If you are looking for the best oxygenating plants for aquariums or ponds then you are at the right place.
In this article, I’m going to show you the best oxygenate producing plants that you can keep in your aquarium or pond.
Most of these plants are very easy to care for so even if you are a beginner you can keep them in your aquarium or pond.
Table of Contents
Here’s a quick table containing the best oxygenating plants for aquariums and ponds
| Plant Name | Care level | Buy from Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Hornwort | Easy | Click here |
| Anacharis | Easy | Click here |
| Jungle Vallisneria | Intermediate | Click here |
| Green Cabomba | Moderate | Click here |
| Bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana) | Easy | Click here |
| Ludwigia Repens | Easy | Click here |
| Dwarf Sagittaria | Easy | Click here |
| Rotala Indica | Moderate | Click here |
| Moneywort | Moderate | Click here |
| Rotala wallichii | Difficult | Click here |
| Temple plant or Giant Hygro | Easy | Click here |
| Water wisteria | Easy | Click here |
| Amazon frogbit | Easy | Click here |
| Salvinia natans | Easy | Click here |
| Cryptocoryne wendtii | Easy | Click here |
| Java fern | Easy | Click here |
| Java moss | Very easy | Click here |
| Anubias | Easy | Click here |
| Water Sprite | Easy | Click here |
| Water lettuce | Moderate | Click here |
Why Is Oxygenation Important?
All the living organisms in your fish tank, which include fish, invertebrates, aquatic plants, and beneficial nitrifying bacteria, need oxygen to survive and function properly in your aquarium.
That’s why you need to make sure that your fish tank always has a sufficient amount of oxygen.
If your fish tank lacks a sufficient amount of oxygen, then your fish and invertebrates will suffocate. And the beneficial nitrifying bacteria will not be able to convert the harmful ammonia into less harmful nitrates, which can eventually kill your aquarium fish or invertebrates.
That’s why it is very important to always make sure that your fish tank has a sufficient amount of oxygen.
There are several methods for increasing the amount of oxygen in your fish tank.
I have talked in detail about all the different ways to increase oxygen in your fish tank in this article.
However, in this article, we are going to be specifically focusing on increasing oxygen by adding or planting some live aquarium plants in your tank.
What types of aquatic plants are best to oxygenate aquarium water?
As a result of the photosynthesis process, aquatic plants release oxygen through their leaves.
So fully submersible plants are the best to add oxygen to your aquarium water. Because in the case of fully submersible plants, all the leaves of the plants are submerged in the water, and as the oxygen is released through the leaves of the plants, the Oxygen will immediately get dissolved in your aquarium water.
How to choose the best oxygenating aquatic plants for your aquarium?
Now I will tell you some important things that you should consider before choosing oxygenating plants for your aquarium.
Choose the plants according to the size of your tank
When it comes to oxygenating plants, there are a lot of different varieties available (as you will see later in the article).
So when deciding which plant you should choose for your aquarium, you should keep in mind the size of your tank and the maximum height to which the aquatic plant can grow. And you should make sure that the aquatic plant cannot grow more than the size of your tank or the height of your tank.
Choose healthy plants
The most important thing you should keep in mind while choosing oxygenating plants is that you must choose healthy plants.
This is specifically important here because, as you are planting plants in your tank to produce more oxygen in the tank, if you choose and plant unhealthy plants, instead of producing oxygen, they will rot in your tank, which will ultimately reduce the existing oxygen levels in your aquarium.
Now, choosing healthy plants is not rocket science; you just need to make sure that the plant you are choosing looks healthy and has lush green coloration and new growth.
On the other hand, spotting an unhealthy plant is also very straightforward, you just need to look out for black or brown stems or leaves.
The look of the tank you are going after
Before choosing oxygenating aquatic plants, you should first have some idea of what kind of look you are going for or want to create in your tank with the aquatic plants.
For example, if you want to create a Jungle look in your tank, then planting plants such as Amazon sword in the center of the tank will help you achieve that look.
So overall, you should have a good idea of the look you are going after or want to create in your tank with the live plants and choose the plants accordingly.
