Best live aquarium plants for beginners: low-light and no-CO2 picks

Java fern is nearly indestructible under beginner conditions. Low light, no CO2, soft or hard water, acidic or alkaline pH: it tolerates all of these. The one requirement that beginners get wrong is planting: the rhizome (the thick horizontal stem) must not be buried in substrate. Buried rhizomes rot. Tie the rhizome to a rock or driftwood with thread or a rubber band, and the roots will attach within 2 to 3 weeks.

Java fern propagates by growing small plantlets on the edges of mature leaves. When these develop their own small roots, you can detach them and anchor them to new locations.

Java moss is the most commonly used plant in shrimp tanks. The dense, tangled mat provides hiding space for baby shrimp and allows shrimp to graze on the biofilm that grows in the moss. In a betta tank, a java moss mat on the substrate reduces stress by giving the betta territory markers and visual breaks in the tank.

Attach java moss to hardscape with fishing line or thread, or place it loose on the substrate in areas where you want ground cover. It will anchor itself within a few weeks.

Water wisteria grows fast enough that it can visibly grow in a week under good conditions. Fast growth means the plant consumes nitrogen compounds from the water, which is why a fast-growing plant in a new tank competes with algae for the nutrients algae needs to establish.

The leaf shape changes based on light: in low light it has broader, simpler leaves; in higher light it develops finely cut, feathery leaves. Both forms are healthy. Plant the stem in substrate at least 2 inches deep, and trim the top when it reaches the surface. Trimmings can be replanted to add new plants.

Amazon sword is a heavy-root feeder: it draws most of its nutrients from the substrate rather than the water column. In plain gravel or sand without supplementation, it will survive but grow slowly and develop pale green leaves (a sign of nutrient deficiency). Adding root tabs (fertilizer capsules pushed into the substrate near the roots) resolves this in most cases.

The large leaf spread provides shade beneath the plant, which reduces algae growth in the lower portion of the tank and creates a natural hiding area for bottom-dwelling fish and shrimp.