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I've been struggling to keep my live plants healthy in my 5-gallon betta tank. The leaves keep turning brown, and I'm not sure if it's the lighting or the substrate. Using a basic LED light and gravel substrate. Any tips?

Yo, gravel's kinda sketchy for plants, tbh. You gotta get some root tabs or switch to a planted substrate like Fluval Stratum. Also, how long you running the lights? Too much or too little can mess with the plants.

Lighting duration is critical. I run my LED for 8 hours daily with a timer. For a 5-gallon, you might need a stronger light if it's basic. Also, check for nutrient deficiencies. Brown leaves often indicate a lack of iron or potassium. Liquid fertilizers like Seachem Flourish can help.

Ayy, I feel you. My plants were dying too till I switched to sand with root tabs. Now they're thriving. Also, bettas dig the softer substrate. Win-win, ya know?

What's your water change routine? Plants can suffer if there's too much waste buildup. I do 20% weekly changes and dose with Excel for algae control. My anubias and java fern are doing great.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try root tabs and adjust the lighting. Didn't realize gravel was such a bad choice for plants.

annaGal wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 7:46 am What's your water change routine? Plants can suffer if there's too much waste buildup. I do 20% weekly changes and dose with Excel for algae control. My anubias and java fern are doing great.

I second this. Regular water changes are key. Also, if you're not already, consider adding a small sponge filter. It's gentle for bettas and helps with water quality.

I had the same issue with my plants. Turned out my tap water had high phosphates. Switched to RO water and now everything's green and happy. Maybe test your water params?

Don't stress too much, mate. Plants can be finicky at first. Start with easy ones like java moss or anubias. They're hardy and don't need much light or fancy substrate.

My betta loves swimming through the java fern. It's low maintenance and doesn't need planting, just tie it to a rock or driftwood. Super easy for beginners.