Best Oxygenating Plants for Aquariums and Fish Ponds (Detailed Information)
Now that you know about the importance of oxygenation and choosing live aquarium plants, let’s dive into the best oxygen producing aquatic plants for your aquarium and pond.
Along with the plants’ images, I’ve also given detailed information about the water conditions that the plants need as well as tips on placement for the plants and much more.
1. Hornwort
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Hornwort |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Anthocerotophyta |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Medium |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 59-86°F |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | 5-15 dGH |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 10 foot |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 15 gallons |
Hornwort is a very popular aquatic plant in the aquarium hobby.
This is a tall, stem plant that can grow up to 10 feet.
It is one of the fast-growing plants and you can use it in your aquarium or pond.
It is one of the easiest aquarium plants to maintain and it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.
How much light does it require?
The growth rate of a hornwort is dependent on the light.
Basically, the more light it gets the larger and faster it grows.
This plant can grow in any lighting conditions.
For the fast growth of this plant, you should keep it in high-intensity light.
What’s the best place to keep this plant in the aquarium?
As hornwort is a tall stem plant that can grow up to 10 feet, you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.
You can also keep hornwort as a floating plant in your aquarium or pond.
Substrate requirements
You can use any substrate for hornwort.
Hornwort doesn’t come with real roots but you can use its leaves to anchor it into the substrate or to any ornament in your aquarium like driftwood, etc.
Ideal water parameters
Hornwort can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
With that being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of this plant is between 59 to 86 ℉.
The pH tolerance range is from 6 to 7.5 and the hardness tolerance range is from 5 to 15 GH.
Fertilization requirements
The secret behind the fast growth of hornwort is that it comes with allelopathic abilities.
These abilities allow hornwort to release certain chemicals that prevent the growth of other plants so that it can get all the nutrients available for itself.
If you are keeping other plants with hornwort then you should add some fertilizers so that other plants can also get sufficient nutrients for their growth.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
2. Anacharis
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Anacharis |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Elodea |
| FAMILY | Hydrocharitaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 60-82° F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 6 to 8 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Anacharis is another popular plant in the aquarium hobby.
It has some other names such as Brazilian Elodea, Brazilian waterweed, Egeria, etc.
It is a tall stem plant that can grow up to 8 inches.
You can keep this plant in your aquarium or pond.
This is a fast-growing plant and it is very easy to maintain.
It can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.
It can tolerate temperature as low as 60-degree Fahrenheit, so you can keep it in a cold water aquarium as well.
How much light does it require?
Ideally, you should provide it moderate lighting of at least 2 watts per gallon.
If you provide it very low lighting then it will die.
On the flip side, if you provide it a very high-intensity light or if you keep the lights of your aquarium on for a very long time then it can cause green algae growth on it.
Checkout our lighting recommendation
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
Anacharis is a tall, stem plant so you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.
You can also let it float in your aquarium or pond.
If you let it float in the aquarium then usually it will grow faster as it gets more light on the surface.
But if you plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate and provide it sufficient nutrients then it will grow fast.
Substrate requirements
You can use any subscribed for anacharis.
But if you plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate then it will grow fast.
Also, when you use substrate other than nutrient-rich substrate then you will have to supplement it with fertilizers like root tabs for its faster growth.
As anacharis can get its nutrients from the substrate as well as from the water, you should add some liquid fertilizers, especially after water changes.
Ideal water parameters
Anacharis can tolerate a wide range of water parameters especially when it comes to temperature.
The ideal temperature range for the proper growth of anacharis is between 60-82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.5 to 7.5 and the hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.
One study shows that the different acidity levels affects the respiration of Anacharis.
Fertilization requirement
If you plant anacharis is in a cold water aquarium then usually you don’t need to add any fertilizers for its proper growth.
But when you plant it in a tropical aquarium then you will have to supplement it with CO2 fertilizers.
You should also supplement it with liquid fertilizers especially after weekly water changes.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
Check out My Guide to Take Care of Live Plants in an Aquarium
3. Jungle Vallisneria
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Jungle Vallisneria |
| COMMON NAMES | Jungle Val, water celery, tape grass or eelgrass |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Vallisneria Americana |
| FAMILY | Hydrocharitaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Intermediate |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Medium |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 65° – 85° F |
| pH | 6.8 – 8.0 |
| HARDNESS | Moderately Hard to Very Hard |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 6 feet (2 meters) |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Jungle Vallisneria is one of the earliest plants in the aquarium hobby and it is still a favorite of many aquarists.
