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Anonymous
Sup /an/,

Amateur aquarist here. I've always had plastic plants in my twenty gallon tank, but I'm getting pretty sick of them. I used to have live plants, but it seemed they'd always disintegrate and make the water look like shit after only a few weeks, so I switched to plastic. How exactly can I prevent this and create a decent setup without having to remove plant particles every other day?

Thanks fellas

Pic related, it's my setup. I only have a gourami and a paradise fish in there right now.
>> tigerfeather !CrwtTbFNxQ
First, don't use anacharis, that stuff is nasty. I've found that using broader-leaf plants work well. Make sure that you're using tap or well water, as this has more nutrients in it. Does your tank get any natural light? That will also help your plants from becoming nasty, dissolved goop. You can try plant fertilizers, but that works better with rooted plants and not ones placed in gravel.

And make sure that the plants that you're buying look very healthy when you get them. Even a little bit of wilting usually means the plants are on their way out.
>> Anonymous
3/4th of the plants sold at pecto and petsmart are actually not aquatic..so you may have fucked up there...go to a real fish store and ask for advice..cryptocorns are a good genus for low light tanks to start with, java fern, java moss, anubis anything...
>> Anonymous
Yes, if the light is not strong enough, they'll just turn to jello.
>> Anonymous
Some plants are easier to keep than others. Avoid colorful stuff, ask for some real hardy plants.
>> Anonymous
>>258744
>>cryptocorns are a good genus for low light tanks to start with, java fern, java moss, anubis
these can almost grow from just the ambiant light in the room
>> Anonymous
I'm assuming you're only using the light tubes that comes with the tank (15 watt-ers?) Get some new fluorescent lights, preferably in the 30 watt range (so you get about 1.5 watts/gal). This way you should be able to grow some no hassle beginner low-light plants, like java fern or anubias.
>> Anonymous
>>258749
>in the 30 watt range

My M41A is phased in the 40 watt range.
>> Anonymous
A good way to kill plants in general is to leave the light on all the time.