Soft, hard or neutral?

[Melody]

This seems to be a very basic questions, but I guess its too general because I can't seem to find an answer. Do the majority of common aquarium plants prefer soft, hard or 'neutral' parameters? CO2 lowers pH so I'm guessing they don't mind that at all, what about a high pH?

I'm sure there are those that prefer either/or, I'm looking for a majority, or is there one?

Thanks :smile:

[Soggybottom]

Since theres been no answer in the last few days, I'm going to pull this one out of my *cough* ahem, vast experience.
Deserty rocky and barren environments tend to have high pH and hardness due to all the dissolved solids in the water. At the other end of the spectrum are lush amazon type environments, where there are mostly acids leaching from built up decaying organic matter.
So based on deserts having few plants and jungles having lots, I'd have to guess that theres most diversity in the acidic end of the range, with plenty of options in the neutral, and less in the hard end.
But then there are the giant hardwater lakes in africa and whatnot, and they seem to have plants so I may well be way off base...

[Candice]

Agrees with above post.

I'd say lean towards the more acidic for most freshwater plants.

[Melody]

Looks like most won't like my hardish tanks, although they may be alright since they're just barely above neutral for the most part. I'll definitly research rather than buy spontaneously while I'm shopping then. I normally just focus on light, unless a description specifically mentions that they're difficult or require injections.

Thanks!

[thegrandpoohbah]

I'm pretty sure you can keep Anubias in hard water tanks. I seem to recall seeing African cichlid tanks with Anubias in them... It's also pretty tough so most fish can't eat it.

[Melody]

That is actually one beautiful plant that I don't kill. I just love the looks of them too - very classy plant. I've even had them die back to the rhyzome and come back as soon as they get into better lighting. They never actually die.

[Pamelajo]

My tanks have ph of 7.6 - 7.8 and I would say medium hardness. Now I am just a beginner when it comes to plants but these plants are doing really good for me and actually growing and are very healthy: Bacopa Caroliniana,Java Fern,Crypt Wendtii 'Tropica',Crypt Walkeri ,Anubias Nana.
My Asian Ambulia (my favourite) shows new healthy growth and if the pest snails would leave it alone I believe it would flourish.

[Osprey]

Most plants will grow better in hard water than soft, in spite of the fact that their wild habitats usually involve soft water. Calgary water is psycotically hard, but AFAIK, there aren't any plants that refuse to grow in it. I've successfully grown various anubias and crypts, java fern, corkscrew vals, amazon swords, water sprite, mosses, glossostigma, pearlgrass, four-leaf clover, whorled umbrella plant, duckweed, parrot's feather, and ludwigia. I don't have room for anything else, or I suspect the list would be longer.
Diana Walstad has done a number of trials, and found that although certain plants are very tolerant of soft water, the vast majority grow much better in hard water. Soft water lacks micronutrients that are important to plants. Check out her book, "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium", for more details.
Lighting and adequate nutrients (including CO2) are the most important thing for any plant. Look after those, and you should be fine.

[Melody]

Well that's the thing with me - I don't put the time & effort in either. :rolleyes: The fish get my attention, yet I fully expect a beautifully landscaped tank to just appear.

Thanks for the info & suggestions, its very helpful.