It is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
This plant can tolerate low temperatures up to 65 degrees Fahrenheit so you can easily keep it in a cold water aquarium or pond.
It is a fast-growing, tall plant that can grow up to 6 feet.
How much light does it require?
As mentioned earlier, Jungle Vallisneria can tolerate diverse environments.
It can grow in any lighting condition.
It can survive and grow in low light.
But for faster growth, you should keep it in high-intensity light.
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
As jungle Vallisneria is a tall plant, you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.
Check out My List of The 17 Best Background Plants for Aquarium (For Large and Nano Tanks)
Ideal water parameters
Jungle Vallisneria can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
That being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of this plant is from 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.8 to 8.0.
And it prefers moderately hard to very hard water.
Substrate requirements
You can use gravel or sand as a substrate for planting Jungle vallisneria in your aquarium.
Fertilization requirements
Jungle vallisneria requires sufficient iron for its proper growth.
So, you should regularly supplement it with iron-rich fertilizers.
You can add the fertilizers in the form of liquid especially after water changes.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
17 Best Background Plants for Aquarium (For Large and Nano Tanks)
4. Green Cabomba
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Green Cabomba |
| COMMON NAMES | Green Cabomba, Carolina Fanwort, Brazilian Fanwort, Fanwort |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Cabomba caroliniana |
| FAMILY | Cabombaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Moderate |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Medium to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 72 – 82 ℉ |
| pH | 6.8 – 7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background or Floating |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 11 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Green Cabomba is native to southern United States and it is spreading to Northen areas of United states and in other countries as well.
Green Cabomba is a fast-growing stem plant.
You can use this plant in your aquarium or pond.
Its other common names include Carolina fanwort, Brazilian fanwort, etc.
This plant is a bit delicate so it is not a very good choice for beginners.
You should also avoid keeping this plant in aquariums that contains aggressive plant-eater fish like Goldfish, Cichlids, etc.
How much light does it require?
Green Cabomba requires good lighting for its proper growth.
You should provide it with at least 3 Watts of light per gallon.
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
You can plant Green Cabomba in the background of your aquarium or you can let it float in the tank or pond.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Green Cabomba is from 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.8 to 7.5 and the hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.
Substrate requirements
Ideally, you should use a nutrient-rich substrate for Green cabomba.
You can also let it float in the aquarium.
Fertilization requirements
For the proper growth of Green Cabomba, you should supplement it with liquid fertilizers and root tabs.
It is not necessary but you can also supplement it with additional CO2 for faster growth.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
5. Bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana)
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Bacopa |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Bacopa Caroliniana |
| FAMILY | Scrophulariaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low |
| GROWTH RATE | Slow |
| TEMPERATURE | 69.8 – 80.6°F |
| pH | 6.8 – 7.2 |
| HARDNESS | 71.43 – 142.86 PPM |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 11+ inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallons |
Bacopa caroliniana is one of the most popular aquarium plants in the hobby.
It is a tall, stem plant that can grow more than 11 inches.
This plant is very undemanding and easy to maintain which makes it ideal for beginners.
It is also a very popular plant in aquascaping because of its coloration.
It is usually green in color but when you keep it under high-intensity light its upper portion will gain pinkish or brownish color.
You can use it in your aquarium or pond.
How much light does it require?
Bacopa caroliniana can do in any well in any lighting condition.
But if you want a pinkish or brownish coloration then you have to keep it under high-intensity light.
What’s the best place to keep it in the Aquarium?
As bacopa caroliniana is a tall, stem plant you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Bacopa caroliniana is from 69.8 to 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.8 to 7.2 and the hardness tolerance range is from 4-8° N.
Substrate requirements
Ideally, you should use a fine gravel substrate for planting Bacopa caroliniana.
Fertilization requirements
Bacopa caroliniana can do well without any fertilizers.
But you can improve its coloration by supplementing it with iron and other micronutrients.
