Aquatic Plant Species

In this section of the articles library you will find detailed articles regarding aquatic plants; popular species as well as more rare and difficult ones. In this part of AC Tropical fish you will not only find information about the characteristics of different plant species and their individual requirements, you will also find guidelines that will be useful when you want to propagate specific plant species or make them grow rapidly.

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, we recommend that you visit our larger plant species database where you will find basic information about more than 300 different aquarium plants and their requirements. You will find a link to this larger collection of species profiles in the main menu that is located at the left side of this page.

If you are a beginner aquarist, Vesicularia dubayana is a good plant species since this plant is though and sturdy and will survive even the common beginner mistakes, e.g. rapid changes in the water chemistry. Vesicularia dubayana is more commonly known as Java Moss, since it origins from Java, Malaysia and India. You can plant Java Moss in the substrate, attach it to wood or other forms of aquarium decoration, or simply let it float around in the aquarium. Parts of the plant will even survive above the water's surface which makes it a beautiful addition to open aquariums and paladariums. (A paladarium is a type of terrarium that also contains a large area that is filled with water. Paladariums are for instance used to house many types of frogs.)  Java Moss is also an ideal choice if you want to breed your fish, since this plant will produce small green leaves that the fry can hide among.

Another plant species that have been kept by aquarists for decades is Ceratopteris thalictroides, the popular Watersprite. This plant species originates from the tropics and will tolerate a wide range of water qualities as long as the temperature is above 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). Watersprite have emerald colored leaves that look a bit like those of the chrysanthemum plant. In the wild, Watersprite will grow up over the water's surface. The leaves that grow under the surface are big and supple, while the non-submersed leaves are fleshier and more fragile.

Aquarists have kept Watersprite since they 1930’s and it is still a very popular plant for several reasons. Watersprite will not only look beautiful in the aquarium; it will also help keeping the oxygen levels up since it releases a lot of oxygen compared to many other plants. It will even perform some biological filtration. Another positive trait is that the Watersprite is easy to propagate in the aquarium. Watersprite will propagate by forming so called “plant babies” at the edge of the leaves. If a leave is nibbled off by your fish, you can let the leaf float free in the aquarium and wait for tiny “plant babies” to form. Even though your Watersprite will tolerate a broad range of water conditions you should provide it with soft and somewhat acidic water it you want it to really thrive. Watersprite is sometimes sold as Indian Fern or Water Fern.