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I've got a 20 gallon tank with gravel substrate and wanna add some plants. What's gonna thrive in gravel without root tabs or fancy soil? My lighting's basic, just the LED strip that came with the tank.

Anubias and Java Fern are your best bets. They don't need to be planted in the substrate, just attach them to rocks or driftwood. My Anubias has been growing fine in gravel for years, no extra nutrients needed.

ocean_1 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 10:47 pm Anubias and Java Fern are your best bets. They don't need to be planted in the substrate, just attach them to rocks or driftwood. My Anubias has been growing fine in gravel for years, no extra nutrients needed.

Yep, those are solid choices. If you wanna try something different, Cryptocoryne Wendtii can also work. It's a bit more demanding but can root in gravel if you're patient.

Dude, I've had luck with Amazon Swords in gravel, but you gotta feed 'em root tabs. Without 'em, they'll just kinda sit there looking sad. Not gonna lie, it's a bit of a hassle, but they look awesome if you're willing to put in the work.

I'd stick with the low-maintenance options like Anubias or Java Fern. They're practically indestructible and don't need much light. My tank's been running for three years with just those, and they're still thriving.

What about Vallisneria? I've heard it can grow in gravel, but I've never tried it myself. Anyone got experience with that?

hearts_black wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:12 am What about Vallisneria? I've heard it can grow in gravel, but I've never tried it myself. Anyone got experience with that?

Vallisneria can work, but it's hit or miss. Mine grew like crazy in sand, but in gravel, it just kinda stalled. Might need root tabs to really take off.

If you're into mosses, Christmas Moss or Java Moss are great. Just tie 'em to something and let 'em do their thing. Super easy and looks cool when it fills in.

I've got a mix of Anubias and Java Fern in my gravel tank, and they're doing great. No extra nutrients, just regular water changes. Super low maintenance, which is perfect for me.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Gonna start with Anubias and Java Fern since they seem like the safest bet. Maybe I'll experiment with Cryptocoryne later if I feel adventurous.