The Only Aquarium Plant You'll Ever Need (It'll Never Stop Growing!)

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‎ Vallisneria is the "one plant wonder" when it comes to planted aquariums because you only need to buy one and it will easily spread throughout the whole tank once it becomes established. Cory shows us how it's been doing in a 40-gallon breeder tank, as well as in Lady Bird's 800-gallon monster tank. Learn how to grow it well, trim it, and propagate it to more aquariums.
🛒 Materials
- Vallisneria: www.aquariumco...
- Easy Green fertilizer: www.aquariumco...
- Easy Root Tabs: www.aquariumco...
- Dwarf sagittaria: www.aquariumco...
- Easy Planter: www.aquariumco...
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WHO WE ARE
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At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.
Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.
#Aquariumcoop #Aquariumfish #Fishtank

[@AquariumCoop]

*Take the conversation to our Facebook Group! Many Aquarium Co-Op team members are active there during their work days and can answer questions. Plus, you can talk with other hobbyists in our community. Post pictures and videos to show us what you've been up to. 🙂* facebook.com/groups/AquariumGroupSupport/ If you'd like to try Vallisneria in your tanks, here is the link: www.aquariumcoop.com/products/vallisneria

[@susandively9098]

Bought a few Vallisneria off Cory and am in total shock! Started to propagate in only 6 days! I am beyond excited!!! Thank you Cory😊🎉

[@MrBlakefisler]

Just stopped in the store and bought a couple things. It was my first time in so this is my impression. Awesome products. Fair pricing. Clean tanks with healthy fish. Vary helpful staff. Will definitely be going in more often in the future as far as LFS goes this one was top tier. People complain about prices of things but never bother to think about the care that goes into these fish. All in all will recommend to anyone who asks me were to go for good quality stuff. Excited to try out the root tabs I picked up tonight.

[@vicaroo001]

They are my "GO TO" --- I don't shop anywhere else! I'm so lucky to have them local to me.

[@joziaqua]

Totally agree Cory! Val has been a game-changer for me. I trade it every month for shop credit at my fish store so now my tank basically pays for itself. I no longer pay for food or extra fish. Winning!

[@daniojanet7529]

Love vallisneria! I got a chunk while collecting fish in Florida a while ago and it has grown like crazy in my tanks! I was worried that it wouldn’t grow in my danio tanks because I don’t run any heaters - but it exploded and now I legit just give it away to anyone who will come get it. Best aquatic plant I ever got was “free” (if you don’t count the flight and ALA Convention 🤠). I agree that if you can only buy one aquarium plant - vallisneria is a good choice. Hope y’all have a good weekend!

[@Kira-kg4kl]

Alot of people are scared to cut plants in their tanks, but just like plants out of water trimming encourages new growth and a fuller plant, I always cut my val back really aggressively because it grows so fast

[@joshuawong8594]

I got Val from Aquarium Co-op and it has been planted in my tank for 1 week and I have counted 4 new runners from 1 plant so far!

[@vanissaberg5824]

My favorite is the corkscrew val. It stays shorter and just looks super cool when planted in clumps with a few stones in front of it. At first I started with one plant, then I found out in order to get it to spread I needed to trim it back. I guess that sends the message to the plant that "oh no! I'm being eaten! Better spread to survive!" and it took off lol. 😂 I found out something interesting when I pulled it out (while rescaping my tank) and re-planted it again individually that it stop sending out runners again. So I trimmed it again to Kickstart the runners and away it goes! Lol 😂

[@Lee.Willcox]

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST VIDEO I HAVE SEEN REGARDING VAL. I got goosebumps. Have it but prepared to keep it in a way you want it. All over your tank is easy because you will just let it happen. At one end or around some side will take work and effort on your part. Val will take up every space available and then you get to make your tank the way you want it by trimming and removing. Your tank and your choice as to where you want it will change over time. Your tank will always be evolving and after every trim and removal it will look different and YOU WILL COME TO LOVE IT over and over again. What a brilliant video.

