Aquarium Plants for Fish Tanks: How to Choose the Right Plants

Adding live plants can completely change the look and feel of a freshwater aquarium. They add colour, texture and natural cover while helping create a more interesting environment for your fish.

The difficult part is often not deciding whether you want plants. It is working out which aquarium plants will actually suit your fish tank.

A plant that grows well in one aquarium may struggle in another because lighting, substrate, nutrients, water conditions, fish and available carbon can all be different.

That is why the best place to start is with your aquarium rather than simply choosing the plant you like the look of.

Quick tip: choose aquarium plants whose requirements match the tank you are willing to maintain. You do not need to turn every planted fish tank into a complicated high-tech aquascape.

Browse Live Aquarium Plants

Why Add Live Plants to a Fish Tank?

Live aquarium plants are popular because they create a more natural-looking environment and can be used in everything from simple community tanks to detailed aquascapes.

Healthy growing plants use light, carbon and nutrients as they develop. They can also provide shaded areas, visual barriers and places for suitable fish and shrimp to explore or shelter.

Plants should still be considered part of the overall aquarium system. They do not replace appropriate filtration, water changes, sensible stocking or regular aquarium maintenance.

If you are ready to start planting, explore our current range of live aquarium plants.

Start With Your Aquarium, Not the Plant

Before buying aquarium plants, look at the tank they are going into.

Ask yourself:

• How large and deep is the aquarium?
• What aquarium lighting is already installed?
• What substrate is on the bottom?
• Which fish or shrimp live in the tank?
• Are any of those fish likely to dig, uproot or eat plants?
• Do you want an easy planted community aquarium or a detailed aquascape?
• Are you willing to regularly add plant fertiliser?
• Do you want to use injected CO2?

Your answers will quickly narrow down the types of plants that are suitable.

If you are building a completely new setup, your aquarium dimensions will also influence the lighting, substrate, hardscape and amount of planting space available. You can compare our aquarium and complete tank range here.

Choose Aquarium Plants That Suit Your Fish

Not every fish behaves the same way around plants.

Many popular community fish live happily in planted aquariums. Other species may nibble soft leaves, move substrate, dig around roots or repeatedly uproot newly planted stems.

That does not necessarily mean you cannot keep plants.

Depending on the fish, you may have better results using robust plants, floating plants or species that can be attached to rocks and driftwood instead of planted directly into the substrate.

Always consider the behaviour and requirements of the actual fish species you keep rather than assuming every freshwater fish will interact with plants in the same way.

How Much Maintenance Do You Want?

A planted aquarium does not need to be complicated.

Many attractive freshwater aquariums can be created using suitable lower-demand plants, appropriate lighting and a straightforward maintenance routine.

At the other end of the scale, heavily planted aquascapes with demanding carpeting plants, strong lighting and rapid growth may require closer control of fertilisation, pruning and CO2.

Neither approach is automatically better.

The best planted aquarium is one that suits your experience, your available time and the amount of maintenance you are comfortable doing.

What Do Aquarium Plants Need to Grow?

Different aquatic plants have different requirements, but there are several important areas to consider when choosing plants for a fish tank:

• Lighting
• Substrate and root nutrition
• Plant fertiliser
• Carbon and CO2 availability
• Suitable water conditions

The key is balance. Increasing one part of the system does not automatically make plants grow better if something else is limiting them.

1. Aquarium Lighting for Live Plants

Aquarium plants need light for photosynthesis, but brighter is not always better.

Different plant species have different lighting requirements. The amount of usable light reaching a plant can also be influenced by aquarium depth, the light fitting, coverage across the tank and other plants growing above it.

Lower-demand plants can often grow successfully under relatively modest aquarium lighting, while more demanding species may require considerably stronger and more carefully controlled light.

When choosing aquarium lighting, consider:

• The length of the aquarium
• The depth of the aquarium
• The area you intend to plant
• The light requirements of the plants
• Coverage from front to back
• Whether the light output can be adjusted

You can compare our range of aquarium LED lighting to find options for planted aquariums and freshwater tanks of different sizes.

The goal is not simply to install the brightest light possible. It is to provide suitable and controllable lighting for the plants you intend to grow.

