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Aquarium Plants For Beginners | Tips And Care Guide

Easy To Grow Aquarium Plants.

If you’re interested in trying stem plants, bacopa is a good beginner option to start with.

This native from the southern United States has a straight, vertical stem with small, roundish leaves. It doesn’t require CO2 injection, but it does enjoy liquid fertilizers like Easy Green. While it can grow in low light, the leaf tips turn coppery-red in the presence of high light and iron dosing. 

Choose the right live aquatic plant for your aquarium.

A well-planned planted aquarium provides pleasure and relaxation for the eyes. Beautiful greenery regulates the aquarium’s ecosystem by removing harmful chemicals from the water. Here’s a list of the best plants for anyone planning to start growing an aquarium.

When it comes to aquatic wonders, few can match a planted aquarium. Whether it’s natural greenery in a biome, Japanese-style aquascape, or just to enhance a freshwater aquarium, live aquatic plants have both form and function to benefit the fish that live next to them, as well as their owners.

The list below, under the “Plant Types to Get Started” section, contains some commonly used and affordable aquarium plants that can tolerate a variety of water conditions and lower light levels. It’s important to choose the right species for your tank, as a beginner, try to avoid those with specific needs that are challenging.

1. Ludwigia Repens

Ludwigia repens is one of the most popular red aquarium plants. It is also one of the best oxygenating plants.

This plant is very easy to care for and it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.

You can keep Ludwigia repens floating in your aquarium which can help to filter light in your tank.

Besides, you can also plant Ludwigia repens in your tank and it will provide hiding places to your Neon tetras.

Substrate requirements

You can use any substrate for planting Ludwigia repens in your tank.

However, I advise you to avoid planting it in sand substrate (except organic volcanic sand) because it can suffocate its roots

Light requirements

Ludwigia repens does well under medium to highlight.

So you should provide it light anywhere between two to four watts per gallon if you are using fluorescent light.

Or provide light between 35 to 50 plus micromoles if you are using LED light.

If you are going after its red coloration then you should provide high light because it will help with the coloration

Water conditions requirements

Ludwigia repens can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

It can tolerate temperature as low as 60° Fahrenheit to up to 86° Fahrenheit. So you can keep it in coldwater as well as tropical aquarium.

Its pH tolerance range is between 5 to 8.

And you can keep it in very hard as well as soft water.

These water parameters are under the ideal range of water conditions that Neon tetras need. So you can easily keep them both together in the same tank.

Fertilization requirements For vibrant coloration and healthy growth, you should regularly supplement Ludwigia repens with fertilizers. You should use the fertilizers that are especially rich in CO2 like Seachem Flourish Excel. 

You can check its price at Amazon here.

Best place to keep Ludwigia repens in your Neon tetra aquarium?

You can keep Ludwigia repens floating in your aquarium. And it will restrict the direct light coming into the aquarium. Besides, you can also plant it in your tank. And it will provide a lot of hiding places to your Neon tetra.

Check the price of this plant at Amazon here

Brazilian Pennywort


Why Brazilian pennywort is the best plant to keep in Neon tetra tank?

As Brazilian pennywort is a floating aquarium plant, keep it floating in the tank.

This will filter the light coming directly into the aquarium. Floating plants also helps to lower temperature in the tank.

Substrate requirements

Brazilian pennywort is a floating aquarium plant so you don’t need any substrate to keep in your tank.

Water conditions requirements

The ideal temperature range for Brazilian pennywort is between 68° to 82° Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6 to 7.8.

And its general water hardness tolerance range is up to 30 dGh.

Light requirements

Brazilian pennywort does well under moderate lighting conditions.

So provide light between 2-3 Watts per gallon if you are using fluorescent light.

Or light between 35 to 50 micromoles if you are using LED light.

Fertilization requirements

For healthy growth, regularly supplement Brazilian pennywort with liquid fertilizers.

You should use all in one fertilizer for this plant like Seachem Flourish (check its price at Amazon here)

Best place to keep Brazilian pennywort in Neon tetra tank?

You should keep Brazilian pennywort floating in your Neon tetra tank. It will block light coming directly into the aquarium.

Check the price of this plant at Amazon here

Best Aquatic Plants for Tetras

Java Fern

Java fern is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.

