Sturdy Plant Help

**leghair** · 6th Jul 2013, 17:22

Hello,

Currently my plants that are a bit fragile keep getting broken up my corydoras whenever they go past it.

Anyone can recommend me a plant to replace it? low maintenance type, prefers it to be light green or any other color as my java moss, java fern are darker in color

Cheers.

**thebaldingaquarist** · 8th Jul 2013, 11:27

Originally Posted by leghair

Hello,

Currently my plants that are a bit fragile keep getting broken up my corydoras whenever they go past it.

Anyone can recommend me a plant to replace it? low maintenance type, prefers it to be light green or any other color as my java moss, java fern are darker in color

Cheers.

Probably look into why the plants are fragile? To my knowledge, only "man tian xin" is fragile. the rest of aquatic plants that i know (not alot actually), do not break when a fish swims through them.

But in anycase, i have a similar problem. please refer to my thread for forummers' inputs.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...iff-stem-plant

**David** · 9th Jul 2013, 15:53

Originally Posted by leghair

Hello,

Currently my plants that are a bit fragile keep getting broken up my corydoras whenever they go past it.

Anyone can recommend me a plant to replace it? low maintenance type, prefers it to be light green or any other color as my java moss, java fern are darker in color

Cheers.

Hi

I think you need to be more specific on the kind of plants are you currently keeping that are fragile till it breaks when corys swim pass? based on past experiences with a school of corys in my planted tank, they are not aggressive swimmers that are strong enough to break plants. Unless your plants are already not in good and/or dying conditions do they break.

The only part about corys are that they can be pretty aggressive diggers when looking for food that is why the gravel used is important that they don't lose their barbs on their mouths. Even then, plants don't get uprooted or break.

**leghair** · 9th Jul 2013, 16:03

Hello,

I cleared them out today. Found the root melting. Probably it's weaken or dying.

Other plants are thriving well, Wisteria,Java moss n java fern.

Anyway thanks a lot.

**David** · 9th Jul 2013, 16:10

no problems.....do you still intend to plant, if you are, could you share if you are using any base fert? and the sizing of your gravel?

**leghair** · 9th Jul 2013, 16:22

Not using any fertilizer. (The only food is the waste from the fishes which probably isn't much)

Inert substrate(Shrimp Soil)

Adding CO2 booster from API everyday.

I will just stick with plants that doesn't really require substrate for now

What kind of fertilizer do you recommend? my tank isn't that big. about 1 ft

**David** · 9th Jul 2013, 17:10

The size of the tank does not really matter but its what you want to do with it. I think there are a lot of base fert brands out there but my personal favorite is the Dennerle which do sell in small amounts like 500gms per box...but its expensive....there is also JBL at C328 but I don't remember seeing small packs...perhaps ADA has? You could totally omit base fert and go for small Echino, Cryptos, or even stemmed plants and use fert tabs....

If you are going to have shrimps, then avoid base fert as some species are sensitive to base fert.....at least that is what I was told.

what is more important is the substrate you are using. Do not use gravel exceeding 1mm to 1.5mm in diameter and are rough edged....most rooted plants do not do well with large gravel that are rough edged. Even your corys are going to lose their mouth barbs with course gravel....