Freshwater Aquarium Plants

To make your aquarium looking great and refreshing, you should add some freshwater aquarium plants, but before you do, choose something that are native to fish’s natural habitat.  Your fish would be excited to move through those plants.

There are five general types of plants for your freshwater aquarium.

Bulbs are plants that are not sure to grow, but when they grow, bulbs usually grow larger than the aquariums.  So if you have a smaller aquarium, take the bulb from the aquarium when the plant has grown much already.

The bulbs, like the water lily and the aponogeton plants are more suitable for ponds and other outdoor aquarium such as the koi ponds.

Floating plant is also a kind of plant that you can put in your aquarium but be aware that this plant can grow big as well.  Some fish love to hide under floating plants, but most of the floating plants, like the Fairy Moss driccia, are usually found in ponds and other outdoor and large aquarium.

Rhizomes, another plant classification, have horizontal stems and sprouting leaves.  Its roots locate the bottom or the substrates of the aquarium.  When the rhizomes grow, the leaves spread and run over and new section of roots sprout out.

The rhizomes include the anubias and African Fern.  These two plants are very common, especially to people who have deep interest in aquatic life.

The rosette is also one of the freshwater aquarium plants.  This plant including the Amazon sword and the Sagittaria, which are all flower producing plants, usually look like a crown with leaves growing above and roots growing beneath.  These plants cover the water as they grow.

Another freshwater aquarium plant is the stem.  It is a plant with leaves that grow from a stem, which could be single, paired, or multiple, and the root grows in the substrates.

The most common of the aquatic plants is the Java Moss, also known as java fern.  This plant can grow in a wide range of water and can survive any levels of pH balance.

The water wisteria, like the Java Fern, is also good for your aquarium.  It can grow quickly in the water while it helps the water lessen the algae.  But always check on it because it can absorb the nutrients from the water too.

Another plant that usually grows in an aquarium is the anubias nana.  This plant attaches to the rocks or stones and it produces pretty flowers as well.  Fish would not eat it so you can be sure it will survive the water.

If your aquarium is directly exposed to strong sunlight, put a grass-like lillaeopsis, which is a nice shade for your fish.

Amphibious plants like the cryptocoryne beckettii are also good for your aquarium since it can grow on water and on land.  You can choose different colors of this plant to give extra attraction for your freshwater aquarium.

Among the freshwater aquarium plants, the Amazon sword, or scientifically known as the echinodorus bleheri, is the most popular to people who are interested in setting up aquariums.  This plant usually grows faster in the water and as it grows, it will help you control the algae in your aquarium.  Taking care of it is very easy and you would never worry about the safety of your fish with this plant.

Adding different kinds of freshwater aquarium plants into your tank is very much rewarding for your fish and for you as well as it continues to give you some benefits at home.  Your fish will even feel they are truly at home with all those live plants that you have carefully chosen for them.  Enjoy your aquarium as you shelter some living species inside it.