This plant is very easy to care for, so it is a good choice if you are a beginner.

Besides, this plant is extremely hardy and it is very cheap as well.

As Java fern is popular, it is widely available in local fish stores and online.

Why Java fern is the best plant to keep in Neon tetra tank?

Java fern can provide a lot of hiding places to Neon tetras.

Besides, the ideal water parameters range of Java fern is quite similar to that of Neon tetra. So you can easily keep them together.

Substrate requirements

Java fern doesn’t have real roots. Instead, it has rhizomes.

So you don’t need to plant it in the substrate of your tank.

Water conditions requirements

The ideal temperature range for Java fern is between 68° to 82° Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6 to 7.5.

And its water hardness tolerance range between 3-8 KH.

These water parameters are similar to that of Neon tetra. So you can easily keep them both together in the same tank.

Light requirements

Java fern is not very undemanding when it comes to light.

You can keep it under low-to-moderate lighting conditions.

If you’re using fluorescent light then you should provide it light anywhere between 1.5 to 2 Watts per gallon.

If you are using LED light then you should provide it light between 35 to 50 micromoles.

Fertilization requirements

Java fern is a pretty hardy plant and it can do well without any additional fertilizers.

However, for faster growth, you should regularly supplement with fertilizers.

Java fern absorbs nutrients through its leave. So supplement it with liquid fertilizers.

What’s the best place to keep Java fern in Neon tetra aquarium?

You should keep Java fern in the middle ground or background of your Neon tetra tank. It will provide hiding places to your Neon tetras.

Check the price of this plant at Amazon here

Water Lettuce

Water lettuce is a floating aquarium plant.

This plant is a bit tricky to keep in a home aquarium because it requires humidity to grow.

However, if you provide it with the ideal environment, it can grow pretty fast and easily overtake your tank.

Substrate requirements

water lettuce is a floating aquarium plant, so it doesn’t require any substrate to keep in aquarium

Water conditions requirements

The ideal temperature range for water lettuce is between 70 to 80° Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6.5 to 7.2.

And you can keep it in soft to moderately hard water.

Light requirements

Water lettuce does well under moderate lighting conditions.

So if you have fluorescent light then you should provide it light between 2 to 3 Watts per gallon.

If you have LED light, then you should provide light anywhere between 35 – 50 micromoles.

Fertilization requirements

Water lettuce is a pretty hardy plant, and it doesn’t require any additional fertilization.

What’s the best place to keep Water lettuce in in Neon tetra aquarium?

Water lettuce is a floating aquarium plant, so keep it floating in your Neon tetra tank.

It will block the light coming directly into your tank and create the ideal environment for your Neon tetras

Check the price of this plant at Amazon here

Amazon Sword

Amazon sword is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby. It is also one of the few flowering aquarium plants.

This plant is very easy to care for, so it is a good choice if you are a beginner.

Why Amazon sword is the best plant to keep in Neon tetra tank?

Amazon sword grows pretty tall. And it creates forest-like effect in your tank, which provides a lot of hiding places to Neon tetra.

Besides, the ideal water parameters range of Amazon sword is similar to that of Neon tetra so both can thrive in the same tank.

Substrate requirements

Amazon sword is heavy root feeder aquarium plant. So if you plant it in a nutrient rich substrate, it will definitely benefit from it and grow faster and healthier.

Just make sure the substrate is at least 2.5 inches thick so it’ll have space to create root structure in the substrate.

Also supplement it fertilizers through root tabs.

Water conditions requirements

Amazon sword can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

It can tolerate temperature as low as 60° Fahrenheit to up to 82° Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range between 6.5 to 7.5.

And its water hardness tolerance range is between 8 to 15 DH.

These ideal water parameters are similar to the ideal water parameters range that Neon tetra requires. So you can easily keep them both together in the same tank.

Light requirements

Amazon sword does well under moderate lighting conditions.

So if you are using fluorescent light then you should provide it light anywhere between two to three Watts per gallon.

If you are using LED light, then you should provide it light between 35 to 50 micromoles.

Fertilization requirements

For healthy, faster, and vibrant growth you should regularly supplement Amazon sword with fertilizers.

Amazon sword is a heavy root feeder aquarium plant, so it will absorb nutrients to the substrate through its roots. So you should provide it fertilizers using root tabs.

