| Live plants can be a wonderful addition to most any | | | | it can be split into more plants for your tank. |
| freshwater aquarium. They give the tank a much | | | | - Anubias (anubias) – This plant stays shorter, but |
| more natural look. They add color, depth, and | | | | has large, broad leaves. It is easy to grow, and is |
| character to the tank as well as offer hiding places | | | | tolerant of wide temperature ranges, water |
| for smaller or shy fish. Much like the fish for your | | | | hardness, and lower light. And it is usually not a |
| tank though, some plants are easier to take care of, | | | | problem for it to be shaded by other plants. |
| while others may be too challenging for the novice to | | | | - Crypt (cryptocoryne) – Another plant that can |
| maintain. | | | | handle lower light conditions and is not overly |
| The following is a list of some common, (generally) | | | | particular about water conditions. There are many |
| easy-to-maintain plants that are well suited for the | | | | varieties of Crypt; most are medium-height plants |
| novice aquarium hobbyist. Of course there are far | | | | with finger-like leaves. |
| more out there, and these are just a few that are | | | | - Amazon Sword (echinodorus) – Perhaps the |
| readily available, relatively inexpensive, and very | | | | most common aquatic plant found in pet stores and |
| hardy to boot. | | | | fish shops, the Amazon Sword is a favorite for good |
| On the following list, the scientific name is included | | | | reason. It comes in numerous varieties and sizes, |
| because of the wide misuse of the common names; | | | | and like the other members of this list, it is a very |
| it will just help you to know that you are getting the | | | | hardy, generally easy to grow plant. |
| right plant. In no particular order, here are some | | | | - Hornwort (ceratophyllum) – A floating plant with |
| plants for you to consider: | | | | a dense, almost feathery leaf structure, it is a nice |
| - Elodea or Anachris (egeria densia) – One of the | | | | addition to the planted aquarium. Hornwort is |
| most common aquarium plants, it has small leaves | | | | especially good for tanks with small fish or livebearers |
| that are densely packed along the stem. In ideal | | | | like guppies (that sometimes reproduce seemingly by |
| conditions it is a very fast grower. Elodea can | | | | magic) because it provides excellent cover for the |
| tolerate temps as low as 45-50 degrees and pH's | | | | smaller residents of the tank. |
| from 5.0-9.0 so it can survive in places that your fish | | | | Again, this is just a starter list of aquatic plants, but it |
| can't. It does need good light, though. | | | | covers a good size range, different leaf shapes, and |
| - Italian Val (vallisneria spiralis) – Very popular | | | | multiple color variations. Also, the plants on the list |
| because it is highly adaptable to a broad range of | | | | are generally inexpensive which is especially good for |
| light and water conditions. With more light and food | | | | someone making their first foray into live freshwater |
| it can be a fast grower with long, ribbon-like leaves | | | | aquarium plant care. |
| reaching the surface of the tank. Once established, | | | | |