[@sarahwoodring5587]

I've been eagerly anticipating this video. Val is my #1 favorite and most successful plant!

[@zedtwon]

Currently growing a Valisinsria only tank inspired by Cory’s Val tank! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@aquapuncture]

I bought val from the Co-Op and my 1st & 2nd attempts weren't successful, but I tried a 3rd time. It just sat there and sat there, despite using root tabs. It was like it was dormant. But I left it alone and let it stay there. About 3 months later, it took off! It lapped my 29 gal in 2 months. Now it's the plant that keeps on giving. 🤑I have it planted in regular aquarium gravel, too. I also used to have the Stingray light and switched to the Easy light. The val seems to like the new light much better. 👍

[@AquariumCoop]

Glad to read that it is finally taking off and making more plants! ~ Zenzo

[@dancurran8977]

I like to keep mine in terra cotta pots. I use gravel in the pots and set them on sand. They like the deep gravel. The pot keeps them from taking over

[@0Turbox]

You also could put them in the background and put a plastic/acrylic sheet in front of them so they can only spread there.

[@MrGsxr10001]

@@0Turbox The sheet is a great idea.

[@Apistoleon]

​@@0TurboxHow do you do that?

[@0Turbox]

@@Apistoleon You are located in Europe? Because we will sell them in a few months, also multifunctional lids for breeders.

[@Apistoleon]

@@0Turbox I am in USA. Can you send me to a website or something, so I understand the concept? Thank you

[@Kierakittie]

This plant has taken over my 60 gallon community tank, but I love it. What a great choice for an easy plant that grows tall and the fish thrive between the leaves.

[@hobbygirl1286]

I’ve had a few val plants in my aquarium for over 5 months now and I was beginning to lose hope that they’d never grow! This video gives me some hope.

[@mattgray9297]

Mine didn’t do much for about 4 months. Now I can barley see my fish 😂

[@raeofsunshine369]

Yesterday I jumped in the lake and collected about 6 billion of these beautiful plants 💚 love them!

[@Red-uf4hr]

rotala rotundifolia is another good one that’ll grow like crazy and spread with runners. Easy to maintain and doesn’t mind being cut down. I usually cut mine half way and then you can replant what you’ve cut. Love the easy green products.

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

Sagittaria too - If you want a lush underwater "carpet", that's perfect, and proliferates practically the same way Vallisneria does.

[@reginaphalanges7331]

I agree 100%! Val is my best and fastest growing plant.. last weekend I pulled out a 5 gallon bucket worth of this plant.. 😅

[@MrManiac2591]

Too add, if y'all have sand tanks, get Malaysian Trumpet Snails!! They distribute the fish waste through the sand and helps immensely!

[@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058]

I started my 1st plant being jungle Val & it has really produced a lot of runners since I've had it in my tank so now that I have a bunch of it I'm taking it to my long distance fish store for credit.

[@AudreyCooper-n4k]

Omgg cory THANK YOU. I bought Val and it has done virtually nothing in the last month (it has grown two little leaves that are taking a while to get longer). I’m so glad you mentioned that it takes a while to establish, I can’t attest to that! I have faith it will eventually take off 😂

[@ghostly5866]

The vals I ordered from these guys are already growing in all directions, and it's only been a week. This truly is a miracle plant.

[@nhitc6832]

you're lucky! some people wait for like 2 months for the plants to adjust!

[@Evil_Genius_888]

Yes! Valisinaria is a great easy plant. I have to pull plantlets out of my 75g every other week.

[@MacPNW]

The vallisneria 800 gallon scape is probably my favorite look for that tank so far

[@Laura-ed5kf]

I ordered one pot from you a few years ago & now it’s in ALL my tanks, the veritable “weed” of my aquarium (which is a good thing 😉). Even my large, carnival-goldfish can’t destroy it! Only problem was when one got bored & started nipping off the tips! 😅 Gave him some fresh greens & I’m back to thinning their tank’s vallisnaria by the handfuls!