2. Choosing Substrate for Aquarium Plants

The aquarium floor does more than provide decoration in a planted tank.

Some aquarium plants develop substantial root systems and benefit from nutrients around their roots. Other plants obtain a larger proportion of their nutrients from the water column or grow attached to rocks and driftwood instead of being deeply rooted in the substrate.

This is why there is no single substrate that is best for every planted aquarium.

Aquasoil and Active Planted Substrates

Aquasoils are popular in planted freshwater aquariums because they provide a loose substrate through which plant roots can establish.

Depending on the product, aquasoil may also contain nutrients or have properties that affect aquarium water chemistry.

Some active substrates can influence pH, KH or hardness. Always check the specifications of the particular substrate before using it with fish or shrimp that require specific water conditions.

Browse our planted aquarium substrates and aquasoils.

Inert Gravel and Sand

Ordinary aquarium gravel and sand can also be used successfully in many planted tanks.

Inert substrates primarily provide a physical medium for roots rather than acting as a complete source of plant nutrition.

Root-feeding plants grown in an inert substrate may therefore benefit from additional root fertilisation.

You can compare our broader range of aquarium gravel, sand and substrate if you are designing a planted layout that combines planted areas with decorative sand or gravel.

3. Do Aquarium Plants Need Fertiliser?

Aquarium plants require nutrients to produce healthy new growth.

The amount and type of fertilisation required will depend on the plants, plant mass, substrate, fish stocking, growth rate and overall aquarium setup.

Liquid aquarium plant fertilisers provide nutrients through the water column.

Root fertilisation can be useful for plants that obtain a significant amount of nutrition through their root systems, particularly when they are planted in relatively nutrient-poor gravel or sand.

More fertiliser is not automatically better. Follow the directions for the product you are using and adjust your maintenance according to the needs of the aquarium.

See our range of aquarium plant fertilisers and plant food.

4. Do Aquarium Plants Need CO2?

Carbon dioxide is used by plants during photosynthesis, but that does not mean every planted aquarium needs a pressurised CO2 system.

Many lower-demand aquarium plants can be successfully grown in relatively simple setups without injected CO2.

CO2 supplementation becomes increasingly useful as you move toward faster plant growth, stronger lighting, demanding plants or more advanced aquascaping.

Lighting, nutrients and CO2 should be considered together rather than treating any one of them as the answer to every plant-growth problem.

If you want to explore CO2 in more detail, read our CO2 for Planted Aquariums beginner guide.

You can also browse our wider range of aquascaping supplies and planted aquarium equipment.

Types of Aquarium Plants

When you are new to planted aquariums, it can be easier to think about how a plant grows and where it will sit in the aquarium rather than choosing plants by name alone.

Rhizome Plants

Rhizome plants such as Anubias and Java fern are popular in freshwater aquariums.

These plants are commonly attached to suitable rocks or driftwood rather than having the rhizome buried underneath the substrate.

This makes them useful for decorating hardscape and for aquariums where conventional rooted planting is difficult.

Requirements still vary between individual species and varieties, so always check the care requirements of the exact plant.

Stem Plants

Stem plants are commonly used to create height and dense areas of planting.

Many are positioned toward the rear or sides of the aquarium and can be trimmed as they grow to help shape the layout.

Stem plants vary considerably in difficulty. Some are forgiving beginner plants while others need stronger lighting, more careful fertilisation or additional CO2.

Rooted and Rosette Plants

Plants such as Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria and many sword plants develop established root systems and are planted into the aquarium substrate.

Substrate depth and root nutrition can therefore be particularly important.

Consider the mature size of the plant before choosing its position. A small plant at the time of purchase can eventually occupy much more space than expected.

Floating Aquarium Plants

Floating plants grow at or near the water surface rather than being planted into the aquarium floor.

They can create natural-looking surface cover and work particularly well in suitable community, shrimp and natural-style aquariums.

Keep an eye on how quickly they spread. Heavy surface coverage can reduce the amount of light reaching plants underneath.

Tissue Culture Aquarium Plants

Tissue culture plants are produced under controlled laboratory conditions and are a popular way of introducing small portions of aquarium plants into a new aquascape.

