Live plants hmm. They are harder than the fake ones
They are very beautiful in your aquariums
The only thing crucial is that you need CO2 if you want your plants to become very green.
And you'll need probably more than 30 - 50W of light power. Since you have a 97 gallons approx.. I would try 100 W and 18,000k. Those types of lights are able to penetrate deep into the tank. Where you can house Low Light plants like cryptocorenes or Cabombas.
If you have those stuff. You can grow Amazon Swords of all types even the ones with red. Although Red colored plants are VERY difficult to raise unless you have strong powerful light. The ones I use for my tanks I use very strong lights. Approx 100W and 18,000k for my 100 gallons. My 1,000 gallons... I use more than 300 Watts because I have more than one light bulb
DON'T GET INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS! they aren't fit for plants! Fluorescent light bulbs are best!
Also... you'll want to get a product called "Flourish" It's a type of plant fertilizer that you don't have to add in everyday. Plants such as Amazon Swords need iron. And Flourish provides that type. I use it for all of my tanks. Flourish works on low light plants and so on too
Beware... your amazon swords that you might want to get in the future... the big leaves will start to turn brown.. You can use CO2 since it is vital.. but plants will always die and newer ones will grow into place. They do take some time.. but with patience and care, your plants will live for a long time
Also. What type of plants are you wanting to get?? like Specifically.
Plants that are from South America in the wild receive 12 hrs of sun light. That means you have to do the same thing for your tanks too. Although you can't leave the lights on ALL day.. because your plants and fish will be in great danger. Plants will die because they receive too much light for photosynthesis.
Fishes will tend to eat off of plants. Especially the Silver Dollars. Although when I had silver dollars. I had good powerful lights so my plants could grow back quickly. I didn't use CO2 but if I did.. my plants would be able to grow back faster
CO2 is a combination of "Carbon" and "2 Oxygen" molecules. Or if you want.. Yeast and Sugar + air.
there are people on this forum who can help you know more about the DIY CO2. (do it yourself)
You should probably try going with easy plants.
Cabombas are easy plants. You can find them all over.. like you can find them in England, Canada, Asia, or South America. Since they are wild ones.. they don't need to be cared for.. nature does it naturally. but in aquariums. You have to propagate them meaning that you have to cut the stems where the leaves or spikes don't grow anymore. Then you plant the ones with spikes still back into the gravel or sand or special substrate. They need Medium light.
Crypts - low lighting plants. They don't grow tall much.. only about 1 - 2" tall... they don't need much cleaning at all. All types of fishes can go with them.. just not salt or brackish water fishes. They do grow fast when you have stronger lighting... but as I said you can get those types of lights.
Also. Something important. Siphon your gravel in your aquarium weekly. Or daily.. use treated water. Like if you have tap water.. use a chlorine killer. You will need it.
Good luck!
