Easy, Low-light Plants

[Melody]

This has GOT to be one of the most frequent plant requests...lol. Many people want the benefits and cosmetic enhancement of live aquatic plants, but they're not necessarily 'into' them. They don't want to get into injecting stuff or expensive lighting, they just want to put them in there and have them thrive.
I've gotten to know a few of them over the years out of necessity :Blush: . However, I've also found along the way that there are some that aren't normally recommended but will still thrive, such as higher light stem plants growing just fine under normal lighting if they're floated.

These are the plants that I know of or can remember off the top of my head. Please add your own recommendations. When we're done I'll compile a complete list in this initial post and we can sticky it for people to have for future reference.

Many t(h)anks!

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Easy Low-light Plants:

Anubias
Java Fern {Regular, Windelov, Bolbitus (sp?)}
Hornwort
Cryptocorynes
Some Swords
Limnophila sessiliflora
Java Moss
Duckweed
Eared Water Moss
Chlorophora balls

Higher light Plants that do well floating under standard fluorescent light:

Riccia
Pennywort
Wisteria
Floating Watersprite
Egeria Densa
Najas Grass
Some Ludwigia
Rotala Indica
Hygrophila difformis

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[mixixe]

Chlorophora balls or marimo balls are also low light plants that do well. Most fish and snails can't eat them but they grow very slow. Larger fish like to play ball with them. Eared watermoss also does well in standard lighting.

[Melody]

Added - thanks!

[thegrandpoohbah]

Hygrophila difformis is another one that does well in just about any tank. In my experience it is excellent for using up nitrates in the water column. For that matter just about any Hygrophila will grow like a weed given the right conditions.

[Melody]

Is it low light?

Ooops! My plant ignorance is showing! :Embarassing:

[thegrandpoohbah]

Not technically a low light plant but it will tolerate it in my experience.

[Pamelajo]

I have the hygro in tank by West window and when I had my lights on a lot it really started to look crappy. But now that I have cut back to a few hours a day it is looking a lot better. Also have some in the computer room in a 2.5 tank window faces north so no sun at all, tank only has that little tiny light on top of hood. It seems to be doing fine in it. Been in there since I got the H. Furmosas.

[mixixe]

Melody :) I got some hygro in your snail bag one time so you might know more about it than you think! It's in a low light tank right now and got stuck in the intake tube and it's growing out of the intake tube...:twitcy:

[Melody]

Hmmm... so my problem is in naming this stuff...lol. People give them to me, I chuck them in the tank. But now that you mention it, that one DOES seem to do well, and certainly does fine floating.