A Low-Light South American Biotope - is it possible?

A

allyson

AC Members
Jun 7, 2010
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I would love to plant my aquarium, however my preference is for low-light plants that do not require anything extra like CO2 injection. Its a 20 gallon high with a pair of bolivian rams. I intend to get a small school of tetras for the tank as well.

Any thoughts on some low light easy care plants that are native to south america? So far all i've found is java moss. would it be super weird to mix real with silk? or better to just find low light plants that will suit the tank - even though they aren't native to the fish i intend to keep?
 
Oh, it's definitely doable. Other members will know much more than me, but Amazon frogbit and pennywort are two that stand out in my mind. Both can be grown floating - well, obviously frogbit IS a floating plant...;)

Vallisneria does not come to mind for me as a South American plant, but it is after all, V. americana - however its range is not limited to the Americas since it exists in Asia as well.
 
Definitely possible & one of my favorite biotopes. Check out this site Biotopes. I think you are going for a black water creek or a black water stream. I would aim for lots of driftwood and swords with some vals for the background and you're good to go! :)

Edit - I would suggest a good substrate though for the swords with the addition of root tabs down the line.
 
I'm down in Monmouth county. You have some great LFS up there!

BTW Welcome to AC!
 
thanks! i usually go to Pet Shanty but occasionally i'll take a ride up to Absolutely Fish in Clifton. They have EVERYTHING! I'm new to tropicals but had been keeping goldfish for several years.
 
Absolutley Fish is awesome! I trade my Mbunas there cause no one local buys them but it is quite a trip for me so I rarely get up there. Hmm, I have a $304 store credit with them would you want to buy it for a 5% discount?
 
it is possible. in fact, it is how I have my 55g set up. you should be able to grow amazon swords and amazon frogbit quite easily under low lighting without co2. I also suggest adding a school of otos to your tank in addition to the tetras.
 
Java moss is from Asia (plantgeek lists its origin as the Philippines specifically).

I would try:

-Brazilian Pennywort (floating or rooted as a back/midground plant)
-Guppy grass (najas)
-Watersprite (not specific to SA but found around the tropics)
-Frogbit (floating)
-Amazon sword (depends on how much lighting specifically)
-Dwarf sag (also might need more light than you are planning)
-Vallisneria (another wide distributed plant)

IMO anubias and crypts along with java moss and java fern are the easiest plants to keep. All are asian though.
 
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