Aquatic Plants
Enhance your aquarium with beautiful and beneficial aquatic plants
Benefits of Aquatic Plants
In addition to the visual impact, aquatic plants provide they also are a great benefit to your fish.
- They reduce the carbon dioxide in the water.
- They provide shelter, shade and hiding places for your fish.
- They give a natural look to the aquatic environment.
- They provide spawning sites.
- They provide food for some fish.
- They help absorb excess nitrates.
- Vallisneria
- Sagittaria
- Synnema
- Hygrophila
- Ludwigia
- Ceratopteris
- Eleocharis
- Acorus
- Echinodorus
Growing Aquarium Plants
Growing aquatic plants successfully is not as easy as pushing the roots into the gravel and hoping for the best. Light, PH, hardness, availability of nutrients and other factors all play a part. In spite of this you can grow plants with different requirements in the same aquarium. For plants that like to get most of their nutrients from their roots, you can place fertilizer tablet under or close to their roots. Plants that like more shady conditions can be grown at the bottom of large taller plants that will provide the shade then need.
Planting Suggestions
Fast Growing tall plants are ideal for placing at the back of you tank. They can help hide heaters and filters from your view. A couple of suggestion which are relatively easy to grow are: Vallisneria and Sagittaria. Bushy plants like Synnema, Hygrophila, Ludwigia and Ceratopteris are best placed in the corners of the tank. Foreground plants need to be smaller and are usually slower growing. Eleocharis and Acorus work well in this part of the tank. To finish off your tank you can add a larger specimen plant. Something like Echinodorus is an easier plant specimen plant to grow. These can be a bit more expensive, but as you'll only need 1 or 2 they are a great addition to a planted tank.
Artificial Plants
While they don't serve any biological purpose, they do perform other roles. There is such an assortment of colours, sizes and models available these days that, with a little creativity you can create an instant aquascape that is difficult to tell apart from the real thing. Their main benefits are that they don't die and can be easily cleaned; you can use any kind of lighting with artificial plants. Artificial Plants
Carbon Dioxide
During photosynthesis plants give out oxygen and use up carbon dioxide (CO2). This gas is present naturally in the aquarium, with the vegetation breathing it out during the night, but it is possible to distribute it in the water using a suitable device. Although this piece of equipment is not compulsory, a good tank of plants should ideally have one. As a general rule, the plant species with the greatest need for CO2 are also the ones which demand a rich soil.
Good aquatic plants include Java Moss, Anubias, Java Fern, Amazon Sword, Hornwort, and Cryptocoryne species, which are hardy and easy to care for.
Examples include Java Moss, Java Fern, Anubias, Amazon Sword, Hornwort, Cryptocoryne, Water Wisteria, Vallisneria, Ludwigia, and Dwarf Sagittaria.
Yes, aquatic plants absorb nitrates, provide oxygen, and compete with algae for nutrients, helping maintain cleaner water.
Plants like Pothos and Lucky Bamboo can grow partially submerged. Ensure roots are in water and leaves stay above water to prevent rot.
Avoid toxic plants like Oleander, Dieffenbachia, and Peace Lily that can harm fish. Only use fully aquatic-safe species.
Yes, but it’s best to rinse plants and trim dead leaves first. Rooted plants should be anchored in substrate, and floating plants should be placed carefully.
Fast-growing plants like Hornwort, Anacharis, Water Sprite, and Vallisneria release oxygen and help maintain healthy water chemistry.
Yes, healthy plants absorb nutrients that algae would otherwise use, reducing algae growth naturally.
Plants like Hornwort, Anacharis, and Java Moss absorb nitrates and other waste compounds, helping keep the water clean.
Yes, live plants provide oxygen, improve water quality, offer shelter for fish, and enhance the overall aesthetic of the tank.
Java Moss, Java Fern, Anubias, Hornwort, and Vallisneria are low-maintenance and adapt to various conditions, making them perfect for beginners.
Submersible plants include Java Moss, Anubias, Hornwort, Vallisneria, Cryptocoryne, and Dwarf Sagittaria.
Plants with smooth, tough leaves like Anubias and Java Fern are less prone to algae growth compared to soft-leaved plants.
Fast-growing plants like Hornwort, Anacharis, and Water Sprite help absorb nitrates and waste, reducing algae and maintaining cleaner water.
Java Moss is one of the most common aquatic plants due to its hardiness and versatility in various aquarium setups.
The main types are: Mosses, Ferns, Anubias, Swords, Cryptocorynes, Floating plants, and Stem plants.
Hornwort, Anacharis, Vallisneria, and Water Sprite are excellent for oxygenating aquarium water.
Partial water changes of 10–25% weekly are sufficient. Avoid disturbing the substrate and plants too often to preserve beneficial bacteria.
With proper care, live plants can thrive for several years. Hardy species like Java Moss or Anubias may live 5–10 years or longer.
Snails can help by eating algae and cleaning dead leaves, but some species may damage soft-leaved plants if overpopulated.
Low-light plants like Java Fern, Anubias, Java Moss, Hornwort, and Vallisneria grow well without supplemental CO₂.
No plant produces 100% oxygen, but fast-growing plants like Hornwort and Anacharis significantly increase oxygen levels in aquariums.
Using fast-growing live plants, along with an air pump or bubbler, quickly increases dissolved oxygen in the tank.
Not always. Live plants produce oxygen during the day, but a bubbler helps maintain oxygen levels at night or in densely stocked tanks.
Rinse plants, trim dead leaves, place rooted plants in substrate, and arrange floating plants carefully. Start with easy species and gradually add more.
Five common aquatic plants are Java Moss, Java Fern, Anubias, Hornwort, and Amazon Sword.
Yes, live plants improve water quality, provide oxygen, shelter for fish, and make the tank more natural and attractive.
Hornwort, Anacharis, and Water Sprite are among the fastest-growing aquatic plants, quickly absorbing nutrients and reducing algae.
Hornwort, Anacharis, Water Sprite, and Amazon Sword help remove nitrates and toxins, keeping aquarium water cleaner.
Yes, most fish enjoy plants for hiding, breeding, and exploring, which reduces stress and mimics a natural environment.
No, Peace Lily is semi-aquatic. It can have roots in water, but leaves must stay above water to prevent rotting.