Creating an aquarium environment isn’t just about what fish you put in there anymore. Crafting gorgeous and Insta-worthy aquascape structures is now as much of a hobby as taking care of the fish themselves. If you’re building a low-tech aquarium, without the addition of CO2, you’ll need to make your plant selections more carefully.
To help you out, we’ve put together reviews of what we think are the 10 best low-tech aquarium plants this year. For even more clarity, we’ve also included a buyer’s guide with additional information to factor in as you narrow down your options. Check out our thoughts and enjoy your adventure in underwater gardening!
A Glance at Our Top Picks (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Micranthemum Micranthemoides
Grows to multiple heights
Ideal space filler
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Best Value
Dwarf Hairgrass
Grows quickly
Minimal care required for growth
Attractive appearance
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Premium Choice
Hygrophilia difformis
Fast-growing
Grows tall or can be trimmed lower
Grows well in low light
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Anubias barteri
Doesn’t require soil to grow
Grows well in shade
Can be moved around the tank
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Microsorum Pteropus
Doesn’t require soil to grow
Good shade growth
Tolerates crowded environments
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The 10 Best Low Tech Aquarium Plants
- Micranthemum Micranthemoides – Best Overall
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Growth rate: Moderate
Height: 2-6 inches
Light demands Medium
Difficulty: Easy
Our pick for the best overall low-tech aquarium plant is Micranthemum Micranthemoides, commonly known as pearlweed. This versatile plant can be trimmed to spread low across the floor of the aquarium. You also have the option to let it grow taller—–up to 6 inches—–for background decor. Pearlweed will grow just fine without Co2 or bright light, although you can manipulate the shape and color if you do choose to add these in. It does need regular trimming, or it will start to grow out of control. Aggressive pruning helps pearlweed form nice dense bushes, ideal for filling empty spaces in an aquascape. Pearlweed offers a good mix of versatility, ease of care, and interesting texture.
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Pros
Grows to multiple heights
Ideal space filler
Cons
Requires frequent pruning
- Dwarf Hairgrass – Best Value
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Growth rate: Moderate-fas
Height: 1-2 inches
Light demands: Medium-high
Difficulty: Easy
Our choice of best low-tech aquarium plant for the money is Dwarf Hairgrass, a popular plant that requires essentially no special care. Dwarf hairgrass spreads quickly along the floor of an aquarium, creating a grassy, lawn-like appearance.
Grows to multiple heights
Ideal space filler
- Grows to multiple heights
- Ideal space filler
Requires frequent pruning
- Requires frequent pruning
While it grows thicker and faster with bright light and CO2, neither is required to keep this plant healthy and spreading. You will need to keep Ddwarf Hairgrass pruned, however, or it will overrun the whole tank. Not only does a healthy crop of Dwarf hairgrass look nice in your tank, but it also provides space for shy fish to take cover or a place for spawning.
Pros
Grows quickly
Minimal care required for growth
Attractive appearance
Cons
Frequent pruning required
Can overrun the tank
Grows quickly
Minimal care required for growth
Attractive appearance
- Grows quickly
- Minimal care required for growth
- Attractive appearance
Frequent pruning required
Can overrun the tank
- Frequent pruning required
- Can overrun the tank
It covers all you need to know about the ideal tank setup, tank size, substrate, ornaments, plants, and so much more!
- Hygrophilia difformis – Premium Choice
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Growth rate: Fast
Max height: 20 inches
Light demands: Low-medium
Difficulty: Easy
Commonly known as water wisteria, this plant is actually easier to grow in low-tech tanks because too much CO2 causes it to grow wildly out of control. Water wisteria is a fast-growing, beautifully shaped plant that can be rooted or grow as a floater. It can grow as high as 20 inches, making it an excellent background plant. However, it can also be trimmed and shaped to serve as a lower-level cover.
Water wisteria can grow in lower light conditions. However, because it grows so fast and tall, it may overshade shorter species planted nearby. This plant is sensitive to changes in the aquarium water parameters, so try to keep your tank as stable as possible to help water wisteria thrive.
Pros
Fast-growing
Grows tall or can be trimmed lower
Grows well in low light
Cons
May shade smaller plants
Sensitive to water changes
- Anubias barteri
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Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Height: 4-6 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
Anubias barteri is a popular choice for low-tech aquascaping because it doesn’t require soil to grow. The rhizomes actually won’t survive if they’re buried and prefer to attach to hard surfaces, like stone or wood. It can grow in shade and, when it’s attached to a portable surface, can be moved around the tank to create variety in the aquascape.