[@FoolyLiving]

Thank you so much, this is exactly what I want.

[@sydmiller2973]

I love Val. So great when youre trying to get a solid plant background

[@420metalguy]

i've been doing the same thing with the pogostemon stellatus octopus that i ordered from you guys last year, every time i trim it i just stick the offcuts back in the substrate and it grows like crazy

[@BrentStewart]

Cory I've found that if you keep cory cats in a fairly deep sand substrate they will turn the sand and the poop works it's way down. I have have 3" of sand over a 1" dirt substrate with six cats in a tank with about 20 or so other fish including a bristlenose. It's been over a year with no water changes and barely a trace of fish poop visible here or there if you look for it. From the side you can see the poop stratifying below the surface level. Facts on that val though. It didn't take off until about 3 months in and now it's out competing all my other plants.

[@MsRangel001]

I just bought 2 Val plants for my 5 gallon betta tank. Thanks for the care tips!!!

[@lacrosseguy108]

I have jungle vallisneria and its one of the first plants i started with, its in all my tanks and grows like crazy. one plant grows so many runners, if you try to remove 1 plant you might pull up 8 or 9 with it. its a good plant to grow and sell too, in my area they go for 5$ each. i have a tank with guppies and cherry shrimp i let it grow for 6 months and it overtook the tank, i took it all out and replanted 6 of them. not sure how many will grow from that but i know itll be alot haha

[@MBBTigger1357]

Thanks!

[@cameroonkendrick6312]

I just find it growing wild here in Florida in rivers and springs, it grows like literal grass and all it needs is light and substrate. It doesn’t need CO2 as it gets plenty enough from fish.

[@DirtMerchant77]

I haven't had much luck with Vallisneria. It spreads all over via runners but stays around 4 to 6 inches. It's planted in gravel and I use easy green and root tabs but stays pretty much the same size. Every once in a while one single piece will grow to the top of the tank but that's it. Other plants in the tank do fine.

[@FECtetra1918]

Try CO2 for a while.

[@legionaquatics]

cory could you show this tank again in a future update so we can see how it came back after the trimming?

[@usnavyseal77]

I second this request :)

[@allaboutyuzu]

Ordered one of these from Aquarium Co-Op 2 weeks ago! It's already spreading runners. Super happy with how it looks

[@AquariumCoop]

Great to hear! Thank you for being a customer and supporting us! ~ Zenzo

[@Scaperoot79]

I have a 20 long with 1 female Betta and 10 Golden minnows. I had lost all my stem plants, and almost gave up on live plants for it. I threw in some Val and it transformed the tank. I love it in the background, with Red tiger lotus and crypts filling in the midground/foreground areas. Great video!

[@Skysmeller1]

Val is amazing, it’s so hardy and can get several feet tall and can be cut like a lawn. It got to the point that I would have to toss out half because it would overtake my tank in months

[@fluffyg12]

Actually just ordered some vallisneria online from your company! Funny timing seeing this video pop up on my feed Really looking forward to adding it to my aquarium. Thanks for all the informative and fun videos!

[@AI3Dorinte]

Totally agree, it's a very nice plant, very easy to keep, quite difficult to kill, works well in good light and not so good light, love it :)

[@ismamad]

Really like this video, since this is a plant I use to protect anubias from having over light.

[@overlandtowater]

I just thinned my 10-gallon half-moon aquarium and had multiple plants over 4ft tall. I love this plant!!!!!!

[@GarvinChinnia]

It's really interesting what scale does to a planted scape.

[@msbreshine]

Finally placed my first order with you guys 😂 it was before watching this video, but one of the plants was definitely vall as I've been wanting it for ages.

[@Amberdogproductions]

Good info. I'm gonna have to keep mine under control so I can still gravel vac a good portion.

[@LtexprsGaming]

I absolutely love plants that send off runners. It's like getting a new plant whenever they pop up.