You can also supplement it with additional carbon dioxide for faster growth.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
6. Ludwigia Repens
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Ludwigia Repens |
| COMMON NAMES | Ludwigia repens, Ludwigia repens Rubin, Red repens, Ludwigia sp. Weinrot, Red-Leaf Ludwigia, Creeping Primrose-Willow |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Ludwigia repens |
| FAMILY | Onagraceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to very high |
| GROWTH RATE | Moderate to Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 60- 86oF |
| pH | 5 – 8 |
| HARDNESS | Very soft to hard level |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 7-19 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Ludwigia repens is a tall, stem plant that can grow up to 19 inches.
This plant is very easy to care for which makes it ideal for beginners.
It can tolerate low temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can keep it in a cold water aquarium.
It is also one of the popular coloring plants in the aquarium hobby.
The leaves of this plant come in green and red color.
You can keep this plant in your aquarium or pond.
How much light does it require?
Ideally, you should provide it medium to high light of at least 2-4 Watt per gallon.
If you want the red coloration of this plant then you should provide it high-intensity light of 4 Watts per gallon.
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
As Ludwigia repens is a tall, stem plant you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.
Ideal water parameters
Ludwigia repens can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
With that being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of this plant range from 60 to 86 degree Fahrenheit
The pH tolerance range is from 5-8 and it can tolerate very soft to very hard water.
Substrate requirement
You can use any substrate for planting Ludwigia repens in your tank or pond.
But I suggest you, avoid sand as a substrate because it can suffocate its roots.
Fertilization requirements
Ludwigia repens is a very hardy plant and it doesn’t really need any fertilizer for its growth.
But you can supplement it with some fertilizers rich in CO2 for faster growth.
One study shows that CO2 affects the growth and the leaf size of Ludwigia Repens.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
7. Dwarf Sagittaria
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Dwarf Sagittaria |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Sagittaria subulata |
| FAMILY | Alismataceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 68-82°F |
| pH | 6-8 |
| HARDNESS | 3-12 |
| PLACEMENT | Mid-foreground |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 12 Inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Dwarf Sagittaria is a fast-growing, easy to maintain plant.
This plant can tolerate a wide range of water parameters and it is suitable for both tropical as well as cold water aquariums.
This plant propagates it’s very fast and provides a carpeting effect.
You can use this plant in your tank or pond.
How much light does it require?
As Dwarf Sagittaria is a carpet plant, it is usually far from the light. So, for the fast growth of it, you should keep it under moderate to strong lighting.
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
You can use Dwarf Sagittaria as a carpet plant in the mid and foreground of your aquarium.
Substrate requirement
Dwarf Sagittaria can grow in any substrate.
That being said, the best substrate for this plant is a soil substrate that is rich in iron and CO2.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Dwarf Sagittaria is 68-82℉.
The pH tolerance range is between 6-8 and the hardness tolerance range is from 3-12 KH.
Fertilization requirements
Dwarf Sagittaria doesn’t really need any fertilizer for its growth.
You should just provide it strong lighting so that it can grow fast.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
8. Rotala Indica
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Rotala Indica |
| COMMON NAMES | Indian toothcup |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Rotala Indica |
| FAMILY | Lythraceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Moderate |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Moderate to fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 72-82° F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 2 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 gallon |
Rotala Indica is a very well-known aquatic plant in the aquarium hobby.
It is a small plant that can grow up to 2 inches.
People usually use this plant in small aquariums because of its slow growth and small size.
But if you keep it in a large number in a big tank then it can it will look good in a big tank as well.
It is a fragile plant so it is not a good choice for beginners.
How much light does it require?
You should provide it moderate to high light of between 3-5 watts per gallon.
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
Rotala Indica is a small plant so people keep it in small aquariums.
It is a very good background plant for small aquariums.
In the big aquariums, you can keep it in the foreground of your aquarium.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of rotala Indica is between 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.5 to 7.5 and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.
Substrate requirements
You can use sand as a substrate for this Rotala Indica.
You can also use fine gravel for planting this plant.