The plants can usually be separated into smaller portions before planting, allowing one container to be distributed across an area of substrate.

The fact that a plant is tissue cultured does not automatically mean it is easy to grow. The individual species still needs suitable lighting, nutrients, substrate and water conditions.

Easy Aquarium Plants for Beginners

There is no aquarium plant that will thrive in every possible fish tank.

When aquarists describe a plant as easy, they generally mean that it can tolerate a reasonably broad range of suitable aquarium conditions and does not normally require an extremely specialised setup.

Depending on your aquarium, common beginner choices can include plants such as:

• Anubias – useful on suitable rocks and driftwood and commonly kept in lower-tech tanks.
• Vallisneria – a rooted plant useful for creating taller background growth.
• Hornwort – a fast-growing plant that can work well in appropriate freshwater setups.
• Cryptocoryne – a broad group containing useful planted-aquarium species of different sizes.
• Java fern – a popular rhizome plant commonly attached to aquarium hardscape.

These should be treated as starting points rather than guarantees. Always check the requirements of the exact species or variety before adding it to your aquarium.

See what is currently available in our live aquarium plants range.

Low-Tech vs Higher-Tech Planted Aquariums

One of the most useful decisions you can make is how technically demanding you want your planted aquarium to become.

Low-tech does not mean no maintenance.

The plants still require appropriate light and nutrition, while fish still need good filtration, suitable water conditions and regular aquarium care.

Likewise, buying expensive lighting and CO2 equipment will not automatically create a successful planted aquarium if the plants and overall system are poorly matched.

The Aquaholics Approach: Match the Plant to the Aquarium

Instead of starting with the question "Which plant looks best?", start by asking "Which plant will work well in my aquarium?"

That small change can prevent many common problems.

A simple order to follow is:

1. Check your fish – make sure the plants are appropriate for the livestock you keep.
2. Check your lighting – understand the amount and type of light already available.
3. Check your substrate – decide whether rooted plants have suitable conditions.
4. Choose your plants – select species that match the aquarium rather than forcing the aquarium to suit an unsuitable plant.
5. Add fertilisation where required – match nutrition to the plants and substrate.
6. Add CO2 only when appropriate – particularly when moving into more demanding planted setups.

This approach also helps you avoid both extremes: buying demanding plants for a basic setup or purchasing specialist equipment that an easy planted aquarium may not actually need.

How to Plant Aquarium Plants

Different plant types should not all be planted in exactly the same way.

Rooted Plants

Position the roots into suitable substrate while keeping the growing point or crown positioned correctly for the species.

Take care not to crush or completely bury parts of the plant that need to remain exposed.

Stem Plants

Individual stems can usually be spaced through the substrate rather than being left packed tightly together.

Aquascaping tweezers can make planting easier, particularly in deeper aquariums or when creating detailed layouts.

Rhizome Plants

Plants such as Anubias and Java fern are generally attached to suitable hardscape rather than having the rhizome buried under the substrate.

The roots can establish around the rock or wood while the rhizome remains exposed.

Floating Plants

Suitable floating plants are positioned on the water surface rather than planted into the substrate.

Monitor how quickly they spread and make sure surface movement, aquarium equipment and livestock are suitable for the species.

Our aquascaping range includes products and tools that can make planting, trimming and maintaining a planted aquarium easier.

Why Are My New Aquarium Plants Melting?

It can be worrying when newly added aquarium plants begin losing leaves.

Some aquatic plants are produced with foliage adapted to growing above or partly above water before being sold. Once permanently submerged in an aquarium, older leaves may decline while the plant develops growth better suited to its new environment.

However, not every declining plant should automatically be blamed on transition or plant melt.

Also check:

• Whether the plant has been planted correctly
• The aquarium lighting
• Nutrient availability
• The substrate
• Temperature and water conditions
• Physical damage
• Fish activity
• The CO2 requirements of the plant

Healthy new growth is usually a more useful indicator than focusing only on older leaves.

Common Aquarium Plant Problems

My Aquarium Plants Are Not Growing

Look at the whole aquarium rather than immediately replacing the plant.

Check whether the plant is receiving appropriate light, whether nutrients are available and whether a root-feeding plant has suitable nutrition around its roots.

