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Anubias barteri, Anubias barteri var. barteri

Plant · Rhizome

Anubias barteri

Anubias barteri var. barteri · West Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Bioko) · also Broadleaf anubias

Photo: Tocekas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tie it to wood or rock, or plant it with the rhizome above the gravel; burying the rhizome rots it. Put it in a shady spot, because slow leaves in bright light get covered in algae.

At a glance

Light

Low light

CO₂

No CO₂

Growth

Slow growth

Where it goes

On wood, rock

Temperature

22–26°C

pH

6–7.5

Height in a tank

25–45 cm 10–18 in

Difficulty

Easy

What it does for your tank

Tough leaves give shade and spawning spots and survive plecos and cichlids.

Fish that eat or uproot it

Herbivorous fish leave its tough leaves alone; big cichlids may uproot it.

Growing more

Cut the rhizome into pieces with a few leaves each.

Grows well with

Same light and temperature, but a different spot in the tank, so they fill it out together.

Amazon frogbit

Amazon frogbit

Plant · FloatingEasy

  • Low light
  • No CO₂
  • Fast growth
  • Floats
  • 20–27°C

Long dangling roots shelter fry, bettas and gouramis, and the plant soaks up nitrate fast.

Central and South America

Amazon frogbit

Limnobium laevigatum

Central and South America

Temperature
20–27°C
pH
5–8
Height
2–6 in · 5–15 cm
Light
Low
CO₂
Not needed
Growth
Fast
Goes
Floating
Difficulty
Easy

More plants. Sends out runners with new plants that break off on their own.

Goldfish and some snails eat the spongy leaves; strong filter flow pushes it under and kills it.

Full care guide

Photo: Cardex, Public domain

Amazon sword

Amazon sword

Plant · RosetteEasy

  • Low light
  • No CO₂
  • Steady growth
  • Middle
  • 20–28°C

A big, classic centrepiece whose broad leaves give shade and are used by angelfish and other egg-layers for spawning.

Central and South America

Amazon sword

Echinodorus grisebachii 'Bleherae'

Central and South America

Temperature
20–28°C
pH
6–8
Height
8–20 in · 20–50 cm
Light
Low
CO₂
Not needed
Growth
Medium
Goes
Middle
Difficulty
Easy

More plants. Baby plants grow on long flower stems; let them root, then cut them free and plant them.

Goldfish, silver dollars and large cichlids tear or uproot it, and some plecos rasp holes in the leaves.

Full care guide

Photo: Salvatore vitale, Public domain

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Plant · RosetteEasy

  • Low light
  • No CO₂
  • Steady growth
  • Middle
  • 22–28°C

A hardy low-light plant whose leaves give cover to bottom fish and shrimp.

Sri Lanka

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Sri Lanka

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5–8
Height
4–12 in · 10–30 cm
Light
Low
CO₂
Not needed
Growth
Medium
Goes
Middle
Difficulty
Easy

More plants. Sends out runners under the gravel; dig up the new plants and replant them.

Rarely eaten, but goldfish, big cichlids and digging fish can uproot it.

Full care guide

Photo: Haplochromis, CC BY 2.5

Duckweed

Duckweed

Plant · FloatingEasy

  • Low light
  • No CO₂
  • Fast growth
  • Floats
  • 6–30°C

Shades the tank, gives fry cover and soaks up nitrate.

Nearly worldwide, including Canada

Duckweed

Lemna minor

Nearly worldwide, including Canada

Temperature
6–30°C
pH
6.5–8
Height
0.4–0.8 in · 1–2 cm
Light
Low
CO₂
Not needed
Growth
Fast
Goes
Floating
Difficulty
Easy

More plants. Each tiny leaf splits into new plants on its own.

Goldfish, koi, silver dollars and many other plant-eating fish eat it.

Full care guide

Photo: Kostka Martin, CC0

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