Best Cold Water Plants for Aquarium
When someone thinks about running a cold water aquarium, they will likely hone in on the types of fish they want to keep, however, it’s just as important to stock up on the right plants too. There is a wide variety of aquarium plants that prefer and thrive in warmer water, but there is also an abundance of species that prefer cold, and can excel in, cold water. The addition of these plants to your aquarium will create a balanced and visually appealing environment, not to mention the health benefits they provide by producing much appreciated oxygen, shelter, and a natural and efficient filter. Here I can tell you about the best cold water plants for your aquarium, their requirements, how to care for them, the benefits, and tips for getting started.
What Are Cold Water Plants?
Cold water plants are aquatic plants which grow well in the cooler water temperatures that are at the lower end of the typical aquarium water temperatures for most aquarium life, which tend to range from 50°F to 80°F, or 10°C to 24°C. Cold water plants are often the best for cold water fish, like goldfish, white cloud mountain minnows (scientific name: Tinca tinca), or many loaches or catfish. Cold water plants tend to be quite hardy, and can handle a wide range of water conditions, and are generally a good fit for less experienced aquarium enthusiasts, as well as more experienced ones as they are very tolerant.
Benefits of Cold Water Plants in Aquariums
Oxygenation: plants photosynthesise and produce oxygen, which is important for the survival of fish and some other aquatic types that need more oxygen than is naturally present in the water. This is particularly useful in the cooler water where oxygen levels are sometimes lower.
Natural filters: Plants use up nitrates and other excretions produced by your fish, reducing the need to replace all the water so often.
Algae Detritus: The dense populations of cold-water plants prevent algae from taking over by competing for nutrients, so you don’t need to shower your pond with chemicals.
Shelter and Habitat: These plants serve as shelter for fish, especially smaller or more shy species, and as a natural environment for their spawning.
Beauty: A well-planted aquarium is a thing of beauty, adding colour, texture and depth to the aquatic environment.
Top Cold Water Plants for Aquariums
1. Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
Java Fern is one of the most prized plants for cold water tanks: it is very hardy and also very attractive-looking, with long, range, green, leathery leaves growing up to 13 inches (35 cm) long. Java Fern is a good plant for beginners because it will survive glued to driftwood, to rock, or planted into the substrate. It should be kept between 60°F and 75°F (16°C to 24°C).
Care Tips:
Java Fern will not survive under intense lighting, but thrives under low to moderate light.
It likes a slightly alkaline to neutral pH, but is tolerant of a very broad range of water constituents.
Don’t bury it in your substrate (it might rot) but drape it over any surface where it can grip.
2. Anubias (Anubias barteri)
Lifting up the leaves reveals the rhizome which holds the plant in place by its roots. Anubias is a great plant for cold water aquariums and can be found during the spring and summer months. This plant tends to have broad, thick leaves that grow slowly. It is beginner-tolerant as it can survive most conditions and is very low-maintenance. It prefers water temperatures ranging between 60°F to 75°F (16°C to 24°C).
Care Tips:
Anubias prefers lower to moderate lighting, but too much light can elicit algae growth in its leaves.
Unlike Java Fern, though, Anubias should be tacked on to rocks or driftwood: they will not take root when buried in the substrate.
Regular trimming of old leaves will keep the plant healthy and encourage new growth.
3. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
It’s one of the fastest-growing floating plants, with feathery bright green stems that can provide excellent cover and shade for fish, as well as serving to suck up excess nutrients from the water. Hornwort is hardy enough to tolerate water temperatures as low as 50°F (10°C) all the way up to 75°F (24°C).
Care Tips:
You can keep it floating with no bertilisation in the substrate. You can weight it down with rocks or just let hornwort furrow on the surface.
It prefers moderate to high lighting to maintain its vibrant color.
In order to keep a lid on the creeping growth, pruning is often necessary. It can eventually colonise an aquarium if unchecked.
4. Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides)
Possessing tiny translucent rootlets that allow it to float freely through water if it chooses, Water Sprite also can be rooted to substrate, delivering both elegant form to the aquarium and delicate lace-like foliage. Water temperatures of 68°F-82°F (20°C-28°C) allow for optimal growth in cooler aquariums.
