River plants.........?

Question

are these river bed plants safe to use in a tropical fish tank

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/1550704766_fd00ca634d

Answer 1

The plants in your picture look like vallisneria or sagittaria so you probably can get them to grow in your tropical fish aquarium.  It will be an interesting experiment to see if they adapt quickly from a fast moving current with natural sunlight to a still water environment with artificial light.  Rinse the plants to remove any soil or parasites and plant them directly into the gravel.  Watch your fish and tank carefully over the next few weeks for signs of leaches or other parasites.  There is always a small chance of introducing a parasite to your tank from wild grown plants but it can also happen with tank raised plants too.  I bought some tank raised java moss at a fish club auction and they infested my tank with hydras.  Luckily, my male betta was able to eat all the hydras before they were able to cause any major damage to my breeding cherry shrimp.  

Answer 2

In short no.

The very real risk of introducing bacteria and parasites that will multiply at an astronomical rate due to the perfect water conditions and the type of plant you are looking at takes all its nutrients from the water as being attached to a rock it can't take anything from the substrate are against you. It would grow far to fast, the lower growth couldn't photosynthesise as no light would reach it and your tank would become oxygen depleted.

Wouldn't be me trying it.

Answer 3

it will probably add loads of snails and algae to your tank