5 Gallon Aquarium? Here Are My Favorite Aquatic Plants For It! 🌱

[@ellenm4560]

So glad you mentioned java fern being a stinker. I thought I was doing something very wrong with mine as it's never really looked that good. Always half brown with babies growing all over it like it's super stressed.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

iKR🌿🥰

[@janellechew6193]

Same!!!

[@Batmancontingencyplans]

These videos are criminally underrated

[@thesmallscape]

🤭thank you!

[@amymandeville8342]

Nobody ever told me that aquarium plants become an addiction lol. I'm glad it's not just me with the Java fern, too. I bought mine two years ago and it's barely hanging on no matter what I do.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Java fern my first time around in the hobby almost made me give up on planted tanks 🤣😭 I don't know what it is about those "little stinkers"I've actually had better luck just throwing them into a tank not attached to anything and letting them find their own place 🤣 I'm so thankful for all the other plants Joanna has recommended and yes definitely is a addiction 🤣🤣 we need a Joanna's collector list so we can check off each plant and earn a badge 🤣🤣 like in Girl scouts or something 🤣🤣🌿💚 I hope you have a wonderful day 🙏🌿♥️

[@amymandeville8342]

@@marypaigeflynn4512 yes!!!

[@finnwiggles28]

Absolutely Love my TopFin 5 gal. All surrounded by Val, there's Crypts, Java trident & Windelov, Guppy grass, Dwarf Water lettuce, Red tiger Lotus, Amazon Swords, Fissdens moss carpet, Anubias Nana, Barteri, & Subwassertang! Emerald Dwarf Rasbora, Neon Blue Gobi, Dwarf Blue Crayfish & Pumpkin Shrimps all thriving & loving this home. :) Love this series!

[@lynnbonica4342]

You have all that in a 5 gallon? Sounds crowded. Any room for the fish to swim? 😂

[@theangleraquarist]

I literally just got a rimless 5.5. You are a life saver. Can you do the best nano algae eaters next?

[@theangleraquarist]

@@janicewalker477 I have fresh veggies available. I have one in my 29 gallon but plan on getting a couple of maybe 3 more

[@thesmallscape]

Congrats on your 5g! 🙌 Yes, that video is coming out soon.☺️

[@bonniegoodwin5653]

I had Java fern Wendi lov in A 10 gal for a year. It didn’t die but it didn’t grow either nor did it set down roots. On a whim I switched it to my 75 gallon and it took off and even set another plant. So even though I don’t have a five gallon,(yet) it has become my favorite plant. Pretty much if it grows in my water, it’s my favorite lol Great video, thanks

[@MissCaylen]

I have all low tech nanotanks and these are the species that grow super well for me! Bacopa (monnieri/carolinia), java fern, java fern windelow (or bolbitis, I cannot tell them apart!), hygrophila corymbose compact and corymbosa siamensis 53b, Anubias nana, anubias golden, anubias gracilis, and hornwort. I mentioned this already in a comment below but I have crazy success floating almost anything in my tanks. I exclusive float bacopa - makes an excellent betta hammock. I have java moss growing for the first time (fingers crossed) and it's doing very well!

[@naegwut]

Java fern is such a stinker!!! You're totally right 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@thesmallscape]

😏

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Crypts definitely grow their way into our hearts!! Especially when they keep growing and turn into mature plants.. they are beautiful!! I'm definitely loving my Anubias. The newest addition to my collection is the Nanji, I've noticed it grows a little faster even though it has bigger leaves and it doesn't get the black beard as easily. I really like the S repens and bulbitis (on my to get list) I do have Bacopa carolinia ✔️ Java Fern✔️ the Java fern hasn't grown in yet. A plant that has really surprised me in my five gallon spec has been a sword plant. I know it gets big but for now it's really a statement piece in this particular Aquarium along with anubias(petite coin... I think) and some crypts.(My kitchen tank!!) Thank you Joanna I love these videos and I feel like we have a unique little fish, plant and Nano club here 🥰♥️ Thank you guys for letting me be a part of it!! I hope everyone has a blessed and beautiful day!! 🙏💚🌿🐟🌿♥️🥰

[@thesmallscape]

