3.5 MUST HAVE easy plants for low tech planted aquarium

[@freshflowaquatics]

What are your favorite 3.5 easy plants?

[@tannerbroadwell5488]

i think my top 5 beginner plants in order from easiest to hardest would be 1. Anubias (as long as you don’t bury the rhizome) 2.cryptocoryne (mid/background) 3.guppy grass (needs lots of trimming) 4.dwarf sagittaria (foreground) 5.duckweed or salvinia as a floating plant

[@freshflowaquatics]

All great choices. I love Anubias and crypts. I might have to throw some crypts in this tank!

[@debbiec2663]

Loved this video. Thanks

[@freshflowaquatics]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!

[@AG-6969]

Beautiful tank!

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks so much!

[@rolisreefranch]

Great video! Love the tanks and cats. I live in Wheat Ridge and was surprised to find out you're just up north. Keep 'em coming!

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I love hearing that locals are watching 😊. I noticed you had an online store, do you have a brick and mortar too?

[@eaeaea555]

Really helpful video as I try to figure out what plants to choose for my tank. I love seeing the kitties make cameos!

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks so much as always @eaeaea555 !! The cat cafe is definitely my favorite service location. Hard to have a bad day with all the kitties around 😻

[@brendalemay8384]

Beautiful tank and I am loving your cute cat in the video. I love cats and fish.

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks so much! I set the tank up @nococatcafe so there are always a ton of cats when I go to clean the tank. Always a blast there 😻

[@jonisolis9645]

Nice looking aquacape! 1. Anubias, 2. Cryptocoryne, 3. Amazon sword, 4. Water Wisteria.

[@freshflowaquatics]

All great choices! I need to add some crypt to this tank for sure.

[@erickborling1302]

I found pearlweed growing in the high pH streams of Northern Minnesota.

[@freshflowaquatics]

That's crazy. Do you think it is successfully overwintering in Northern Minnesota? I'm often surprised at how hardy aquarium plants are. I leave clippings in buckets in my garage which is in the 30s/40s this time of year and for the most part they do just fine. Guess even Florida dips down to freezing on occasion.

[@thehairywoodsman5644]

I love duckweed ! so much that I have an indoor pond with 8 huge feeder goldfish.....when the duckweed in the aquariums gets too thick, I net it out and feed it to the Goldies ! 3 favorites...water sprite, water wisteria, pennywort .

[@freshflowaquatics]

Glad I'm not the only one who loves duckweed so much!! I maintain a couple goldfish tanks. I'll have to bring some for them next time. Water wisteria is such an amazing plant - love it!

[@maxine3587]

Limnophilia sessiflora (no idea if thats spelled right, but you know the plant i mean) I think it's really pretty with the lovely shade of green, too.

[@freshflowaquatics]

@@maxine3587 That's a classic, hardy and pretty plant that you can't go wrong with. Good choice!

[@tonyhind6992]

I love duck weed. Keeps my tank clean.

[@freshflowaquatics]

Definitely, and it doesn't take that long too clean out every couple weeks.

[@theTimatoHouse]

I also like pearl weed 👌

[@freshflowaquatics]

Can't go wrong with pearl weed!

[@jonisolis9645]

I do grow duckweed for my goldfish. In most of my aquariums I prefer giant duckweed or other floaters.

[@freshflowaquatics]

Bet your goldfish love it!

[@jonisolis9645]

I finally got some pearl weed. I have been wanting to try it out for a long time.

[@freshflowaquatics]

You'll love it, such a hardy and pretty plant!

[@lisaallran3029]

That kitty has a great spot to nap...and dream about the fish...

[@freshflowaquatics]

I love seeing kitties watching or napping near the tank 😻

[@yashtapase3821]

Very simple scape with best aesthetics ❤

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks, I really appreciate that!

[@ud251]

You had me til duckeed😂

[@freshflowaquatics]

Once you got it, there's no going back 🤣🤣🤣

[@craigathonian]

Great tank ! { but with all these rooted plants, i'd forgo on the cleaning of the substrate.} Another great plant for beginners is Hygrophila Difformis. Low light to bright light...it just keeps on growing. i even kept it as a ground cover, this is just how versatile this one is. On the Anubias species i would only suggest the tiny varieties of the nana lineages, since a number of Anubias' are offered when tiny, but will grow bigger and bigger with time. While still other varieties are not Aquatic at all, but more swamp oriented and will eventually rot and die.

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks @craigathonian I appreciate it! Lol, I should have clarified about the siphoning since I've had a few comments on that... I just do a little bit up front along the sand bed to keep it looking clean. I am definitely not gravel siphoning this whole tank! Hygrophila difformis and Anubias are both excellent species to keep in low tech tanks! Also agreed, there are some crazy big Anubias species and it can be easy to think they're small when you buy them as a baby plant.

[@craigathonian]

After i left the message i thought about the cleanliness aspect. May i suggest the opposite is scape pitch. Have the surface of the entire scape tilt to a chosen area in the back. It need not be severe, just a nice tilt of the front and outer sides all headed downward to the rear. Waste will naturally tumble to this gully were it will benefit the micro culture, in return, the plants. If there's no movement, you can just fan the debris manually to the lower portion, keeping these valuable nutrients.@@freshflowaquatics

[@freshflowaquatics]

@@craigathonian That's an interesting approach. I always tilt my tanks towards the front because I like the aesthetics and because it helps to direct the waste towards the front where I can easily clean it. But if it were in the back, no one would see it!

