At Modern Aquarium, we pride ourselves on being accessible to all aquarium enthusiasts, no matter how new or experienced they are. That is why we offer beginner live plants for fish tanks that add both natural beauty and practical benefits to your aquarium. Modern Aquarium is more than just a place to shop for aquarium essentials - we are also your trusted resource for guidance, ideas, and support as you build and enjoy your tank.
A low-tech plant does not require specialized equipment to grow in your aquarium and has minimal maintenance needs. You won’t need to set up a CO2 system or buy specialty nutrients and water supplements for these live aquarium plants for beginners. Some common plants considered low tech include Java Fern, Anubias, and Cryptocoryne.
Setting up your planted aquarium for the first time can seem daunting, but this checklist can help you get started:
For a more in-depth exploration of how to set up your aquarium for the first time, check out this blog. If you’d like more information on setting up a planted aquarium specifically, check out this blog.
A full tank cycle is not always necessary before adding aquarium plants for beginners, since live plants can help contribute to the balance of a new aquarium. However, we do recommend letting a new setup run for at least 24 hours before adding plants. This allows the water temperature to stabilize, gives you time to monitor key parameters like pH, and ensures that your filter, lighting, and other equipment are operating as they should.
There are a number of live aquarium plants for beginners that grow very quickly once they’re introduced to your tank, including red root floaters, duckweed, and Hornwort. However, in our experience, the fastest-growing beginner plant is the Water Wisteria. While it can grow super tall, filling out large tanks, you can prune it to your liking for a compact appearance.