You have a nice collection, I waited a long time to get my hands on bolbitis but worth the wait for sure. You will love it. We do have a lovely little community, yes we do. We are blessed. You help make it very special indeed. 🌿😊🌿😊🌿

[@cherylbelott]

Once again we think alike. I started out not liking crypts but slowly I’m coming around. And if a plant doesn’t work in one tank, pack it’s bags and send it to another tank. Chances are it’ll do better. It worked for my windelov. 😁🌱🌿

[@thesmallscape]

I laughed with that one - pack it’s bags!! You’ve got that right! 😂

[@debbiebamrick4020]

Good morning Joanna- for someone like me who has 10 nano tanks with a betta and a snail in each tank - finding plants that were easy to grow was a long learning lesson. Now two years later and my tanks and plants are doing great ( so are my bettas) ! I have all the plants you mentioned and my Java ferns are also doing well- Love this series - TYFS and have a great day!

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Same here 🙌💚🌿🥰

[@wendihamlett105]

I DO have a five gallon and funny thing is the Java Fern Windelov is the only plant I seem to have real luck with! Set it and forget seems to work in that little 5 gallon with the java fern, 5 green neons, and 1 nerite snail. Good times in the kitchen!

[@MissCaylen]

I have crypts for the first time that will be going into a nanoscape I'm doing soon. I have them floating in my 20 gallon for now, and call me crazy, but they actually look awesome floating upside down with the root bundle at the surface. My betta LOVES them! I will always support bacopa carolinia and monnieri! They sprout babies like crazy, I actually float it and the roots look beautiful coming down into the water :)

[@davefromiowa3843]

Another great shaping video

[@johnwood738]

Water lettuce and Java moss my Killi fish love them! You know when my grandfather passed away he left fifty clocks and one hundred wrist watches. It took me forever to wind up his estate!

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

I love you John 🤣🥰♥️🌿🐟🌿

[@johnwood738]

@@marypaigeflynn4512 well it’s like I always say “ every silver lining has a cloud,and here I am “ . Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you I was bringing my niece back from therapy. She works until vet school in the fall at a very prestigious veterinary hospital next to Saratoga race track ( she had to sigh a non disclosure because of the work they do on some of the horses that come in ( that’s why it’s next to the race track) any way one of the horses she was working flipped out and hit her in the head and she got a concussion. Very proud of her at twenty one years old she has graduated from two colleges with her vet tech license a bachelors and an associate degree. She has a spot in a very good vet college ( no small feat because of how many students are applying,eight thousand per spot ( no one got in last year,so backlogged).

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

@@johnwood738 I love that she is a vet tech!!! I was one for 20 years. I can so relate to getting hit in the head!! I hope all is well 🙏🙏🙏 I also raised quarter horses and Appaloosas up until I was 40 and I had to give up my farm 😭 I know you are so proud! I love hearing your stories, your jokes and your comments!! I hope you and your niece are having a very blessed and beautiful day!! PS you are definitely a silver lining ♥️🥰💚😁

[@johnwood738]

@@marypaigeflynn4512 I take pride in being the cloud,it’s how I opened the toast as best man as my best friend Geordie’s wedding,then I had his wife hold out her hand and had him put his hand on top and asked him if he liked it. When he said yes I said good that’s the last time you’re going to have the upper hand, then roasted him . His family was rolling between the tables. It was only fair after what I did at the rehearsal,I got everyone including minister to dress in what I called the wedding colors hunter orange and camouflage. Horses,my niece rode IEA plus went to nationals three times for horses!

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

@@johnwood738 🤣🤣♥️

[@communitytanks4life769]

Water lettuce! My Betta's personal favorite! He is in a 6.8 gallon with a sponge filter. The water lettuce didn't like the flow in my 20 gallon community tank so it found a new home with my Betta.

[@shesellsfish]

Good list. Yep, I have a all in one 5g and I have narrow leaf java fern, bolbitus, horn wort, planted and free floating, willow moss and 3 pothos plants, 6 male blue star endlers, 6 skrittles shrimp, and I'm seeing some teeny, tiny, little eyelash shrimplets, and some pink ramshorn snails. I love this little tank. 👍❤👍

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

🎊🎉🦐💚🥰

[@thesmallscape]

Sounds like a mesmerizing tank. ☺️The wee shrimplets must be adorable!