[@kiLLjoy24CALI]

If I'm limited to 3 plants for the rest of my life, I'd pick Crypts, Hygrophilas, and Rotalas. You can plant them on a 5 gallon or a 75 gallon with no CO2 and cheap LED light.

[@freshflowaquatics]

All terrific choices. I especially love Crypts and Hygros... Got both in most tanks I set up whether they are low or hi tech. Also love Rotalas lol. I hope no one ever forces us to stick with only 3 plants 🤣

[@DennyMK007]

Like for the cats.

[@freshflowaquatics]

Hard to compete with them.

[@FishRfun]

I've finally transitioned to all live plants in both my 15g and 55g. I love it, but I'm really hoping i can control my jungle val to where it is now and not take over the tank

[@freshflowaquatics]

That's awesome, hope it takes off for you as well! The best way I've found to keep it from spreading too much is to pull of the shooters every couple weeks. It's the kind of thing that if you do every other week, will only take a few minutes. But if you wait a few months, you'll be dealing with a JUNGLE O' VAL 🤣

[@FishRfun]

@freshflowaquatics lol...yes staying on top of it is key im sure. So far so good 👍

[@Sathish-sd5kb]

how to get lush green plants , do you add ferts or liquid co2?

[@freshflowaquatics]

Yes, two pumps of each three times a week as well as the occasional root tabbing session. Over periods where it doesn't get all those nutrients, the plants definitely slow down on growth.

[@mohdayub0702]

So lovely step can you plz ask me. All plants name. for this tank

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks! I'll go ahead an update the description with all the plants. I think there's only 3 more I didn't touch on.

[@apluscichlids]

Do you have any experience using laterite under the substrate for nutrients?

[@freshflowaquatics]

No, I haven't. From my understanding it's one of the first fertilizers produced for aquariums from back in the 70s. It's good for getting some iron on the substrate I think. Are you looking for an all around substrate or soil layer?

[@apluscichlids]

@@freshflowaquatics I am doing sand for the substrate, with crushed coral on the bottom. But I was thinking of putting a layer of laterite below everything. Co2 injection and I’m doing a small water pump on a timer to a dropper for fertilizer. Just was looking idea on how to add nutrients to the sand. I’ll use root tabs but something more

[@freshflowaquatics]

@@apluscichlids Since I've never used laterite, I can't say for certain how it compares to other materials out there. However, I believe it comes as a powder, and I would prefer to put something more porous under the sand bed to promote root growth. If you are trying to keep it from spilling out onto the sand, you could use some mesh bags and fill it with any type of aquarium soil. That might be harder to do with actual soil, and risky if you had cichlids digging around in there 😊

[@thomascrohan7810]

Nice set up, why the vacuum though?

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks! I vacuum along the front because debris collects on the sand bed. I set this tank up at a public location (a cafe) so I always try to keep it looking as clean and crisp as possible. TBH kind of a love/hate with sand beds along the front. They look so fresh when they're clean but it never lasts long 🤣

[@thomascrohan7810]

ahhhhhh totally understand, I appreciate the explanation and clarification. I agree, I much prefer sand over gravel. @@freshflowaquatics

[@freshflowaquatics]

@@thomascrohan7810 No problem!

[@Nateorade_]

I eradicated duck weed and I literally stress when I order plants hoping I never see it again lol

[@freshflowaquatics]

@Nateorade_ 🤣 I hear you. There are some tanks that I don't allow duck weed into for that exact reason

[@yahya_176]

Awesome video, dude what's your aquarium parameter? L:B:H.

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thank you! I'm not 100% sure on the dimensions and I won't be back to check on the tank for a couple weeks. I know for sure that is around 60 gal / 230 l and that it's 36 in / 90 cm long. It's probably about 24 in / 60 cm tall and 18 in / 45 cm deep. I think the tank is from the 90's, it's not a dimension that I come across often.

[@yahya_176]

@@freshflowaquatics I know these types of tank are not out there now, that's why I asked you and Man, Thanks alot for this helpful comment, appreciate you❤

[@freshflowaquatics]

@@yahya_176 Happy to help 😊 I'll be putting out a video in the next month or so of my 45 gallon tall tank. Also another old school style

[@yahya_176]

@@freshflowaquaticsthats great, then I'm waiting for it, take your time n hope for the best.

[@namesbinge3073]

Once you have duck weed, it never goes away.

[@freshflowaquatics]

🤣

[@quitlife9279]

I didn't find star grass too easy to grow although it wasn't difficult, and didn't like how it grew, really messy and roots everywhere, leaves are easily damaged and not long lasting, it's not at all like how it's pictured in high tech manicured setups.

[@freshflowaquatics]

Thanks for sharing your experience growing star grass. I definitely hear what you are saying, there is a big difference between how it looks here in this video compared to when I've grown it in my high tech tank. I'm not sure how strong your light was, but I think that lighting might be the biggest limitation on this plant. Assuming it has at least some nutrition in the soil or water column. I'm running a couple of Nicrews on this tank, pretty budget friendly.