Fertilization requirements
For the proper growth of Rotala Indica, you should supplement it with fertilizers reach in CO2, iron and trace elements.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
9. Moneywort
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Moneywort |
| COMMON NAMES | Moneywort |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Bacopa Monnieri |
| FAMILY | Scropulariacase |
| CARE LEVEL | Moderate |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Moderate |
| TEMPERATURE | 72-82° F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 12+ inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Moneywort is a tall, stem plant that can grow up to 12 inches.
You can use this plant in your aquarium tank or pond.
It is a moderately hardy plant so even if you are a beginner you can keep it in your aquarium or pond.
How much light does it require?
Moneywort requires moderate light for its proper growth.
Ideally, you should provide it at least 2 Watts per gallon full-spectrum light.
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
Moneywort is a tall, stem plant so you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Moneywort is between 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.5 to 7.5 and the hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.
Substrate requirements
You can use any substrate for this plant.
If you want faster growth of this plant then you should use a nutrient-rich substrate.
Fertilization requirements
For the proper and faster growth of Moneywort, you should supplement it with fertilizers regularly.
You can provide it fertilizers in a form of liquid fertilizers as well as root tabs.
You should use liquid fertilizer after the weekly water change.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
10. Rotala wallichii
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Rotala Wallichii |
| COMMON NAMES | Rotala Wallichii |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Rotála wallíchii (Hook. f.) Koehne |
| FAMILY | Lythraceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Difficult |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | High |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 59-86° F |
| pH | 5 – 7 |
| HARDNESS | 0 – 30°dGH |
Rotala wallichii is an excellent coloring plant to keep in your aquarium.
This plant is a little demanding, so ideally you should keep it in your aquarium only if you have some experience with aquarium plants.
Light requirements
Rotala wallichii is quite demanding when it comes to light, so ideally you should put it in a moderate to highlighting condition.
And you should provide it with at least 0.5 Watts of light per liter of your aquarium.
Placement in aquarium
Rotala wallichii is a relatively short plant that can grow to a maximum of 11 inches, so depending on the size of your aquarium, you should put it in the foreground or mid-ground of your aquarium.
Substrate requirements
Rotala wallichii needs a lot of nutrients to do well so ideally you should plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate.
Fertilization requirements
For best coloration, you should supplement Rotala wallichii with CO2 fertilization as well as provide all the other essential nutrients.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
11. Temple plant or Giant Hygro
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Giant Hygro |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Hygrophila corymbosa |
| FAMILY | Acanthaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Medium |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 72-84° F |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | 71.43 – 321.43 PPM |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 24 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 Gallons |
Temple plant is one of the best tall-growing aquarium plants.
It is also a great option for beginners because it is very hardy and doesn’t require a lot of attention or care.
Light requirements
This plant does well under moderate lighting conditions.
So you should provide it with light anywhere between 2 to 3 Watts per gallon of your aquarium.
Substrate requirements
The recommended substrate for Temple plant is fine gravel.
Fertilization requirements
For healthy growth, you should supplement Temple plant with liquid fertilizers that are specifically rich in iron, potassium, and trace elements.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
12. Water wisteria
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Water wisteria |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Hygrophila difformis |
| FAMILY | Acanthaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 70-82°F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | 2-8 KH |
| PLACEMENT | Background or Carpet |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 20 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallons |
Water wisteria has become very popular in the aquarium hobby, so you can easily find it in most aquarium shops that sell plants.
This plant is very hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
Light requirements
This plant is not very demanding when it comes to light.
Ideally, you should provide it light anywhere between 2 to 3 watts per gallon of your aquarium.
Placement in aquarium
Either you can plant this plant in the substrate of your aquarium. Or you can also spread it across the substrate of your aquarium and use it as a carpet plant.
Substrate requirements
In its natural habitat, Water wisteria is found in sandy substrates. So ideally, you should plant it in a sand substrate. However, planting it in a fine gravel substrate will also be fine.
Fertilization requirements
Water wisteria can do well without any additional fertilizers. However, it will grow much faster and healthier if you provide it with some additional liquid fertilizers.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
13. Amazon frogbit
See more images at Amazon here
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Amazon Frogbit |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Limnobium laevigatum |
| FAMILY | Hydrocharitaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 64 to 84 °F |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 pH |
| HARDNESS | 200 ppm-240 ppm |
| PLACEMENT | Surface |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 20 Inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
This is a very unique floating aquarium plant because, when it reaches maturity, it can actually produce flowers.