Amazon sword can also absorb nutrients through its leaves, so you can also supplement it with liquid fertilizers.

Best place to keep Amazon sword in a Neon tetra aquarium

Amazon sword is a fast growing aquarium plant.

And it can grow pretty tall. So ideally, you should keep it in the background of your tank. And it will provide a lot of hiding places to your Neon tetras.

Check the price of this plant at Amazon here


As with most aquarium plants, bacopa is usually grown out of water at plant farms. Once you plant it underwater, the top of the plant starts producing submerse-grown leaves, while the emersed-grown leaves down below begin to die off. Eventually, the bottom half of the stem looks like a bare, skinny trunk, so just snip off the tops and replant them for a fuller-looking plant.

That’s also how you propagate bacopa – as the plant grows taller and taller, just cut off the tops and plant them in a new location.

Often used as part of an aquascape in the background, this plant can grow to 15-18 inches with mostly foliage. Due to its tolerance to aquarium water temperature and water quality, this easy-to-grow plant is perfect for most aquariums.

Christmas moss!

If you’re setting up a breeding tank, get yourself some Christmas moss! Their fluffy fronds look like little Christmas trees and provide excellent cover for baby fish and shrimp. Aquascapers often tie them to rocks and driftwood in order to imitate the look of an overgrown, moss-covered forest


In order to keep this slow-growing moss looking its best, invest in small algae eaters like amano shrimp and dose some liquid fertilizer to boost its growth.

If you’re looking for the ultimate low-maintenance aquarium background plant, Vallisneria is the answer.


It’s super easy to care for and not too demanding. It grows very large, often over 18 inches when allowed to grow, and quickly transforms the backdrop into a jungle-like backdrop. It provides plenty of protection for your fish, and the long green leaves waving in your aquarium look great. This is a critical plant that can thrive in a low-tech environment.


To grow freshwater aquarium plants, start with easy-to-grow varieties such as echinoderms, Anubis, Java moss, and aquatic wisteria. Install full-spectrum fluorescent or LED tank lights, then add a layer of plant-friendly substrate to the tank and cover it with gravel. Secure your plants to the substrate and allow the tank to stabilize for a week before adding any fish. Prune any plants that grow out of the tank to prevent decomposition, and don’t forget to clean the tank once a week! Read on for tips on fertilizing freshwater aquarium plants to boost growth!

Types of Freshwater aquatic plants.

Common aquatic plants include grasses, Anubis, melon sword, Argentine sword, Java fern, water lily, primrose, water onion, hidden corn, etc. Many people use memorable Latin names. Floating plants like duckweed and cabbage provide variety at the top. Some require carbon dioxide to be added to the water, but all listed are low maintenance.

Water Wisteria (background) These plants are one of the most common in newly planted aquariums. While they can’t tolerate low light, they prefer as much light as possible and will reward you with tiny, squirting O2 bubbles while they’re busy photosynthesizing. However, they must have abundant substrates or they will die out quickly.

Aquatic wisteria is an easy-to-grow aquarium plant that is very popular with beginners. Such aquatic plants are called bush plants. It can float on water or take root. This plant requires direct light and does well in the temperature range around 23-26 degrees Celsius. It can grow up to 20 inches tall and 10 inches wide, but it gets noticeably smaller at lower flashes. It has lacy green leaves that look like the green carpet-like lid of an aquarium.

Freshwater aquarium plants care requirements

Like fish, aquarium plants require regular care and attention. To ensure the plants in your setup are strong and healthy, adding aquarium plant fertilizers and fertilizers can help keep your aquatic plants healthy and happy. Waterlife Tropiflora Liquid Plant Fertilizer is a potassium-containing slow-release fertilizer that helps prevent plant fertilizers from yellowing.

If you want them to thrive, you must make sure to buy the right plants for your aquarium. For example, some plants require a certain amount of light, while others are better at a certain temperature. Read on to find out what options are available to you!

In order to provide enough food for living aquarium plants, a well-established freshwater aquarium will have some nutrients in its substrate. A new aquarium needs to be supplemented with live aquarium plant food, which is readily available at pet stores. Even well-established aquariums should be supplemented with additional phytonutrients to provide maximum benefit to the community aquarium as a whole.

