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I'm starting this thread to collect some recommendations.

What I am looking for is a list of plant species that would be suitable for use in a small aquarium (more specifically, a shallow aquarium of only 8 inches depth). The requirements are that the plants should not exceed 8 inches in height (and preferably be a little shorter when fully grown), and should be relatively adaptable to a range of water chemistry parameters and lighting conditions. Otherwise, feel free to add to this list stem plants, rosette plants, flowering plants, ferns, mosses, the whole aquatic plant cornucopia, other than plants I'm already considering or using, such as Java Moss and Java Ferns. I'm looking for something different here!

Oh, I've already added one to my list from Bensaf's rarities thread - namely Postagemon helferi, which if I can find it, will be a superb addition to just about any aquarium!

So, add your plant recommendations to this list, and state your reasons for doing so.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

If you can find it, anubias petite nana and similar petite species of anubias (yes, there are more than one!) are always lovely on driftwood or small stones. Aquabid.com sometimes has a seller called "thegreenplanet" that carries them for very reasonable prices, and even shipping is reasonable for overseas.
There are a number of crypt species that are easy to grow and remain quite small, such as c. wendtii, which comes in a number of color varieites, and c. beckettii, which is similar. I also find that corcscrew vals will do okay in small tanks, especially if you're using high wattage lights.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

Hey Cali, neat thread

Good luck finding Downoi at a reasonable price, as I mentioned earlier in Bensaf's thread, in the states they run around $40 for a single plant. If they grow fast maybe it's a good deal, if not then, well, maybe they'll come down in price. Gorgeous plant if used properly.

Crypt parva is a very small crypt, the smallest commercially available I think. Likes higher light levels than most crypts (according to tropica) but still not a high light plant.

E. tenellus is another standby if you can deal with the runners - though in low light I'm sure there won't be so much of that.

Then there's glosso, which I'm sure you know is a real carpet plant, but one that requires high light to do well, which is hard to achieve in a small tank.

In addition to small plants that attain small sizes full grown, I think it's important to understand that stem plants that can achieve large heights if given the space can also be used effectively in a small tank, provided they have small leaves. Off the top of my head, rotala indica and bacopa monnieri would seem to make good choices, provided they are given sufficient light for even slow growth. Occasional cutting and replanting may be necessary, but shouldn't be too much work on a small tank.

Also, keep an eye out for different moss types, like mini moss, erect, christmas, weeping - all interesting alternatives to java. I believe they aren't as tank like or fool proof as java moss, but alternatives nonetheless.

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Back in the saddle!

and should be relatively adaptable to a range of water chemistry parameters and lighting conditions.
What does that mean? How much light are you going to have? That's really the backbone that will support the plants. Many plants that would be foreground or midground could end up being used for your background in a small tank.

My Scapes

How much light are you going to have? That's really the backbone that will support the plants.

Won't the majority of small tanks - excluding those that go out of their way to be high light - be relatively low light because of light lost through glass etc.?

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Back in the saddle!

Won't the majority of small tanks - excluding those that go out of their way to be high light - be relatively low light because of light lost through glass etc

:%):%):%).....:%)

My Scapes

There's a surprisingly large number of plants suitable for the small tank but when you mentiona varying lighting and water conditions that list reduces drastically.

Mosses come in all shapes and sizes, don't have to limited to just Java, although most appreciate slightly cooler temps.

I keep away from ferns, they will easily get bigger then 2 inches. Wendelov fern would be a possible exception.

Cyrpts that will stay are manageable in size are few. Parva as nowher mentioned but it's hard to find and it is the sloooooowest growing plant I have ever seen. Even with bright light and Co2 I'm lucky if I see 1 new leaf a month. Seems to be tough as nails though. C. Willisii (sometimes known as C.Nevillii) will do nicely stays small in height but gets very bushy.

Anubias Nana/Petite is nigh on indestructible.

The Downoi from what I've heard is tough and will do ok in low light and no co2. But I've never tried growing it this way.

A definate winner is Echinodorous Parviflorus "Tropica". The poorer the contidions the smaller it grows. Even in tip top conditions it will only grow to about 6 inches. Looks like a miniture cabbage. Make sure it's the "Tropica" variant though. The regular Parviflorus will get a lot bigger.

Dwarf Sag might work.

There's alot of others suitable in size but generally the are much fussier about light and nutrients, many will do poorly without some form of CO2 supplementation.

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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.

Question vis-a-vis plants not on this list so far:

What about Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae?

I was once told that this was a superior alternative to Pigmy Chain Swords because it needed less light. Is this correct?

Only if so, this is one plant I can obtain without too much difficulty. And it's the genuine article too, as opposed to mislabelled Lilaeopsis brasiliensis, which I know requires decent lighting levels.

As for the ambient light level, well the 'small aquarium' in question is my 12" x 8" quarantine aquarium, and it's currently lit by a 60W incandescent bulb courtesy of a desktop lamp. One side of the aquarium receives a LOT more light than the other, and so the shade lovers can go on the dark side of the aquarium while I could, in theory at least, put the light lovers on the side directly illuminated by the desktop lamp.

Trouble is, I know for a fact that Water Wisteria would grow in there, but I'd be removing a bagful a week if I put that in!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002