[@duchypuchy]

Great timing, my Val just arrived today, excited to let it grow in the back of my tank

[@horizonfishkeeping]

Awsome to see you back doing theses videos again enjoying your fishroom and the fish rather than all business awesome video

[@crazee635]

It's the best plant in the hobby in my opinion! Easy, looks good, reduces nasties in the water column, can grow in low tech tanks and it never will stop growing!

[@jmoon4686]

Your company is by far the best!

[@jordandougherty5715]

I understand the logo. That puffer is so beautiful! You must be so proud!!!

[@gotenks5633]

Its funny you recommend this, It was the first plant I bought last year for my 40gal tank and my god, do i regret it lol. I actually JUST finished removing every last bit of it from my tank this week. Yes, it propogates like a weed, but holy hell does it require upkeep. Its the most work intensive plant ive ever had, specially while its blocking filters, light from coming in and hogging up ALL the substrate space in a tank...

[@Brensters63]

Omg, wow! Great info, thank you!

[@gotenks5633]

@@Brensters63 No problem, happy to help someone! For the record it IS a good tank plant assuming your goal is VERY dense coverage that spreads quickly. If you have the time and energy to constantly trimming the runners then you can keep it where you'd like, but the runners grow under the substrate, meaning youll be disrupting it a lot by removing runners :S That said, if your local shop will actually buy the leftover plants then yeah, thats handy to pay for fish

[@mylabear8353]

Great plant. My severums help keep it in check and not go wild. But the plant keeps growing and spreading. I started with 2 plants 18 months ago. And they are still going strong.

[@kitcraft9516]

100% as you said. I bought it, it did nothing for two months and then it exploded, and I have it everywhere.

[@dylanneff]

Love val! I personally like dwarf sagittaria better because it’s more versatile in more of my smaller tanks. Spiral val is great though!

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

I used dwarf sag in front and vals in back in one of mine

[@johnnybeegone3020]

Thanks for saying this! I had some years ago and couldn't remember the name to try and get it again.

[@이이-n4z8y]

Same

[@Pennysfishkeeping]

Val looks like an absolutely fantastic plant. I'm a huge fan of horn wort.

[@ElfyBean]

Same!

[@BattlefieldRoBin]

I like Val and horn wort but my personal favorite easy plant is dwarf chain sword. All the benefits of Val but doesn’t grow as tall!

[@DLMyth2]

Interesting I may need to find that plant.

[@NatureStudio25]

@@BattlefieldRoBin I bought pygmy chain sword but it didn't grow as good idk why 😞

[@BattlefieldRoBin]

@@NatureStudio25 I used easy green and root tabs in the 20 long i planted it in. it took a few months to really fill in but once it started sending runners it took off. was also a high light tank. 2 finnex planted plus lights.

[@JoeNocella]

I have a 40 gallon breeder full of cherry shrimp and a bunch of Vallisneria. The Val took over the tank so I trim it occasionally. I haven't had any yellowing or dying plants. They seem to be doing fine.

[@XIxCaptainKRulLT]

I love how Val looks, but it does take a while to get going. Java Ferns are commonly my go-to for decently tall plants. They've been able to grow exceptionally well, with or without a full-spectrum light. They've also been able to work as floaters for me, sticking around the middle/upper part(s) of the tank, eventually clinging onto some driftwood as time goes on.

[@SquirrilahFish]

I have Java Ferns, the grow and reproduce like CRAZY

[@TheyCallMeAni34]

I think spiral val is my favorite plant, soo unique and it stay a bit smaller its great

[@SEOshogun]

Awww lady bird is so responsive! She's like "hi!!" Lol

[@jwlee1059]

Mine melted right away. The only one that did. However, I trimmed the dead stuff and it is coming back. Tabs and fertilizer present. Looking forward to seeing it fully grown.

