Plant Recommendations

[Kurt Brutting]

What are some of the best plants for heavily stocked aquariums that can handle the load in a low tech setup? Any suggestions or ideas are appreciated. It would be for a community setup. 

[FrozenFins]

I really like hornwort, they grow like a weed and abosrb nutriteints. Also Pogostemon Octopus would also work. I own both these plants and have found they are easy to take care of and will both float.

[lefty o]

anubia's, and java ferns are excellent in low tech no co2 tnaks.

[Patrick_G]

Amazon swords, Java fern, Tiger lotus and Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus are a few of my favorites. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

I'm with @lefty o I do low tech and very much enjoy my Narrow Leaf and Windelov Java Ferns. I also love Anubias of all kinds. These are all Rhizone plants that don't need a lot of lighting and are easy to propogate- they don't get buried in the substrate you can glue them to decorations/rocks/wood making them totally mobile when you want to rearrange which is one of the things that makes them great. They tend to grow slow but look awesome. 

I'd also like to add I have good luck with Bacopa Caroliniana, Ludwigia Red Needle Leaf (though in a low tech tank they don't tend to turn "red" but still a neat texture to add to a tank) and the compact versions of Amazon Swords (I have big Amazon Swords too but the smaller ones are more manageable). 

Guppygrass and Subbwassertang are also fun. 

[Martin]

Don't forget your floaters!  Red root floaters are a personal favorite.  Amazon frogbit is also pretty low maintenance, just be forwarned, the way they propagate can make them very difficult to remove if you ever change your mind.

[MyFish]

When you mean Low-Tech, are you referring to regular light and no Fertilizers?  
 

plants that do not need any care are;

#1 Hornwart

2# duckweed (floater) Be warned it will take over your top; you’ll need to get feeder rings to keep the duckweed in or the opposite and allow it to grow and use the feeder rings as openings.

3# Anubis - low light and grow slow

4# any type of tall grass, the shirt grass seems to need more light and care.

5# Amazon swords 

 

any of those you should be able to have and thrive. 

[Levi_Aquatics]

If you are trying to remove nitrates pothos or "lucky" bamboo are great options. I also like java fern and anubias.

[Guppy Guy]

In my totally overstocked guppy tank, my pennywort, water wisteria, java moss, and amazon swords just won’t die. I have java fern in there as well, but it has always been half dead.