The most frequently asked aquarium plant questions

Are you unsure about which aquarium plants suit your tank, or how long they will last? Below we answer the questions we most often receive in the store and via chat.

What are the best aquarium plants?

That depends on your aquarium: the biotope and fish stock determine what really works well. For a cichlid tank, robust plants such as Anubias or Microsorum are a better choice than delicate stem plants, as they won't be dug up. For a shrimp tank, aquarium mosses are ideal: they provide hiding places and food for the smallest inhabitants.

What are easy aquarium plants?

There's a wide selection of low-maintenance families that require little light and no CO2: Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Microsorum (Java fern), Bucephalandra, and Vallisneria. These plants grow in almost any aquarium and are the best start for beginners.

Which aquarium plants can grow without a nutrient substrate?

Floating plants inherently don't need a substrate, but plants that you attach to wood or rock – such as mosses, Anubias, Microsorum, and Bucephalandra – also grow perfectly well without a nutrient substrate. Also, Waterweed, Hornwort, and Cabomba don't root deeply and thrive with only water column fertilization.

How long do aquarium plants last?

A healthy aquarium plant fundamentally has no 'expiration date': as long as the conditions are good, it will continue to grow and reproduce. The better the care - sufficient light, stable water values, and where necessary, fertilization with, for example, Sera Florena - the longer and fuller the plant will last.

Which plant is a must-have in almost every aquarium?

Java fern (Microsorum) and Anubias are found in almost every aquascape, and for good reason: they are indestructible, grow on wood or rock instead of in the substrate, and fit into every type of tank - from community aquariums to cichlid tanks.

Can you have too many plants in your aquarium?

Practically speaking, hardly. A densely planted aquarium actually competes better with algae for nutrients and light, and offers fish more cover. Do note that in extremely densely planted tanks without circulation, oxygen deficiency can occur at night - an air pump or filter outflow that moves the water surface prevents this.

Which aquarium plants release a lot of oxygen?

Fast-growing stem plants are the strongest oxygen producers: Hygrophila, Rotala, Ludwigia, and Waterweed (Egeria densa) convert a lot of CO2 into oxygen with sufficient light. Floating plants like duckweed and Salvinia also contribute, though they primarily grow on top of the water.

Which aquarium plants need little light?

Anubias, Microsorum, Cryptocoryne and most mosses grow well under low light and are therefore suitable for aquariums without strong lighting. These are also the plants that are least susceptible to algae in a somewhat dimly lit setup.

Another question?

Feel free to visit our store in Heinkenszand for personal advice, or ask your question via chat. We are happy to help you think about the best plants for your aquarium.