What is the fastest growing aquatic plant?

The tiny aquatic plant Wolffia, also known as duckweed, is the fastest-growing plant known.

Arguably no other commercially available plant in the aquatic trade is as easy to grow and hard to kill as duckweed.

Though it comes with its own unique set of challenges as a result of these characteristics, duckweed is a popular choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists.

It can help keep the tank free of chemicals and algae and provides ample surface cover for fish.

Adding Plants In Your Aquarium

When introducing a new aquarium, the first 90 days are critical. To put it simple, the aquarium and the aquatic environment must be in balance with regards to plant growth, fish population and filtration. The plants have to adapt to the new conditions at a time where algae can thrive.

We advise you to follow the steps below:

  1. Set the lighting time to 6 hours a day in the first 2-3 weeks. Then you can increase to 8-10 hours a day.

  2. It is a good idea to provide CO2 from day 1.

  3. Change the water 25-50% a couple of times a week in the first 3-4 weeks. After that, change approx. 25% of the water once a week.

  4. No fertiliser or a limited amount of fertiliser during the first 3-4 weeks. The plants contain plenty of nutrients already from the nursery, which is sufficient to establish a root network.

  5. Fast-growing plants such as Egeria and Limnophila, can be planted permanently or removed at a later date once the aquarium is balanced. Fast-growing plants absorb the excess nutrients and therefore minimise the growth of algae.

  6. Introduce algae-eating snails and shrimps as soon as possible after start-up.

  7. We recommend that the introduction of fish is delayed for 3-4 weeks until the plants have established. In other respects, follow the fish stocking guidelines for new aquariums.

  8. Check the equipment – does the plug-in-timer operate the lighting effectively, is the CO2 supply sufficient, is the filter running, is the temperature OK?

Water changes are critical to the maintenance and health of your tank.

This is true no matter what type of tank you have. However, in a planted aquarium, water changes are more important. You want your plants to thrive and grow well in an underwater environment.

Plants also use nutrients as fertilizers as they grow. In an aquarium without plants, excess nitrates and phosphates can cause trouble with algae growth, but in an aquarium full of healthy, growing plants, algae can actually struggle to gain a foothold.

Aquarium Substrate

See how to use substrate when planning a new aquarium. A thin layer under the gravel ensures optimal growth in the future to come!

  1. A concentrate, used under gravel when planning the aquarium

  2. Ensures healthy and long-term growth

  3. Is neutral and does not affect the KH or pH value of the water

  4. The substrate absorbs nutrients and makes them available for plant roots

How to use the product

Plant Growth Substrate is laid in a 1 cm thick layer on the bottom of the aquarium, when the aquarium is built. The table below provides recommended Plant Growth Substrate amounts for a number of standard aquarium sizes

Aquarium Soil

Aquarium Soil is used for planning a new aquarium. It is a complete bottom layer, which can be used without any other types of bottom layer – see how to use it here.

  1. Aquarium Soil is a complete bottom layer, which can be used without any other types of bottom layer

  2. The grain size of 2-3 mm makes it easy for planting

  3. Aquarium Soil ensures proper growth and stimulates red colours

How to use the product

Aquarium Soil ensures good and active growth from the beginning, and boosts the red plant shades.

It is a complete substrate, which can be used without any other types of bottom layer.

Aquarium Soil is further an active bottom layer that lowers the pH value and slightly affects the water chemistry. We recommend that you change 25-50% of the water min. twice a week during the first 4 weeks after establishing the aquarium.

How do I calculate the quantity of Soil or Soil Powder needed for my tank?

  1. Measure your tank’s length and width in cm, for example 90 x 60 cm.

  2. Consider the thickness of the bottom layer you want, e.g. 8 cm. Make the layer thicker towards the rear wall for a great visual effect!

  3. The calculation to do is length x width x layer divided by 1000.

Aquarium Soil Powder

Aquarium Soil Powder is used when planning a new aquarium. The fine-grained active bottom layer is especially suitable for front plants – see how to use it here.