[@CricketsMa]

Thank you! That’s a great list and piqued my interest in a couple of plants for my 10 gallon. Not that there’s any room left! 😄

[@thesmallscape]

Haha! That’s the problem... 🤔 more room! ☺️

[@pjp9383]

@@thesmallscape Need more room? Need more tanks!!! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@alisonnicholson]

Just the video I needed. Starting a new 5g for my dumbo betta Odin. Have never had luck with S Repens. Love the anubias and crypts. Had great success with those. Also love the hydrocotyle tripartita Japan have that in every tank. Cryptocorne wendtii brown another favourite also love rotala orange juice for a bit of intense colour, love the orange.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

💚🌿🥰

[@thesmallscape]

Odin, such a cute name! I love your plant choices..and I agree, the orange addition is always beautiful ☺️

[@alisonnicholson]

@@thesmallscape thanks Joanna 😊

[@kristykristy9072]

Have a 5 gallon guppy grow out tank. Done with the babies now, so I'm going to overhaul it for my daughter. Thank you for some ideas. It's so teeny tiny so this has helped a lot. Thank you 🇦🇺

[@suee031]

I have 3 or 4 java ferns in my Spec V along with an Anubias Barteri and one sprig of a wisteria. The java fern are slowly creeping along the back wall of the tank and I have the anubias in front of a Buddha statue. They have all grown quite a bit in the 9 months they have been in the tank. I also have had a resurgence of the duckweed I thought I got rid of last summer. I just scoop it out so that it only covers about 1/3 of the tank. I only keep a Betta and some trumpet snails in that tank so the nitrates stay low (5ish ppm) with weekly maintenance. I use CO2 Booster and Leaf Zone by API. I have the light on for 4 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. Any more than that and I seem to get a lot of algae on the anubias. This is my favourite aquarium plantwise. It is very stable and no problem algae.

[@sunnycal2293]

Love the hard scape of your first tank that you showed us. The placement and textures of everything looks beautiful. I rescaped my 15g recently with a couple of large pieces of driftwood, rocks, aquatic botanicals and for my plant choices, kept it very minimal with just a lot of java ferns and a beautiful anubias petite. I think I'll be adding another one or two to my tank though. I really wanted to see a lot of hardscape with different textures in my tank. Keep the maintenance simple too. I love S. Repens. I use to have a carpet of it in my (past) 10g tank.

[@joshszooofanimals5416]

Exciting and will be great info ☺️

[@joestoddart772]

I bought my wife a 5 gallon fluval tank 2 Christmases ago, and used eco complete substrate. There are a bunch of crypts, and dwarf sag. There is also a piece of hornwort that we just keep trimming, one nice bucephelandra and some Java moss. Also dragon stone and mopani driftwood. There are three male endlers and several colors of shrimp, and a hillstream loach for stock.

[@AG_plants]

Great selection , especially for beginners

[@habitspinkrabbits4452]

Thank you for this video, I bought my first plant for my five gallon based on your recommendation I went with Anubis

[@wannabeyoutuber4795]

Cool might have to try it out are you going to do more of the different types of drift wood videos and more rock ones

[@sandymouse73]

I love S. Repens! One of my favorites. The tissue cultures are nice but sometimes getting them acclimated to submersion can be difficult.

[@katherinepaige5186]

Java ferns are sooo fickle and frustrating sometimes. I have three 5 gallons (oops) and my new favorite for them has been wavy Buce! It fits so perfectly in little nooks and crannies.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

I have yet to get Buce.. definitely the next on my list 😁💚🌿🙏🥰

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Excellent tutorial Professor Joanna. Aqua Scaping 101. Room 102. 10am. with Professor Joanna.

[@thesmallscape]

Don’t be late! 😂😂

[@chriscyr4982]

......didn't know my Bacopa will run up top. As it got to the top I trimmed it and started another plant to make it bushier. The next piece I'll let it do it's 'thang'......Thanks for the info. As usual I enjoy your video's and learn a few things too, how good is that !!