Fast-growing
Grows tall or can be trimmed lower
Grows well in low light
- Fast-growing
- Grows tall or can be trimmed lower
- Grows well in low light
May shade smaller plants
Sensitive to water changes
- May shade smaller plants
- Sensitive to water changes
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Height: 4-6 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
Although Anubias is a hardy plant, its slow growth rate means it has a hard time recovering from damage. It is also prone to algae infestations, especially in brighter light environments. This plant is a good choice for fish tanks that can’t have soil.
Pros
Doesn’t require soil to grow
Grows well in shade
Can be moved around the tank
Cons
Prone to algae
Slow recovery from damage
- Microsorum Pteropus
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Growth rate Slow-moderate
Height: 14 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
Microsorum Pteropus, or java fern, is another low-tech plant that prefers to grow above ground. Attach this beautiful plant to rocks, wood, or even aquarium decorations for a pop of color and texture in your aquascape. Java fern tolerates a range of water parameters and grows well in the shade.
Doesn’t require soil to grow
Grows well in shade
Can be moved around the tank
- Doesn’t require soil to grow
- Grows well in shade
- Can be moved around the tank
Prone to algae
Slow recovery from damage
- Prone to algae
- Slow recovery from damage
Growth rate Slow-moderate
Height: 14 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
As a slow-growth plant, the java fern is in danger of algae infestation and may have trouble adjusting to sudden water changes. It can be propagated easily and tolerates crowded tanks. This plant grows well in a healthy aquarium with minimal intervention, making it a good pick for inexperienced aquascapers.
Pros
Doesn’t require soil to grow
Good shade growth
Tolerates crowded environments
Cons
Susceptible to algae
It may have trouble adjusting to quick water changes
- Juncus repens
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Growth rate: Moderate
Height: 4-12 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty Easy
Juncus repens is easy to grow and resembles long, wavy blades of grass. This plant tolerates a range of temperature conditions and low light. However, if grown in bright light conditions, the usual green leaves of this plant change to red and brown hues. This trait makes Jjuncus repens a good choice if you’re trying to add some color variety to your aquascape.
Doesn’t require soil to grow
Good shade growth
Tolerates crowded environments
- Doesn’t require soil to grow
- Good shade growth
- Tolerates crowded environments
Susceptible to algae
It may have trouble adjusting to quick water changes
- Susceptible to algae
- It may have trouble adjusting to quick water changes
Growth rate: Moderate
Height: 4-12 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty Easy
The height of this plant makes it a mid-level or background species. Because it’s tough and doesn’t have specialized care requirements, this plant is a good pick for beginners. Be aware that it will not tolerate swift changes in water conditions and make any adjustments slowly.
Pros
Leaves turn red and brown in high light
Tolerant of different water conditions
Good for beginners
Cons
Won’t tolerate sudden water changes
- Vesicularia Montagne
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Growth rate: Slow
Height: 1-4 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
This low-tech plant, also known as Christmas moss, is easy to grow, hard to kill, and wildly simple to propagate. The moss is slow-growing, but can often be purchased already attached to pieces of wood or rock, making decorating with this plant simple.
Leaves turn red and brown in high light
Tolerant of different water conditions
Good for beginners
- Leaves turn red and brown in high light
- Tolerant of different water conditions
- Good for beginners
Won’t tolerate sudden water changes
- Won’t tolerate sudden water changes
Growth rate: Slow
Height: 1-4 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
To spread Christmas moss, simply prune off some pieces and reattach them in another location. This plant is a popular addition to breeding tanks because it provides a safe environment for fish to lay their eggs. Make sure to provide Christmas moss with an appropriate surface to attach to or it may connect with the tubing of your tank and cause issues. Christmas moss is popular among hardscape tank keepers because it doesn’t need soil and is easily attached to surfaces.
Pros
Easy to propagate
Minimal care required
Good for breeding tanks and hardscape
Cons
Will attach to tubing if no other surface is available
- Rotala rotundifolia
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Growth rate: Fast
Height: 2-12 inches
Light demands: High
Difficulty: Easy
Rotala rotundifolia is another option to consider if you want some alternative color in your aquascape. In the right light, this plant develops a gorgeous bright reddish-orange hue. Rotala is a fast-growing, tall low-tech plant that works best as a background planting and provides cover for fish or invertebrates. The leaves of this plant are quite delicate, so handle them gently. Because of its aggressive growth, this plant does require regular trimming so you can’t just avoid touching the leaves at all. You’ll also need to spend some time removing old growth and replanting new ones. Rotala is easy to grow but does require a bit more maintenance than some other plants on our list.