[@nhitc6832]

I guess it certainly depends on the plants themselves. Mine didn't melt at all. In fact, it only took 1 week for them to adjust, and after that, they start growing like crazy! Most of them already produced 2 runners. It's been only two weeks! Granted that my tank is full high tech in the first place. Maybe that's why they plants didn't melt because they have everything they need upfront.

[@bjjbrawler1]

P. Stellatus is right up there in terms of growth! Thanks for the vid....

[@twunderaquatics1770]

I have an aquarium exactly like this one. Completely full of Val.

[@Cecil-hotel]

Just purchased a bunch of stuff from your site. The coarse filter pad you recommended on another video. Heater and several other things. Got free shipping

[@titanuranus2136]

Great video. Be aware Val it is sensitive to glutaraldehyde algaecide, often sold as easy carbon, instant carbon, etc.

[@DrewLoika]

Yes! This is a key thing to be aware of, I wish Cory had mentioned it. In my experience Val does come back if you don't keep hitting it.

[@MrMisanthrope1RBjr]

got this in a 29 high, i used potting soil with a peagravel cap over the potting soil. it gets so thick it has to be cut back constantly, if i didnt cut it back it would kill the fish. i use no bubblers, its the healthest tank ive ever had.

[@andibandi1190]

there is a good video about fertilizers by Green Aqua of Budapest. They say that fish poop provides nitrates and phosphates, but no Potassium (K). So one should dose at least a K ferilizer. There are videos on youtube about using inexpresive KCl (= salt for people with heart diseases) for this purpose.

[@HungMichaelDoan]

For me, it’s dwarf sag. Mine survived without water in damp pool filter sand in 28 degree weather for months. (North TX)😅

[@Philip_smith88]

Great info. I love the Octopus plant I bought from you 2 yrs ago. I planted it in 1 tank and now it is in 7 of my tanks. Constantly growing.

[@zigzig5126]

My go to plant is and will always be Water Sprite. You can plant it in the substrate or let it float. I prefer floating it as the roots creates a majestic environment as it grows towards the substrate.

[@judybasco983]

Great informative video, Cory 👍 Thanks 🙏😊

[@amysteiner140]

I've never tried val before but I might have to try some. 🤔 😊

[@laszloszocs7477]

Its actually my first ever live plant i git when i rebooted the hobby in 2018 got 2 of fshoots scragly dying things and in 3 months i had val for another tabk then it jus blew up never had to buy it ever again 😂. So i encourage everyone who thinks cant grow plants just start with val

[@AguabonitaAquatics]

Used to have a val tank that I bred white cloud mountain minnows and corydoas adolfi in. Super easy to take care of. Great video, it makes me want to start up a val tank again... guess I will have to do it!

[@globalist1990]

Exactly what I was looking for.

[@jenxu2]

I have jungle val in my 75 gal. I also have sag in several tanks. I really love it!

[@PaulZyCZ]

From my experience, Vallisneria stops growing at some cases. I had that happen in two tanks recently (with gravel + tabs substrate). Alternatively various Cryptocorynes grow same like Valisneria. Both plants love nutritious layer: Put nutritious layer (eg. pond compost) and 2" of sand-gravel. Works like a treat with decent light. I have Val. Mini in two tanks, Val. Spiralis and Val. Gigantea in my largest tank. Also I need to trim them, otherwise half the plants die from the lack of light. Valisneria Mini fits best most tanks, but it still grows about 2 feet in length, Gigantea (jungle Val) shouldn't go into small tanks unless it's the only plant or the other plants can grow in shade.

[@bikermike001989]

Great plant. Trying to add it to ask my cichlid tanks at the moment.

[@markvonwisco7369]

I have corkscrew val. You can definitely trim val with no issues, at least in my experience.

[@jerryghirardo6111]

My first time trying jungle Vals started great for a few months then died. Had just started runners. The only thing I could think of was introducing Seachem flourish. Was thinking that something in it the plants didn’t like. Tried again a year later on a couple of tanks. They have been doing great. No tabs. Just occasional easy green. Tanks are over stocked, so I cannot use much fertilizers since my nitrates are always pushing towards height on their own.

