquarium Garden (http://www.aquariumgarden.com/index.php)
[font color="#008000"]------------------------------------------------[/font]


I think I will replace the Asian Ambulia and perhaps the Wisteria because they are just too messy for me. Hopefully the ones I ordered will be more sturdy and less likely to shed easily. :88)

Here's what my 30 gallon tanks looks like:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/djsly/front_tank.jpg

[span class="edited"][Edited by sly 2004-08-06 13:38][/span]

I would recomend vallisneria tortifolia (check the profiles on my signature) it won't get to big and it's a low light plants, any vall will work, but some will get to big and you'll need to trim them.

Cabomba sheds when it lacks light, so maybe you want to move it to a more light place in the tank.

Another background undemanding plant could be water whisteria, and elodea, these to do wonderful in low light situations, they won't grow as fast. As mentioned, aponogetons, the kind you'll find in your local wallmart can be a good option too, also lilies, but those won't do a good background plant, more as a midground, also check the profiles, the good thing and what i like about lilies is the floating leaves, they kind of give the tank a more natural intresting look.

I"m not just looking for low-lights but sturdy plants such as [font color="#C00000"]Java Ferns, Anubias Nana, Ludwigias, etc.[/font] I find that [font color="#BF791F"]Water Wisteria and Asian Ambulia[/font] shed very easily when touched or moved.

I also have a Canister Filter with spraybar that and Powerhead that creates good water movment so I want somethign that can stand up aginst the current. How sturdy are the Vals? They look like they would sway easily.

Unfortunately, ludwigia repens grows slowly under low light, and also the leaves will fall off. Probably not a good choice for less than 2 wpg.

All the ones i mentioned are sturdy, but any plant will shed if it's unhealthy or lacks basic nutrient or light requirements, so maybe you want to check on that. My water whisteria never sheds, even if touched or even moved.

Unfortunetly, with that ammount of light, your options for a good background plant are limited, hornwort may be an option since you can weight it down and use it as a "stem" plant.

Crinum may be another option but since the leaves are very thin i don't thik it will make a good background plant.

Giant Hygro can also adapt to low light conditions, but it will take a while for it to grow.

All this are hardy and most of them not even herbivorous fish will thouch them.

Crinum may be another option but since the leaves are very thin i don't thik it will make a good background plant.

You are talking about crinum calimastratum which has very thin leaves, but crinun thianum, the "Water onion" has very wide leaves, a couple inches or more. Makes a great background plant