Easy to propagate
Minimal care required
Good for breeding tanks and hardscape
- Easy to propagate
- Minimal care required
- Good for breeding tanks and hardscape
Will attach to tubing if no other surface is available
- Will attach to tubing if no other surface is available
Growth rate: Fast
Height: 2-12 inches
Light demands: High
Difficulty: Easy
Pros
Beautiful red color
Easy to grow
Good cover for fish or invertebrates
Cons
Requires frequent pruning
Delicate leaves
- Vallesneria Americana
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Growth rate: Fast
Height: 12-24 inches
Light demands: Moderate to high
Difficulty: Moderate
Beautiful red color
Easy to grow
Good cover for fish or invertebrates
- Beautiful red color
- Easy to grow
- Good cover for fish or invertebrates
Requires frequent pruning
Delicate leaves
- Requires frequent pruning
- Delicate leaves
Growth rate: Fast
Height: 12-24 inches
Light demands: Moderate to high
Difficulty: Moderate
Although it does require a moderate amount of care, jungle val is tolerant of a wide range of water conditions, even brackish water. These plants provide great cover for fish and can be very relaxing to watch as the long leaves ripple in the water.
Pros
Tolerant of many water conditions
Good cover for fish
Unique, beautiful appearance
Cons
Needs a large aquarium and deep soil
Requires moderate care
- Cryptocoryne Parva
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Growth rate: Slow
Height: 2-4 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
Cryptocoryne Parva is a good low-tech foreground plant because it grows only to a maximum height of 4 inches without needing to be pruned. The long, thin leaves of this plant provide a lush, grass-like appearance.
Tolerant of many water conditions
Good cover for fish
Unique, beautiful appearance
- Tolerant of many water conditions
- Good cover for fish
- Unique, beautiful appearance
Needs a large aquarium and deep soil
Requires moderate care
- Needs a large aquarium and deep soil
- Requires moderate care
Growth rate: Slow
Height: 2-4 inches
Light demands: Low
Difficulty: Easy
However, it grows extremely slowly so don’t expect your aqua lawn to be green overnight. Cryptocoryne Parva are easy to care for once they are established but they tend to have a rough time when they’re first planted. The plants take a long time to adjust to new water and may end up melting. They can tolerate low light but grow even more slowly if planted in complete shade.
Pros
Grows only to a certain height
Easy long term maintenance
Cons
Very slow growth
They have difficulty adjusting when first planted
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Low-Tech Aquarium Plants
As you can see, there are a lot of low-tech plants available to you, each with unique qualities and its own appeal. To decide which plants are best for you, however, you’ll need to factor in some other considerations.
Grows only to a certain height
Easy long term maintenance
- Grows only to a certain height
- Easy long term maintenance
Very slow growth
They have difficulty adjusting when first planted
- Very slow growth
- They have difficulty adjusting when first planted
Can You Have Plants In Your Tank At All?
While planted tanks provide many benefits to fish, including increased oxygen levels, a place to lay eggs, and hiding spots, not all fish are safe to keep with plants. Before going to the trouble of planting and maintaining your aquascape, make sure your fish aren’t going to eat it or destroy it. Fish species to avoid include plecos and silver dollar fish, who’ll make a meal out of your whole planting. Also, avoid species like oscars and cichlids who like to burrow in the substrate and can destroy the plant’s roots.
Size Matters
If you want to create a balanced low-tech aquascape, you’ll need to consider the heights of all the plants and plan their locations carefully. Not only do you want your tank to look nice, but you also need to make sure no plants grow too tall and impact the light for others. As you plan your plantings, remember that some species grow just fine in lower light or even shade.
Match Requirements Carefully
For best results, you’ll want to choose plants that match the light and water parameters of your tank. If you’re starting from scratch then you can plan based on your ultimate goal for the aquascape. However, if you’re adding plants to an established tank, you’ll need to make sure they can tolerate the water conditions already in place for the fish. Choose plants with similar light requirements or those whose conditions complement each other.
Do You Want Color?
Most of the low-tech plants on our list and in the aquarium world come in shades of green. If you want to provide some color contrast, your options are more limited. This is especially true if the development of the red color requires special lighting or water conditions.
Conclusion
As the best overall low-tech aquarium plant, Micranthemum Micranthemoides offers versatility in height and usage, combined with a beautiful appearance. Our best low-tech aquarium plant for the money, Dwarf Hairgrass, is fast-growing and easy to care for, offering a lush look with minimal commitment. Building a planted tank can be complicated and time-consuming but we hope our reviews of these 10 low-tech aquarium plants gives you an idea of where to begin.
Featured Image Credit: Amuljar, Pixabay