[@madisonk7916]

Awesome selections! I have a 5gal low tech tank thats heavily planted! Got Dwarf hair grass in the front with a random small crypt, longer hair grass in the middle on each side of a piece of wood that ive attached a huge anubias nana petite onto and along the back i have java windolov and limnophilia and a giant green lotus looking plant peeking out with lily pad like leaves along the top. Makes for a great looking tank not too high maintenance

[@j.a.8785]

Awesome content! I have a bit of guppy grass and giant ducked in 5 gallons

[@thesmallscape]

Then you have free plants for years! 🙌

[@johnlasco894]

This is another great video. I have anubias in all of my nanos...5, 3, and 2.5. Java fern does not like me st all. I will try some of your suggestions, since my water is very close to yours and I love low light plants. My java moss is doing well though. I resurrected it from a brown mass last year and now it's covering a mopani log. Thank you for all your great ideas. Hope you guys have a blast at Aquashella!

[@2ndflooraquatics609]

Totally agree about Java Fern. It did terrible in the 2 tanks I initially put it in (took the time to scape & place it so beautifully in just the right spot), but is doing fine when I threw it in another tank..... go figure 🙃

[@rickymarin2545]

Wow you know your stuff. I’m looking to start aqua scaping and I wanna try Crisps, Bacopa, and S Repens in a 5 gallon tank round tank

[@adelesandry]

Oh, I'm so glad to hear you have issues with java fern! Most of the time mine are a little sad looking. I'm still trying though

[@willjackson3402]

Thank you so much for these videos. Someone linked me here from reddit and I can already tell I'm going to be using them a lot to help me set up my beginner tank and probably more as I delve into the hobby. Also the advice on Java ferns was amazing. I get told a lot that they're beginner plants, and it's good to know that they can be rather finicky before adding them.

[@terrymartins2552]

I love Bacopa Caroliniana but I don’t have any luck with it, probably because I love it so much. It grows for me but the lower stems always end up melting. I keep chopping off the tops and replanting but just keeps melting.

[@twunderaquatics1770]

I have a couple of 5 gallon tanks. One is a red shrimp tank that subwasertang has completely taken over. The other has trycotle and buceflanda. I'm surprised you've never done anything with subwasertang. You can attach it to anything. Also you can just let it tumble around till it gets settled. 👍😁

[@thesmallscape]

Nice. Well, i love the sub in the one studio tank (the baby formosa’s LOVE it) and in candy cane island. But it just makes a mess in my farm tank. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But I do love it, especially for the 10g.

[@apss5736]

Great video

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

🥰

[@markhunter2244]

Some really nice plants. Since watching your video’s I’m having much better luck with crypts, really love them now 🤗

[@thesmallscape]

Oh, how nice! It’s probably the Scottish air... 🌱🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌿

[@bobreynolds744]

Thank you.

[@juliaheinritz3264]

Such is life...java fern comment: put it in a tank you don't want it in and it will do fine...🤣🤣so true...love your humor:)

[@AniMerci]

Other than tank size and portrait vs landscape, lighting requirements are integral to plant success. Especially if you use the kit lighting.Thank you.

[@lizettebusquets4305]

Awesome suggestions! I also love the crypts and s. repens! Crypts have been easy, little to no melting in neither my low or high tech tank. I couldn't get s. repens to grow in my low tech tank, though. I haven't figured out what I was doing wrong. It's doing very well in the high tech tank and it's a beautiful little plant. Safe travels to Orlando!

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

🥰♥️

[@thesmallscape]

Ya. S repens is a slow grower for me generally. ☺️

[@lizettebusquets4305]

@@thesmallscape yeah...it's slow even in the high tech tank, but it looks healthy. That's not the case in the low tech. It may be because I used eco complete for substrate even though I put root tabs in it.

[@carolinemusic100]

Hi Joanna, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful small aquascapes. You've given me quite a few ideas for the future although, I'm not sure if I will be able to source these plants in Scotland. You're inspirational. 😊👏

[@thesmallscape]

I’m so happy to hear that! Yay! I sure hope you are able to acquire some of them 🙏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🌿

[@meggrotte4760]

I was able to get stem plants to grow long roots. No CO2 and only liquid fertilizer. Going strong two weeks.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

🙌♥️

[@lloydstevens8924]

So true about java fern..

