Best Low Light Fish Tank Plants for Your Aquarium
When you’re thinking about building your aquarium, it’s just as important that you pick the right biological plants as it is the fish! Not only do they add a natural, vibrant, and decorative flair to your tank, but they also play an essential role in the overall ecology of the aquatic environment. However, if you have an aquarium that gets low light, or if you are a beginner who wants to have a low-maintenance tank, then you might want to consider only choosing species that can handle low light – especially if they are also easy to care for!
In this article, we will look at some of the best low-light fish tank plants which are not only resilient, but easy to care for as well.
Benefits of Low-Light Aquarium Plants
First of all, let’s try to figure what exactly speaks in favour of using low-light plants. First of all, too many aquarists can benefit from the low-demands of low-light plants.
1. Low Maintenance
Species that thrive in low light are generally less demanding than those requiring high light – they are slower growing (eg, Hydrocaria species), require less regular attention (eg, filamentous crypts such as Cryptocoryne wendtii) or will undergo less constant pruning and replanting (eg, Vesicularia species). Choosing types of aquatic plant that can tolerate low light will make them ideal for beginners, and for those who live a hectic lifestyle in which they are away from home more often than their tank.
2. Reduced Algae Growth
Algae is able to live anywhere you have high light and an input of excess nutrients. Low-light plants not only eat nutrients, but will also, by simple maths, reduce the overall amount of light in your tank, which is great to keep algae in check – another benefit to your clean, embettered tank!
3. Healthier Fish Environment
Plants in your aquarium will help you keep your ecosystem balanced. By absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen and contributing to the overall health of your fish, plants do the same job that trees do in balancing our atmosphere. Through the photosynthesis process among plant life, your aquarium also will absorb toxins such as ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, which is essential considering that these are usually built up in fish.
4. Aesthetic Appeal
Despite their delicate appearance, some of these plants have a pronounced green hue, making them an excellent option for low-light situations that add a touch of beauty to your tank without overshadowing fish occupants. A major advantage of slower-growers like these is that they will look better for longer before any maintenance can be required.
Top Low-Light Aquarium Plants
Low-light plants are a lot less demanding than high-light ones, which can be a good option for those just starting out in the aquarium hobby. It’s not that high-light plants are difficult but they’re less forgiving of mistakes and neglect when one is learning to care for them. Don’t be scared away from hardiness; there are many lovely plants that don’t need extreme water parameters and lighting to thrive. Here are some great low-light plants that are worth considering for your aquarium.
1. Anubias Barteri
Anubias Barteri is perhaps the most popular low-light option among the aquarium community, and for a good reason. A hardy epiphyte, this plant does well in a variety of conditions including lower light, and is a perfect starter plant for beginners. Its ovate, dark green leaves add significantly to the visual appeal of a tank, but multiple genes ensure that it shows up in contrast to the light-coloured skin of many species of fish.
Care Info: Anubias Barteri grows slowly; you don’t need to provide a lot of light. This plant is better to attach to driftwood or rocks than the substrate, burying the rhizome can cause the plant to rot. The water temperature preferred by this plant are between 72°F and 82°F (22°C – 28°C), with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.5.
2. Java Fern (Microsorum Pteropus)
Java Fern is another staple of low-light tanks. It is most easily recognised by the spiky green leaves of its fronds, and is a near-obligate plant for low to moderate light conditions. The species is also very easy to care for, and highly tolerant of the conditions in an established tank. It is common to find it as a centrepiece of a newly established tank.
Care Instructions: Anubias should be attached to rocks or driftwood rather than planted in the substrate, and it grows best in a temperature range of 68°F-82°F and a pH of 6.0-7.5. By trimming away dead and decaying leaves, the plant will have a happier state of being.
3. Cryptocoryne Wendtii
Cryptocoryne Wendtii is a very forgiving plant, and comes in varieties ranging from green and brown to deep red. It is great for those wanting a low light plant that can handle some water parameters. It creates a lovely Rosette of leaves, adding depth and texture in your tank.
Planting instructions: Plant Cryptocoryne Wendtii directly into the substrate. Recommended water temperature: 72°F-82°F (22°C-27.7°C) and pH 6.0-7.5. Note: this plant is known to have a reaction called ‘Crypt melt’ where the leaves drop off when first introduced into a new tank, but it usually grows back after acclimating.
4. Java Moss (Taxiphyllum Barbieri)
Perhaps the easiest aquarium plant … Java Moss is an all-round easy grow ‘em and go ‘em in low light. Lexie goes on to detail eight ways to use this plant, with everything from carpeting the substrate to attaching it to driftwood to creating a moss wall. For breeders, it provides loose cover for fish eggs and hold-out for the fry.
Care Specs: Java Moss will grow in temperatures between 59°F and 86°F in either acidic (5.0 to 8.0 pH) or alkaline water. It does well without any special gravel or substrate, and will grow almost anywhere. It needs thinning every so often to keep the carpet from getting too thick.
5. Marimo Moss Ball (Aegagropila linnaei)
Marimo ball is actually an algae, but since it works well in low-light aquariums, it is considered a low-light plant. They look like a clumped ball of moss, feel soft to the touch, and can go anywhere in the tank.
Care Notes: The Marimo Moss Ball does best with slightly cool2°F-78°F). The moss balls will do well with a ph of 6.0-8.0. Fish and other aquarium friends that share the tank are welcome to nibble on these balls – some fish and snails will enjoy the treat. Do not feed the Marimo Moss Ball itself; its growth requires sunlight and the CO2 that is released through photosynthesis. The Marimo Moss Balls can be gently rolled occasionally to help maintain a proper shape and keep them from flattening out on one side. Smaller moss balls can also be used to help remove excess nutrients, which can lead to algae blooms.
6. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Hornwort is a fast-growing plant that grows on or just below the surface of the water with bright green feathery underwater foliage. Its beautiful foliage makes it an excellent cover for fishes. It can be left floating on the water surface or planted in the substrate.
Care Instructions: Hornwort grows in any conditions, from 59°F (15°C) to 86°F (30°C), and pH 6.0 to 7.5. It grows rapidly and will eventually overtake the whole tank so should be regularly trimmed.
7. Anacharis (Egeria densa)
Anacharis (Elodea) is a fast-growing elodea that can usually tolerate low-light conditions. This plant has wiry, string-like stolons covered with small green leaves. Anacharis can be planted in the substrate or left floating in the water. Plants can be easily cut when trimming, and they are a good way to soak up excess nutrients and improve water quality.
Care Requirements: This plant can tolerate water temperatures between 60°F and 82°F (16°C and 28°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. It is a low-maintenance plant that can rapidly overgrow an aquarium without pruning.
How to Care for Low-Light Aquarium Plants
In fact, low-light plants are relatively easy to keep – but there are still a few things to keep an eye on, so that they grow well in your aquarium.
1. Lighting Requirements
Not even low-light plants can photosynthesise in the dark, which is why they need a good amount of hours in light. I recommend a photoperiod lasting 6-8 hours. You can achieve this with any kind of natural or artificial light, but if your tank is not receiving enough sunlight to satisfy the needs of your tabletop aquarium, it’s recommended that you purchase a low-light aquarium light, that will provide your plants with the necessary rays needed for their growth. LED lights are a good choice because they are more energy-efficient than other kinds of fluorescent lights and easier to adjust, making sure what kind of light spectrum they are being provided with.
2. Water Quality
If you maintain good water quality with regular water changes, pH monitoring and control and watchful eyes on your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels, then your plants and your fish should both be happy. Even for low-light plants, good water quality requires stable water conditions.