If you’ve never looked at a planted tank before, you’d probably be surprised at just how vibrant and lively the aquarium seems to be. That’s because the freshwater aquarium plants provide natural filtration for the water, help keep fish healthy, and can even help you breed your fish. Aquarium plants are used by fish for any number of things, including safety, comfort, food, and reproduction, so they’re vital to any healthy aquarium environment. You’ll find great resources in a few places online, but here’s a list of the top 10 freshwater aquarium plants that are nearly impossible to kill, and grow quickly in most every kind of water. It can be tempting to set up everything in your aquarium on the same day, but in most cases it’s not a good idea. You’re aquarium needs to go through what’s called a cycling process, where the water quality and parameters and vary widely. During this time, There are very few fish that can survive. This is why most experienced fish keepers will tell you to wait for a period of time before you put live fish in.

Click here to read more about setting up your aquarium tank. Useful Post: The Freshwater Aquarium Water Guide However, plants don’t require this. You’re free to add plants as soon you get the water in the aquarium! Just be sure you have the correct plant tools to avoid harming them while you’re planting. There are three categories of plants for most aquariums: Foreground, Midground, and Background. Each type requires various types of light, and there are certain setups that make your plants grow much more effectively. Take a look at the best lighting setups for beginners. Carpeting plants like Java Moss, Willow Moss, and Water Wisteria tend to stay low to the ground and spread horizontally across the floor of your aquarium. Because of this, they make a great foreground plants. These plants are also excellent for water quality, since they tend to grow very quickly, and thus filter lots of water. Java Moss is one of the most common plants in a tank.

It’s low-maintenance, difficult to kill, and grows quickly. If you attach it to a rock, it’ll crawl over the surface of your tank. it has been known to float, so it’s best advised to attach it to something to prevent any float-away.fish tank snails floating These are my most favorite carpeting plant. fish tank snails upside downIt’s tough, hard-working, and a healthy carpet of DBT looks beautiful in many of the common aquascaping styles.fish tank gravel coverage As a bonus, if they’re producing oxygen, Dwarf Baby Tears have beautiful little bubbles that form on their leaves. PS: It has been highlighted to me by Kara Van Kirk in this post that Dwarf Baby Tears might not be suitable for beginners as it requires ideal lighting and CO2.

The aquascaping possibilities are endless with this type of plant. It looks beautiful next to Stone, as well as contrasting perfectly with dark sand or soil. It’s incredibly easy to grow. So much so that you’ll probably find yourself trimming this quite a bit! PS: It has been highlighted to me by Kara Van Kirk in this post that Dwarf Hairgrass might not be suitable for beginners as it requires ideal lighting and CO2. the aqua escaping possibilities are endless with this type of plant. The Amazon Sword is the staple of most aquascapes. It’s easy to maintain, fast-growing, and can be quite beautiful when arranged in the appropriate area. Note that these can grow quite big (up to 20 inches), so they’re most often planted in the mid-background area. Java Fern is very a very low maintenance plant, and has a unique look that appeals to most aquascapers. Its biggest benefit is its ability to be planted in nearly any area of the aquarium without distracting from the hardscape.

It also looks quite good! Anubias Nana is one of the more appealing midground plants you’ll find in aquascaping. It tolerates nearly any water quality or environment. With curved stems and large semi-round leaves, it’s a great match for the stone aquascaping present in most aquariums. This plant isn’t often seen in aquascaping. Mostly because it’s very similar to what we see everyday of our lives—grass. It’s useful for placement around hardscapes, and is beautiful when properly trimmed. However, it’s nearly impossible to accidentally kill it! Besides having an interesting name, this is one of the most unique foreground plants available to aquascapers today. It has a striking zig-zag shape in its leaves, and grows in a ‘blooming’ pattern that’s visually appealing in front of hardscapes. Dwarf Saggitaria is an easily-maintained plant that maxes out at around 4-6 inches, making it perfect for midground aquascapes. Placing Dwarf Saggitaria around stonework or driftwood is an ideal location, giving it a perfect place to root into the wood or stone, and is an ideal complement.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this post and find it useful, please do me a favor by sharing it with your friends. For more aquarium guides and inspiration, do sign up to our newsletter or like our FB Page. The perfect gift for any pet lover. Send a Gift Certificate>If you are looking for a way to decorate your first aquarium, using natural plants (instead of artificial) may be your best option. Your fish will thank you as they swim freely in the midst of their beautiful aquarium paradise. Read ahead to learn more. Freshwater aquarium plants can be used in a variety of ways: When setting up your aquarium for the first time, you want to choose plants that are hardy and low-maintenance. The best freshwater aquarium plants will be green. Green plants generally don’t require as much direct sunlight. Too much sunlight may cause excess algae growth which will negatively impact the aquarium environment. This could result in the need for more maintenance and cleaning from you.

Carpet plants are smaller and tend to spread out rather than grow tall. They provide an attractive green carpet for your aquarium. Water Wisteria grows fast, quickly adding depth and beauty to your freshwater aquarium. It needs minimal maintenance, which makes it a fuss free plant to have. Java moss is quite popular for freshwater aquariums. It is low-maintenance and tends to grow onto driftwood and rocks. Lilaeopsis resembles grass and grows up to 2 inches tall. It spreads fast, often along the entire aquarium floor. It may need to be pruned periodically if it is invading other plants. Background plants hide fixtures and provide hiding places for your freshwater fish. The following are some of the best plants for this purpose: The Amazon Sword plant has leaves that resemble swords. It can grow to be up to 20 inches tall and is ideal for the back of the aquarium. Often they are planted in groups in the back of the aquarium. The African Fern is versatile, good for background or foreground.

It is often used in the background and needs low maintenance, thriving in most conditions. Java Fern is very popular since it is low maintenance and very beautiful. It can be used in just about any area of the aquarium. Green Tiger Lotus is a wide-leaf variety that needs very little maintenance. Average environmental conditions help this plant thrive. This plant may grow to 6 inches and has dark leaves. It needs very little care, and is ideal for the beginner. Just like the other plants, Cryptocoryne is very easy to care for and a beautiful addition to your aquarium. When you are searching for beautiful, low-maintenance plants to decorate your aquarium, try one of these suggestions. With daily, easy care, they will flourish and brighten your aquarium. Add your favorite fish varieties and enjoy! Remember, these plants flourish best at room temperature or slightly above. You may need a light or heater to be sure the water temperature stays in an ideal range.