[@bobstranzenbach4700]

Thinking of getting into Bettas, subscribed!

[@thesmallscape]

☺️🌱

[@Thunderkorn]

Awesome I just bought a giant pot of java at my lps

[@rachelcatoe7117]

Love those options. I have several. I actually do have repens in my 5gal lol. I have African Fern and boccopa in my 55. Anubius in all of them. I think I spelled some of them right lol. Great plants. All very easy to manage.

[@rachelcatoe7117]

Windelov!!!!! I commented before the end hahaha! Love my little Java Fern. Started in my 5gallon. Ive actually clipped some babies off of it. I put it some in my 10 and my 55. It does great, but it does love my 5 the best.

[@brentlloyd7908]

Java Fern needs Nitrogen, so you either fertilize or put it in a tank with a lot of fish

[@angiemoore1741]

I love the suggestions you have made. So glad to hear pro tips on helping them to look their best. Wondering if you have any experience with pilo moss. I bought some on impulse and now looking into best practices for healthy growth. Thanks for another informative and entertaining video

[@IsabellaM._]

I have a question 🤔 Do your mystery snails not eat your plants? I was told they would. I love windolove! Thank you 😊 Great video.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

I was desperately trying to get my floating plants going. I knew that they liked duckweed but now I've caught them munching a little bit on my sword and eating the roots off my frog bit and Water lettuce...🐌 Little stinker snails 🤣🤣🥰♥️

[@IsabellaM._]

@@marypaigeflynn4512 ,oh, lol

[@paulwyman2299]

Beautiful tanks,what do you like using for a substrate?

[@sarahjuratovac9559]

I always thought that fish tanks are supposed to have fast bubbly wavy and your tanks are calmly still and very pretty what should I do when I set my tank up to keep mine calm and wave free

[@stephanniedelgado]

I have a question for you hun :) would you recommend some plants for gravel that’s what I have and maybe how long to wait before adding plants I just did a cleaning

[@milliegoodwin5389]

The plants that I've managed to grow well in my tank are anubias barteri, two different crypts, java moss, and buce wavy green I have tried several stem plants and floaters, I just can't seem to keep them alive

[@HotPockets88]

Hello thank you for all of your videos!!! I was wanting to try bamboo any suggestions on that? I was reading about it some it says it's semi aquatic? How do semi aquatic plants work? Thank you so much

[@karenaubrey5737]

Good Morning.

[@tanyaroberson9629]

Anubias and Crypt Wendii are doing great in my tank, but Java fern is really struggling for some reason.

[@thesmallscape]

Yup. I have same issue

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

I had annibus, and Amazon sword. Everything else I tried died. But it was the first time I had even attempted a planted tank

[@leo2o915]

I ordered some from flip aquatics but they are tissue culture so how would you plant that or is it the same ?

[@thesmallscape]

Cool! Plant just the same as mature plants, just gently rinse off the gel first. ☺️

[@leo2o915]

@@thesmallscape awesome debating making it a chili rasbora tank or Pygmy Cory

[@stephanniedelgado]

Hello I just got live plants I 1 Asian water fern Java fern and a anubias for my 5 gallon what tips do you think I need ajajaja

[@kennykenny5273]

What’s the best floating plant for 5g?

[@thesmallscape]

Hi! I’d probably go with salvinia ☺️. It’s a good scale for that size and also simple to keep in check.

[@christopherseilaff8665]

I have a 5 gallon, and I am trying to decide about switching to live plants. I am just very overwhelmed at this point.

[@CryptKeeperAquatics]

👀Did someone say crypts? They’re truly the best plant!

[@thesmallscape]

Haha! 🌿🙌🌿

[@lemonthebudgie]

What about rotala

[@TheAquaPapa]

I actually have far to many plants I should and shouldn't have in 5 Gallon tanks. Dwarf hair grass Scarlet template Water wisteria Suswasertang Anubis nana and nana petite Crypt. Undulata Now for the ridiculous... Italian valisnaria and crinim calamatratum 😅

[@jamesparadigm]

💚💚💙💙