[@johngalt9737]

Fish poop is pretty good fertilizer by itself. It would probably just grow more slowly

[@DLMyth2]

I have so many of these plants in my 30 gal. It’s always funny to see when a runner pops up and I’m like I don’t remember that one. I do trim from the top just bellow the water.

[@bobmorgan476]

HeyI saw your hatchetfish and glasscats in the tank by the dwarf sagittaria. I have those in my childhood favorites community tank!

[@Terrak16]

Although Cory is right that using gravel instead of sand allows the fish waste to permeate the roots, I wanted to mention that Val can still thrive in sand. I’ve got it growing well in my 75 gallon, shooting out runners steadily. I do have some root tabs under the sand though, and I use strong lighting with a weekly addition of fertilizer (Flourish, as well as Flourish Iron and Potassium). Great plant.

[@celticlady4821]

I’ve got vallis in sand and it’s going crazy. I don’t use any fertiliser or root tabs either. Good tip to take some to lfs rather than throwing away.

[@emilybrianne7176]

Great video Cory, love learning about different plants 🪴

[@kimgilbertsen8216]

Cory, what is the substrate you’re using? It’s awesome!

[@englishtime5327]

Great video, as always. I live in Spain and we have jungle vallis. It's got much wider leaves. Do you stock it in your store? An American friend of mine is asking.

[@jenmqkeeper]

One of my favorite plants too!

[@nickopeters]

Thanks for expanding into this new, visual format that embraces the essential essence of all aquariums, and doing it in a fashion that lives up to your legacy of excellence as a speaker and conceptual analyst from your time-honored spoken videos. Thanks also for featuring one of my favorites here, the beautiful and practical, Vallisneria plant--.

[@elizabethwagner-nl9wg]

I never seem to have much luck with Val. I’m gonna buy a bunch and I need to stock up on the root tabs too.

[@al44tec]

The main issue I have with Val is it multiplies so well that it tends to go to all the places you don’t want with the runners. But it is a great plant if you control its runners before they deeply root. Good plant

[@nhitc6832]

That's why do you do maintenance :)

[@kenjiro2676]

4:07 Would flag fish or mollies do well with a large puffer? Maybe they can pick at the algae.

[@FGDireito]

Love the new Logo

[@lakeshiamills1454]

I haven't done it yet but I'm planning on a few "one plant only" tanks. Val is definitely going to be one of the single plant tanks. But I'll also be doing a only crypts, only swords, and only moss tanks 😊

[@dsmmike95]

Thank you been looking for something like this. Just moved so need to re plant my tank

[@cindyrhodes]

I have a question. I loved keeping a betta in a well-planted 20-gallon tank (he lived 5 years) back on the east coast and pacific northwest. However, I am now in New Mexico where we have EXTREMELY hard water. I miss my tank. What kind of fish and flora can I keep? And what do I need to do to prepare the water for them?

[@teacherofteachers1239]

Howdy. I am still learning all these topics myself, but I noticed your post and thought maybe you would get something out of another video of his that is about some fish that do well in hard water (I would also recommend reading the comments). I hope KZbin lets me post the url - here we go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epzYoISCratqq5o

[@thewahakid1944]

My vals have to be thinned out every couple og months or so, however I have the shorter variety as the leaves only get about 10 inches or so and don't clutter up my tank.

[@johngalt9737]

3:12 there are a number of ways to reflect or diffuse the light from your skylight in summer so it does not bake your tank

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Great informative video 👍👍

[@alexning3421]

I got some Vallisneria for my tank one year ago. They never grew up and worst than that, just until recently, they started to die one by one. So now, there is an empty spot.. I don’t know how to keep them, but many people actually have this problem and I got as advice to use the Vallisneria Gigantea instead of V.Spiralis. I’m gonna try soon. My tank is full of plants and all the others are fine. If this doesn’t work, I’m gonna replace the Vallisneria and never get it again.