  1. Aquarium Soil Powder is a complete active bottom layer, which can be used without any other types of bottom layer.

  2. The attractive grain size makes it suitable for foreground plants.

  3. Aquarium Soil Powder ensures proper growth and stimulates the colour development.

How to use the product

Aquarium Soil Powder ensures good and active growth from the beginning, and boosts the red plant shades. It is a complete bottom layer, which can be used without any other types of bottom layer. Aquarium Soil Powder is further an active bottom layer that lowers the pH value and slightly affects the water chemistry. We recommend that you change 25-50% of the water min. twice a week during the first 4 weeks after establishing the aquarium.

How do I calculate the quantity of Soil or Soil Powder needed for my tank?

  1. Measure your tank’s length and width in cm, for example 90 x 60 cm.

  2. Consider the thickness of the bottom layer you want, e.g. 8 cm. Make the layer thicker towards the rear wall for a great visual effect!

  3. The calculation to do is length x width x layer divided by 1000.

Aquarium Plant Nutrition Capsules

Nutrition Capsules is an extra nutrient supplement – use tweezers to place the capsule in the gravel, close to the roots of fast-growing plants.

  1. Nutrition Capsules contain both nitrogen, phosphor, iron and micro nutrients.

  2. The nutrients are slowly released as the plants need them.

  3. Use Nutrition Capsules for stem plants, Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus, Vallisneria etc. – all plants with sturdy roots.

How to use the product

Nitrogen, phosphor, iron and manganese, as well as all vital micro nutrients are released by the capsules over a period of 1-2 months. Place the capsules close to the roots of large solitary plants and plants with sturdy roots.

The capsules do not fully decompose and the small balls inside the capsules will remain in the substrate after all nutrients have been released. The balls are made of resin, which is biologically harmless.

I Really Recommend Reading This Book And Learn more ways on how to create and maintain your own underwater ecosystem. Aquascaping is the art of creating beautiful aquariums with natural materials and live plants. written by professional and full time aquascaper George Farmer also co-founder of the uk aquatic plant society (UKAPS)


Having a clean fish tank is one of the most important aspect to fish keeping. so it’s good to have a good combination of filters in your fish tank because they help to get rid of the harmful substances in your tap water. like Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite chlorine and reduces Alge. Don’t forget that Nitrate, Nitrite are two different things, and that chlorine should be removed from the water before adding to your fish tank.

Here Are Some Of the Products I Use And Highley Recommend For Your Fish Tanks And Aquariums





Fluval Cycle and Aquaplus Water Treatment Pack

Fluval Cycle and Aquaplus Water Treatment Pack

  1. Immediately establishes safe biological aquarium environment

  2. Powerful responsive ammonia and nitrite elimination

  3. Prevents fish loss

  4. Allows immediate introduction of fish

Testing shows the water quality stays consistently good, the pH is buffered and water clarity is excellent. I have previously used multiple API and Tetra products but will continue to use this instead. I have no complaints and highly recommend you try this you will love the results.





Water Clarifier for freshwater aquariums




Fluval AquariumWaste Control 

Powerful responsive ammonia and nitrite elimination



Immediately establishes a safe environment



Fluval ProVac Powered Aquarium Gravel Cleaner / fish tank vac


Maintaining Crystal Clear Water

By following each of these steps, you should be able to eliminate the key problems that can cause any cloudiness in your tank, and they will help create a thriving environment for your fish to inhabit – making that crystal clear paradise a true reality.

If any discolouration or cloudiness returns, don’t rush too quickly to fix it, as this can often fix itself naturally as part of your tank’s cycle.




Fluval Co2 Pressurized Kit

Fluval CO2 compressed kits come complete with all the tools needed to grow lush and vibrant plants in your aquarium




JBL ProFlora Bio80, Bio-CO2 system with glass diffuser

Natural: CO2 production from biological fermentation process. No pressurised gas cylinder needed,


These Fish Tank cleaning Products Are Amazing! They really do work. My tank is crystal clear and there seem to be NO nitrate or nitrite levels to worry about. I’ve only been using it for a while in a 6 foot tank that has just recently been set up. There are plants in the tank along with a Few Fish And Everything seems really happy.

We Do Recommend These if you are still looking what to feed your freshwater fish then try feeding your fish these.


fluval bug bites  fish food for aquarium fish



Ocean Nutrition Food Instant Baby Brine shrimp, fish food for aquarium fish

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