[RickyRicardo1838]

Hello, I have a 350 gallon planted tank that I've been struggling to fill with plants vertically, I'm trying to get a jungle look but it's hard because it's such a big tank. It's 8 foot long by 30 inches in depth and 30 inches in height. I'm looking for easier /low tech plants that grow tall, or just really big in general. My current plants only go up halfway the tank and I really don't like that look. I currently have amazon swords, water sprite, water wisteria, and some anubias. I also have some jungle val but the tallest one is like 4 inches, it's shot dozens of runners but no increase in height. Lighting is 4, 48 inch nicrew full spectrum planted tank lights. I do not dose fertilizers, but I plan to start dosing because my plant growth has been pathetic lol. I do however use root tabs. I've also been struggling with a fuzzy gray/ greenish hair algae on my plants but hopefully it'll go down as I manually remove it ( pain in such a big tank), and increase my plant's health. Any suggestions on plants greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[mboley]

Yea, 30" tall tanks are tough to work on and as you've found out most the work is at substrate level. From your pic it looks like you dont have much depth in your substrate, you could add more so you can reach the bottom a little easier.

Check out Leopard Vallesneria. They definately will fill a portion of your tank and look nice; they'll fit with your current scape too. Of course stem plants but youll need high light and CO2; with a tank that size you could try high light over just a section. Either way, you have to fertilize or you're not going to get much growth.

 

[chinaboy1021]

Following this thread. I'm in a similar situation. 180g though.

One plant that is really good is Hygrophila 'Siamensis 53B'. It grows tall and bushy, not just stringy tall.

 

[mboley]

Following this thread. I'm in a similar situation. 180g though.

One plant that is really good is Hygrophila 'Siamensis 53B'. It grows tall and bushy, not just stringy tall.

Hygrophila Augustifolia is another one. Grows fast and tall.

 

[Bunsen Honeydew]

I have Crypt Balansae, corkscrew and leopard val, ludwigia repens (arcuata and ovalis) and rotala in my low tech 210 (30" tall).

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[Blue Ridge Reef]

Leopard Val will certainly get you to the top. Most stems are likely to as well, but lower parts may lose growth as they reach the light.

 

[Mark Fisher]

Aponogeton boivinianus: https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Aponogetonboivinianus(088KN)/4534

 

[monkeyruler90]

I have Crypt Balansae, corkscrew and leopard val, ludwigia repens (arcuata and ovalis) and rotala in my low tech 210 (30" tall).

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

oh man, your tank looks so grown in! great job with filling it all out

I also like the balance of filling the forefront with shorter plants, then the mid front with the plants that you have and then having the background be something that reaches up. I think those 3 layers give the tank a sense of depth vs just filling it with tall plants. great job and a good example to follow

 

[Bunsen Honeydew]

oh man, your tank looks so grown in! great job with filling it all out

I also like the balance of filling the forefront with shorter plants, then the mid front with the plants that you have and then having the background be something that reaches up. I think those 3 layers give the tank a sense of depth vs just filling it with tall plants. great job and a good example to follow

Thanks, it needs some attention soon. Not all the tall plants like to stay where you put them. Both Vals are threatening to take over, and the Ludwigia is getting bushy up top. As was said further up, most stems will get tall, but they will get top heavy.