Care Tips:
Water Sprite prefers moderate lighting but can adapt to a range of light conditions.
It grows so fast, in fact, that it has to be clipped back several times a year or else it smothers the surrounding plants.
If grown as a floating plant, it provides excellent shade and cover for fish.
5. Duckweed (Lemna minor)
Duckweed is a tiny (about 10cm across), fast reproducing freshwater plant that floats on the surface of the water, its leaves a carpet of fine green. An aquarist can have either a love or a hate relationship with duckweed – it can be quite useful for an ADA coldwater aquarium to remove excess nutrients and provide shade. Temperature range is a very important indicator of suitable water conditions for both plants and animals in coldwater aquariums. Duckweed thrives in water temperatures between 60°F (16°C) and 75°F (24°C).
Care Tips:
Duckweed requires moderate to high lighting for optimal growth.
It can grow to cover the whole surface of the water if left unattended, so it must be removed on a regular basis.
Duckweed is great for lily ponds or larger aquariums. It may not be suited to small tanks because it grows very rapidly.
6. Cryptocoryne (Cryptocoryne spp.)
Low-maintenance ‘crypts’ as they are popularly called, the Cryptocoryne group tolerates a variety of water parameters and temperatures and is so common as to be almost inexpensive, with broad ruffled leaves in shades of green, brown and red. Cryptocorynes are most comfortable in cooler aquarium setups that fall between 68°F and 78°F (20°C to 26°C).
Care Tips:
Crypts prefer low to moderate lighting and can thrive in low-tech setups.
They grow slowly and do not require frequent trimming.
Sudden changes in water conditions can easily upset cryptocorynes, so be careful not to trigger sharp alterations in water temperature or pH.
7. Vallisneria (Vallisneria spp.)
Vallisneria, sometimes called ‘eelgrass’ due to its long, thin leaves is one of the ‘tall’ plants. It grows in dense clusters that give a lush background feel to the aquarium. It is a very tough plant, tolerating water temperature from 60°F to 80°F (16°C to 27°C), and is helpful for larger aquariums, where it can grow tall.
Care Tips:
Vallisneria prefers moderate to high lighting for optimal growth.
It spreads through runners, so it can quickly fill an area if not managed.
Regular trimming of older leaves will encourage healthy growth and prevent overcrowding.
8. Marimo Moss Balls (Aegagropila linnaei)
Marimo Moss Balls are strange amorphous algae blobs that are very popular amongst aquarists as a low maintenance and easy-on-the-eyes plant. Marimo Moss Balls are also known as a type of algae that grows into a ball naturally. Marimo Moss Balls breed well in cold water. Ideal temperatures range from 55°F to 75°F (13°C to 24°C).
Care Tips:
Marimo Moss Balls prefer low lighting and should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
They should be rotated occasionally to maintain their shape and ensure even growth.
Rinse them every now and then with aquarium water to keep them clean and prevent them from becoming too buoyant.
How to Care for Cold Water Plants
Lighting
Plants that grow naturally in cold waters tend to require moderate to low lighting – many are from shaded or deep-water environments where high-intensity light would stress the plants and result in excessive algal growth. Additionally, it is important to use a source of light that does not heat up the water excesively – a plant light with the correct spectrum for healthy photosynthesis can damage your aquarium’s thermometers.
Water Parameters
Most cold water plants are tolerant but prefer water with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Regular checking of your water parameters will hopefully keep them in a stable situation; significant swings in temperature and pH can stress your plants and fish artists.
Fertilization
Even cold water plants will profit from the nutrients supplied by fish waste and rotting debris – but every now and then it may be beneficial to give your plants a ‘watering’. Liquid fertiliser for aquarium plants is available, and it needs to be very gentle, with no traces of chemical treatments that can harm your aquarium fish.
Maintenance
To keep your tank healthy, the plants need to be trimmed, old/dead plant debris must be removed, and algae growth on plant leaves must be cleaned off. These are maintenance tasks done regularly. Water changes must also be made periodically to keep water quality high.