| Content | Bacopa monnieri
Characteristics:
Max Size: 12"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Root Feeder
Composition: Midground / Background
Parameters
Co2: None
Light Level: Medium
Tank Mates
Most nano community fish including tetras, danios, barbs, rasboras, dwarf gouramis, swordtails, guppies, endlers, platties, shrimp and snails.
Notes
Moneywort makes a good midground to background plant. Their thick stems need to be planted in aquatic soil or gravel fed with root feeding tabs. They grow quick, so remove any decaying leaves, trim the stems and plant them right back in the soil. This is an easy plant that can provide shelter for a lot of smaller fish, shrimp and fry.
| Anubias barteri
Characteristics:
Max Size: 7"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Column Feeder
Composition: Background
Parameters
Co2: None
Light Level: Medium
Tank Mates
Anubias Barteri can be plated in soil or gravel, tied to rocks, driftwood or other substrate
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/ | Microsorum Pteropus var. Sunrise
Characteristics:
Max Size: 8"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Column Feeder
Composition: Background
Parameters
Co2: None
Light Level: Low
Tank Mates
Great for nano community fish like tetras, rasboras, danios, mollies, endlers, otocinclus, corydoras, dwarf gouramis. Avoid larger mid dwellers that may pick on its delicate leaves like cichlids and goldfish.
Notes
Sunrise Java Fern has a unique green color variation with flaring edges. Similar to Java Fern, do not bury it deep into the soil as the rhizome can rot. Lightly bury, weigh it down, or tie it to hardscapes to allow it to grow. It's a very slow growing plant in low light settings, but can propagate fast with CO2 and moderate lighting, but look out for algae on the leaves.
| Hygrophila difformis
Characteristics:
Max Size: 20"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Root Feeder
Composition: Midground - Background
Parameters
Co2: No
Light Level: Low
Tank Mates
Pearl Weed is also compatible with most nano community fish, including tetras, rasboras, danios, endlers, gouramis. They provide lots of shade and coverage for even bottom feeders like corydoras and rainbowfish. They create great hiding spaces for baby fry and shrimp.
Notes
Water Wisteria is a fast growing, bushy plant. When submerged underwater, it produces a feather-like leaf structure that's different in appearance than when it's emersed from water. It's relatively undemanding and can thrive in low to moderate light levels, but can grow tall and fast with high lighting and CO2. Provide a nutrient rich substrate and supplement with root tabs as necessary. It's great at consuming nitrogen waste and can be used to help combat algae. | Bolbitis heudelotii
Characteristics:
Max Size: 16"
Care Level: Easy
Nutrient Source: Column Feeder
Composition: Background
Parameters
Co2: None
Light Level: Low
Tank Mates
Great for nano community fish like tetras, rasboras, danios, mollies, endlers, otocinclus, corydoras, dwarf gouramis. Avoid larger mid dwellers that may pick on its delicate leaves like cichlids and goldfish.
Notes
Also known as Congo Fern or Bolbitis Narrow Leaf Fern is a column feeding plant. It has a narrow leaves that branch off on alternating sides of the stem. Similar to Java Fern, do not bury it deep into the soil as the rhizome can rot. Lightly bury, weigh it down, or tie it to hardscapes to allow it to grow. It's a very slow growing plant in low light settings, but can propagate fast with CO2 and moderate lighting, but look out for algae on the leaves.
| 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 |
