Live Aquarium Plants Australia

Live Aquarium Plants Australia

Create a healthier, more natural-looking freshwater aquarium with live aquarium plants from Aquaholics Aquarium Supplies.

Whether you're adding a few easy-care plants to a community tank, building a planted aquarium or creating a detailed aquascape, our range includes plants for beginners through to experienced aquascapers.

Shop live aquarium plants online with Australia-wide delivery, or visit Aquaholics on the Sunshine Coast for plants, aquascaping supplies and freshwater aquarium equipment.

Not sure which plants will suit your aquarium? Read our complete guide to choosing aquarium plants for your fish tank, including how to match your plants with your fish, lighting, substrate, fertiliser and CO2 setup.

Shop Live Plants for Freshwater Aquariums

Live plants can add colour, texture, shelter and natural structure to a freshwater aquarium.

They can be used in everything from simple tropical community tanks and shrimp aquariums through to heavily planted aquascapes.

Our live plant range includes:

  • Bunched aquarium plants
  • Rhizome plants such as Anubias and Java fern
  • Tissue culture aquarium plants
  • Stem plants
  • Floating aquarium plants
  • Rooted aquarium plants
  • Plants suited to community aquariums
  • Plants for shrimp tanks
  • Easy-care aquarium plants
  • Plants for freshwater aquascaping

Aquarium Plants for Beginners

If you're new to keeping live plants, the easiest place to start is with species that suit the aquarium you already have.

Beginner-friendly aquarium plants generally tolerate a broader range of suitable conditions and may not need the stronger lighting, intensive fertilisation or injected CO2 required by some more demanding species.

Depending on your aquarium, popular starting points can include plants such as Anubias, Java fern, Vallisneria, Hornwort and selected Cryptocoryne species.

However, there is no single plant that is ideal for every fish tank. Your fish, aquarium lighting, substrate, water conditions and maintenance routine should all be considered before choosing a plant.

Our aquarium plant selection guide explains the process in more detail if you are unsure where to begin.

Bunched Aquarium Plants

Bunched aquarium plants are a popular way to add fast-growing greenery and height to freshwater aquariums.

Many bunched plants are stem species that can be positioned through the midground or background of an aquarium and trimmed as they grow.

Different species have different lighting and nutrient requirements, so check the care needs of the individual plant rather than assuming all stem plants require the same setup.

Tissue Culture Aquarium Plants

Tissue culture aquarium plants are grown under controlled sterile conditions and are particularly popular for planted aquariums and aquascaping.

A tissue culture portion can usually be separated into a number of smaller plants before being positioned throughout the aquarium.

This makes them useful for establishing planted areas, creating detailed aquascapes and introducing plants where a clean starting format is preferred.

The requirements still depend on the individual plant species. Tissue culture does not automatically mean a plant is easy to grow.

Rhizome Aquarium Plants

Rhizome plants such as Anubias and Java fern are popular choices for freshwater aquariums because they can be attached to suitable rocks and driftwood rather than planted deeply into the substrate.

The rhizome should generally remain exposed rather than being buried beneath gravel or aquasoil.

These plants are especially useful for adding greenery to hardscape, creating shaded areas and planting sections of the aquarium where conventional rooted plants may be difficult to establish.

Floating Aquarium Plants

Floating plants grow at or near the surface of the aquarium instead of being planted into the substrate.

They can create a natural appearance, provide surface cover and add shaded areas for suitable fish and shrimp.

Floating plants can spread quickly under suitable conditions, so regular thinning may be necessary to prevent them from blocking too much light from plants growing underneath.

Live Plants for Aquascaping

Live plants are one of the main elements used to create a freshwater aquascape.

Different plant shapes, heights and growth habits can be combined to create foreground, midground and background areas while rocks and wood provide structure throughout the layout.

If you are building a planted display, explore our complete range of aquascaping supplies, including hardscape, planted substrates, tools, lighting and other equipment for freshwater aquascapes.

You can also browse our aquascaping tools for equipment designed to make planting, trimming and maintaining aquarium plants easier.

What Do Aquarium Plants Need to Grow?

Healthy aquarium plant growth depends on more than simply adding a plant to the tank.

The exact requirements vary between species, but the main factors to consider are:

The best results generally come from matching these parts of the aquarium rather than trying to solve every plant problem by simply increasing the lighting or adding more fertiliser.

