| Description | 8” | Midground | Easy
Co2: No | Light: Medium
Column Feeder | 5” | Midground | Easy
Co2: No | Light: Medium
Column Feeder | 6” | Foreground | Easy
Co2: No | Light: Low
Column Feeder | 16” | Background | Medium
Co2: Medium | Light: High
Root Feeder | 3” | Foreground | Advance
Co2: High | Light: High
Root Feeder | 12” | Background | Medium
Co2: Medium | Light: High
Root Feeder |
| Content | Egeria densa
Characteristics:
Max Size: 8"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Column Feeder
Composition: Midground
Parameters
Co2: None
Light Level: Medium
Tank Mates
Shrimps will graze on this plant while snails will eat their decaying leaves. Great mid-dwelling fish to swim through and even hide.
Notes
Anarcharis has several other common names including: Elodea, Egeria, Waterweed and Brazilian Waterweed. They're super easy to grow and although they're column feeders, can be planted in the soil. They grow new stems from the sides and not from the bottom, so you'll need to trim and plant the new into the soil if you want to increase their ground cover.
https://plantedtankmates.com/aquarium-plants-for-beginners/ | Anubias barteri var. nana
Characteristics:
Max Size: 5"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Column Feeder
Composition: Background
Parameters
Co2: None
Light Level: Medium
Tank Mates
Anubias Nana, also known as Dwarf Anubias is a smaller version of Anubias Barteri. They can be tied to rocks, driftwood or wedged between hardscapes. It's a column feeding plant so don't bury it too deep in soil or the rhizome can rot.
Notes
One of the most popular aquarium plants. It's very hardy and easy to grow. It's a column feeder, so no need for expensive soil but do use liquid fertilizer.
https://plantedtankmates.com/aquarium-plants-for-beginners/ | Vesicularia montagnei
Characteristics:
Max Size: 6"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Column Feeder
Composition: Background
Parameters
Co2: None
Light Level: Low
Tank Mates
Shrimps can graze and keep Java moss clean of algae. In return, baby fry love to nest and hide in it.
Notes
Christmas moss is a great alternative to Java Moss. It's another rootless plant where nutrients are not absorbed from the substrate but rather the water column. This is probably one of the most hardy and versatile plant species you can ever grow. You can tie or glue them to rocks and wood and let them create a nice foreground. Some will tie them to shaped mesh and mimic a carpet appearance on the ground.
Compare carpet plant options and select the next one for your planted
https://plantedtankmates.com/aquarium-plants-for-beginners/ | Proserpinaca palustris
Characteristics:
Max Size: 16″
Care Level: Medium
Nutrient Source: Root Feeder + Water Column
Composition: Background
Parameters
Co2: Medium
Light Level: High
Tank Mates
Great for community fish, shrimp and snails
Notes
This greenish to orange-red plant has a wide canopy and distinguished saw-tooth edges. It's a relatively hardy plant, but with strong lighting and CO2 it can start to show more red colors.
Read more about how to maintain Red Aquarium Plants
See the diagrams on how you can setup CO2 for your aquarium | Utricularia gramminifolia
Characteristics:
Max Size: 3"
Care Level: Advance
Nutrient Source: Root Feeder
Composition: Foreground
Parameters
Co2: Low - High
Light Level: High
Tank Mates
Low foreground plants are great for invertebrates and bottom feeders to graze and hide.
Notes
Utricularia Gramminifolia can be an amazing and bright green carpet in your aquarium, but it must be done right. They do better in an established tank and perfect conditions can produce white flowers to look like a blooming field. If not fully stuck in the soil, it can uplift and continue to grow in floating mats. These plants are carnivorous, but won’t chomp on your fishes or shrimp. It’s mainly a threat to very small crustaceans absorbing its nutrients and protein.
Compare carpet plant options and select the next one for your planted tank
See the diagrams on how you can setup CO2 for your aquarium | Rotala Rotundifolia
Characteristics:
Max Size: 12″
Care Level: Medium
Nutrient Source: Root Feeder + Water Column
Composition: Background
Parameters
Co2: Medium
Light Level: High
Tank Mates
Great for community fish, shrimp and snails
Notes
Rotala Rotundifolia is actually an easy plant to grow, but getting the red colors involves more CO2, lighting and iron dosing. Propagating is at easy as trimming the top and replanting in the soil. A good substrate will help with red colors and growth.
Read more about how to maintain Red Aquarium Plants
See the diagrams on how you can setup CO2 for your aquarium |
