Types of Underwater Plants that can be used in Your Aquarium

Home aquariums can be enhanced by the use of live underwater plants. Underwater plants can be used in both freshwater and saltwater tanks, however the type of tank you have will generally limit you to the underwater plants that can survive in that type of water.

Having underwater plants in your aquarium can help it's ecology in many ways. It provides a habitat for your fish to live and breed, it can oxygenate the water in the aquarium, and it can be used as a source of food for some species of fish. Live plants can help your aquarium as well by providing a place for baby fish to hide and grow and they are aesthetically pleasing.

Freshwater Aquarium Plants

Telanthera Osiris is one type of underwater plant that can be used in freshwater aquariums. It is a small herbaceous plant that can grow both on the ground and submerged in the water. This type of plant can be very colorful. It ranges from a dark green or purple in the top part of the leaf and is a light green to orange on the bottom part. This particular underwater plant may be challenging to grow in an aquarium.

The Lemon Bacopa (Water Hyssop) is a perennial underwater plant that's leaves smell like lemons when crushed; it is a creeping herb plant. It has blue flowers and is a very popular aquarium plant. Its popularity is due in part to its beauty and in part due to its hardiness. They are grown very easily in an aquarium and the leaf colors of this underwater plant will actually vary depending on how much light it receives.

Water Wisteria is an easy underwater plant for beginning aquarium growers to start with. It is very beautiful and helps to keep your aquarium free of algae because it absorbs many of the nutrients in the water that algae needs to survive.

Java Moss (Willow Moss) is another type of underwater plant that is commonly used in freshwater aquariums. It is fairly easy to grow although it may take a while to get going. This particular plant is very popular with aquarium enthusiasts to keep baby fish safe from other fish and even cannibalistic adult fish. This plant is usually found tasty to shrimp and similar fish. It should be grown in a part of the aquarium that offers a decent current, as it can get debris caught in it easily which gives it a less than appealing appearance.