Also check whether the species is simply more demanding than your current aquarium setup can support.

I Am Getting More Algae

Avoid automatically increasing the aquarium light when plants are struggling.

Strong or excessively long lighting periods can create additional algae-management problems when plant growth is limited by other factors.

Review light duration and intensity together with fertilisation, plant mass, maintenance and overall aquarium conditions.

My Fish Keep Uprooting the Plants

The problem may be the fish rather than the planting technique.

Depending on the aquarium, alternatives can include robust rooted plants, floating plants, established hardscape plants or species attached directly to rocks and driftwood.

The answer is not always to keep replanting the same type of plant.

How to Build a Planted Aquarium Step by Step

If you are starting from scratch, keep the process simple.

Step 1: Choose Your Plants

Start with live aquarium plants suited to your fish, lighting and maintenance goals.

Step 2: Choose Your Substrate

Compare planted aquarium substrate and aquasoil if your chosen plants need a suitable rooting environment or if you are building a dedicated planted aquascape.

Step 3: Match the Lighting

Choose aquarium LED lighting that suits both the aquarium dimensions and the light requirements of your plants.

Step 4: Provide Appropriate Plant Nutrition

Use suitable aquarium plant fertiliser where required rather than assuming fish waste will provide every nutrient a planted aquarium needs.

Step 5: Add Aquascaping Equipment if You Need It

Explore our aquascaping supplies when you need tools, hardscape accessories or equipment for a more advanced planted aquarium.

You do not need an award-winning aquascape to enjoy aquarium plants. A healthy collection of well-chosen plants in a properly maintained community aquarium is already a successful planted tank.

Shop Aquarium Plants and Planted Tank Supplies

A successful planted aquarium starts by matching your plants to the aquarium rather than trying to force unsuitable plants to grow in the wrong conditions.

At Aquaholics Aquarium Supplies, you can find live aquarium plants along with planted substrates, LED lighting, fertilisers, aquascaping equipment and other freshwater aquarium essentials.

Shop online with Australia-wide delivery or visit Aquaholics on the Sunshine Coast for aquarium supplies and local support.

• Shop Live Aquarium Plants
• Shop Planted Aquarium Substrate
• Shop Aquarium LED Lighting
• Shop Aquarium Plant Fertilisers
• Shop Aquascaping Supplies

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest aquarium plants for beginners?

Common beginner options can include Anubias, Vallisneria, Hornwort, Java fern and some Cryptocoryne species. The best choice still depends on your aquarium lighting, substrate, fish and water conditions.

Can aquarium plants grow in ordinary gravel?

Yes. Many aquarium plants can grow in ordinary aquarium gravel. Root-feeding plants may benefit from additional root fertilisation when grown in inert gravel, while other planted-tank setups may be better suited to a dedicated aquasoil or planted substrate.

Do aquarium plants need CO2?

Not every planted aquarium needs injected CO2. Many lower-demand aquarium plants can grow successfully without a pressurised CO2 system. CO2 becomes more useful when keeping demanding plants or running a higher-light planted aquarium.

Do aquarium plants need fertiliser?

Aquarium plants require nutrients to grow. Depending on the plant and aquarium, nutrients may be supplied through liquid fertiliser, root fertilisation, nutrient-oriented substrate or a combination of these methods.

How much light do aquarium plants need?

There is no single lighting level that is correct for every aquarium plant. Lighting should be matched to the requirements of the plant, the dimensions of the aquarium and the amount of planted area rather than simply using the strongest light available.

Can I put live plants into an aquarium that already has fish?

Yes. Live plants can be added to an established aquarium provided the plants are suitable for the tank and compatible with the fish. You may need to adjust lighting, substrate or fertilisation depending on the plants you choose.

Why are my new aquarium plants melting?

Some aquatic plants need time to adapt to fully submerged aquarium conditions and may lose older leaves while new growth develops. Lighting, nutrients, water conditions, planting technique and fish activity should also be checked before assuming transition is the only cause.

Are live plants good for a fish tank?

Live aquarium plants can provide natural cover, visual structure and biological activity while helping create an attractive freshwater aquarium. They should be used as part of a complete aquarium system that still includes appropriate filtration, water quality and routine maintenance.