Ground Cover Plants for Aquariums With Fish

When you set up a new aquarium, you can choose plastic plants, or you can opt for the natural look and beauty of real plants. Adding natural plants to your aquarium has a number of important benefits, including better oxygenation of the water and better health for the fish. Choosing an assortment of foreground, background and ground cover plants is the best way to create that natural look.

  1. Java Moss

    • Java moss is one of the easiest plants to grow in the aquarium, requiring little more than sufficient light and good water. Once the Java moss gets itself established, it will grow very quickly, making it a good ground cover for the tank. Another good thing about Java moss is that its taste is unappealing to most fish. The sour taste of Java moss means that the fish are unlikely to nibble it and cause damage.

    Crystalwort

    • Crystalwort is one of the most useful ground cover plants in the aquarium. One of the most useful features of this plant is its ability to adapt itself with the available nutrients in the water. That allows Crystalwort to successfully compete with algae for the nutrients available in the water, reducing the need to clean algae by hand and scrub it off the aquarium glass.

    Fortinalis

    • Fortinalisis a primitive moss that makes a good ground cover for the aquarium. The rich deep color of Fortinalis provides an interesting contrast to the reds, light greens and other colors of foreground and background plants, providing a lush overall look for the tank. Hobbyists looking for a more natural look might want to consider a combination of Java moss and Fortinalis for their tanks. This provides an interesting contrast and makes the entire aquarium more appealing.

    Christmas Tree Moss

    • Christmas tree moss is another popular ground cover option for fish tanks. This popular moss can be used anywhere in the tank, and it is very hardy once it becomes established. Christmas tree moss has a deep dark green color, much the same color as Java moss. It can be used as a contrast to lighter plants, or to create a dark area within the tank where shy species of fish can hide.