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Hornwort
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This beginner live plant for fish tanks can grow fast, so it will need regular trimming. Hornwort can function as a floating plant when left to drift at the surface, or it can be planted in the substrate like a typical stem plant.
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This low-tech aquarium plant requires low to moderate lighting. If you provide more light, this plant will grow at a faster rate.
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Choose this plant whether you have a nutrient-rich substrate or not. If your aquarium has gravel or other rocky surfaces, use root tabs to support healthy growth, or it works well as a floating aquarium plant too.
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59–83°F
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Hornwort offers a ton of versatility, as it can be a floating plant or a rooted plant. As a floater, it provides shade and absorbs excess nutrients, while planted, it creates a beautiful background that allows you more control over your aquascape.
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This beginner live plant for fish tanks may overgrow quickly and needs regular trimming to keep it from becoming overgrown. If not trimmed, Hornwort can also absorb a large share of available nutrients, which may limit the growth of other plants in the aquarium.
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Red Root Floater
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This floating plant requires very little maintenance beyond occasional thinning. Remove excess growth as needed to prevent overcrowding at the water’s surface.
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Moderate to high lighting. If you provide more light, this plant will grow more red leaves.
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No substrate is needed for this live aquarium plant for beginners, as it’s a floating plant drifting along the top of your aquarium.
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70–86°F
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Red Root Floater is a beginner aquarium plant prized for its eye-catching rosette leaves and red accents. Beyond its appearance, it helps create shade, offers fish added cover, and takes up excess nutrients in the water.
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Because this plant grows quickly, it can compete with other plants for available nutrients if left unchecked. Regular thinning is important to prevent overgrowth and keep the aquarium balanced.
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Amazon Sword
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Amazon Sword is low maintenance and does not require CO₂, though it does prefer a quality substrate and benefits from root tabs. Beyond that, regular trimming is usually all it needs.
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Moderate lighting, but can handle low and high lighting. The growth of this beginner live plant for fish tanks is highly dependent on lighting, and good light will help promote faster, fuller growth.
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Sword plants grow best in nutrient-rich substrate, though they can also be kept in sand or gravel with the help of root tabs.
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68–82°F
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These plants are extremely hardy and can survive in a wide range of temperatures and water conditions.
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Swords have the potential for fast growth that will crowd the other plants in your aquarium. Trimming is one of the most important elements of your regular maintenance routine.
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