Aquarium Lighting for Live Plants

Plants need light for photosynthesis, but different aquarium plants require different amounts of light.

The effective light available to a plant can be influenced by the aquarium depth, the light fitting, coverage across the aquarium and the plants growing around it.

Easy-care plants may grow well under relatively moderate lighting, while more demanding plants can require stronger and more carefully controlled light.

Browse our aquarium LED lighting range for freshwater tanks, planted aquariums and aquascapes.

Choosing Substrate for Aquarium Plants

The best substrate depends on the plants you want to grow and the aquarium you are creating.

Rooted plants need a suitable medium in which to establish, and some can benefit from nutrients around their root systems.

Aquasoil and planted aquarium substrates are designed specifically with planted tanks and aquascaping in mind.

Many plants can also be grown successfully in aquarium gravel or sand, depending on the species and whether additional root or water-column fertilisation is provided.

Some active substrates can influence aquarium water chemistry, so always consider the fish and shrimp you intend to keep when choosing substrate.

Do Aquarium Plants Need Fertiliser?

Aquarium plants need nutrients for healthy growth.

Depending on the species and substrate, those nutrients may come from liquid fertiliser, root fertilisation, a nutrient-oriented substrate or a combination of methods.

Browse our range of aquarium plant fertilisers and plant food for products designed to support freshwater planted aquariums.

Always follow the directions for the fertiliser you are using rather than assuming more nutrients will automatically produce better plant growth.

Do Live Aquarium Plants Need CO2?

Not every planted aquarium needs injected CO2.

Many lower-demand plants can grow successfully in suitable aquariums without a pressurised CO2 system.

Injected CO2 becomes more useful when keeping demanding plants, using stronger lighting or creating faster-growing, higher-energy aquascapes.

If you are considering CO2, read our beginner guide to CO2 for planted aquariums before choosing your setup.

Build a Better Planted Aquarium

A successful planted aquarium is about matching the plants with the aquarium around them.

A simple way to plan your setup is:

  1. Choose plants that suit your fish and aquarium.
  2. Select an appropriate planted substrate if required.
  3. Match the plants with suitable aquarium lighting.
  4. Provide appropriate plant nutrition.
  5. Add specialised aquascaping equipment or CO2 when your chosen plants and layout require it.

If you're still planning the tank, start with our guide to choosing aquarium plants for a fish tank before buying additional equipment.

Why Buy Live Aquarium Plants from Aquaholics?

Shop our live aquarium plants and create a freshwater aquarium that is greener, more natural and better matched to the fish and livestock you keep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy live aquarium plants online in Australia?

Yes. Aquaholics offers live aquarium plants online for delivery within Australia, subject to current availability and any applicable delivery restrictions. You can also shop locally through Aquaholics on the Sunshine Coast.

What are the easiest aquarium plants for beginners?

Depending on the aquarium, beginner-friendly options can include Anubias, Java fern, Vallisneria, Hornwort and some Cryptocoryne species. The best choice still depends on your lighting, substrate, fish and water conditions. Our aquarium plant guide can help you choose plants that suit your setup.

Do live aquarium plants need CO2?

No. Many lower-demand aquarium plants can grow successfully without injected CO2. More demanding species and higher-light planted aquariums may benefit from controlled CO2 supplementation.

What lighting do aquarium plants need?

The amount of light required depends on the plant species, aquarium depth, light coverage and overall planted-tank setup. Browse our aquarium LED lighting range for freshwater and planted aquariums.

What substrate is best for aquarium plants?

There is no single substrate that is best for every aquarium plant. Nutrient-oriented aquasoil is popular for dedicated planted aquariums, while gravel and sand can also work well depending on the plants and fertilisation method. See our planted aquarium substrate and aquasoil range for dedicated planted-tank options.

Are tissue culture plants good for aquariums?

Yes. Tissue culture plants are popular for planted aquariums and aquascaping because they are produced under controlled sterile conditions and can usually be divided into several smaller portions for planting. Browse our tissue culture aquarium plants.

Can live plants help with aquarium water quality?

Growing live plants take up nutrients as part of normal plant growth and can contribute to a healthy planted aquarium. They should still be used alongside appropriate filtration, water changes and routine aquarium maintenance.

TRUSTED BY 100,000+ FISH-KEEPING ENTHUSIASTS AUSTRALIA-WIDE