Besides, this plant is very easy to care for which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
Light requirements
This plant can do well as long as it gets some light.
And as it is a floating plant, usually light will not be an issue for this plant as long as you have an aquarium light installed in your aquarium.
Placement in aquarium
As this is a floating plant, you should keep it floating on the surface of your aquarium water.
Fertilization requirements
For proper and healthy growth of this plant, you should supplement it regularly with liquid fertilizer.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
14. Salvinia natans
Photo by Le.Loup.Gris under CC BY-SA 3.0
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Salvinia Natans |
| COMMON NAMES | Floating Moss, Floating Fern, Floating Watermoss, Water Butterfly Moss |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Salvinia Natans |
| FAMILY | Salviniaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 54 – 86° F |
| pH | 6-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Floating |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 2-3 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
This is another floating aquarium plant you can keep in your aquarium.
The best part about this plant is that it has small hairs on its leaves, which prevent algae from growing on them.
Light requirements
This plant does well under moderate to high lighting conditions, so you should provide it with light anywhere between 4 to 5 watts per gallon of your aquarium.
Placement in aquarium
As this is a floating plant, you should keep it floating on the surface of the water of your aquarium water.
Fertilization requirements
This plant can do well without any additional fertilizers. However, for better growth, you should supplement it with some liquid fertilizer.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
15. Cryptocoryne wendtii
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Cryptocoryne Wendtii |
| COMMON NAMES | Wendt’s Cryptocoryne, water trumpet |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Cryptocoryne Wendtii |
| FAMILY | Araceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low |
| GROWTH RATE | Medium |
| TEMPERATURE | 72-82° F |
| pH | 6.0-8.0 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 6 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 gallon |
This is a very popular plant in the aquarium hobby.
And the reason behind its popularity is that it comes in a lot of color variations and is very easy to care for.
Light requirements
This plant can do well in any lighting condition, whether that is low light or high light.
Placement in aquarium
This plant can grow fairly tall, so depending on the size of your aquarium, you should put it in the middle or background of your tank.
Substrate requirements
You can use any substrate to plant it in your aquarium.
However, it will definitely benefit if you plant it in a nutrient-rich soil substrate.
Fertilization requirements
This plant can do well without any additional fertilizers.
However, for better and healthier growth, you should supplement it with some liquid fertilizers as well as root tabs.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
Best oxygenating plants for goldfish
In this section, I will tell you the best oxygenating plants that you can keep in your goldfish tank or pond.
It is difficult to keep live plants with goldfish because they are known to destroy live plants. And in this section, I will show you the plants that goldfish do not usually mess with.
16. Java fern
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Java Fern |
| COMMON NAMES | Java Fern |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Microsorum pteropus |
| FAMILY | Polypodiaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Low to Moderate |
| TEMPERATURE | 68-82oF |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | 60-160 ppm |
| PLACEMENT | Mid to Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 13.5 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 Gallons |
Java fern is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.
This is because this plant is very hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
Besides, it is very cheap as well.
Light requirements
This plant is not very demanding when it comes to light. Ideally, you should put it in a low-lighting environment.
Placement in aquarium
This plant can grow pretty tall, so depending on the size of your aquarium, you should keep it in the middle or background of your aquarium.
Substrate requirements
This plant doesn’t have real roots, so you don’t necessarily have to plant it in a substrate.
However, if you want to plant it in a substrate, you can use any substrate for this plant.
Fertilization requirements
This plant can do well without any additional fertilizers.
However, if you want to encourage quicker growth, you should supplement this plant with liquid fertilizer.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
17. Java moss
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Java moss |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Vesicularia dubyana |
| FAMILY | Hypnaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Very easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to Bright |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 59-86°F |
| pH | 5.0 to 8.0 |
| HARDNESS | 60- 240 ppm |
| PLACEMENT | Foreground |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 4 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 gallon |
Java moss is another popular plant in the aquarium hobby.
This plant is particularly popular among aquascapers because you can use it to create beautiful aquascapes in your aquarium.
Besides, this plant is very hardy, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
Light requirements
Java moss can do well in any lighting condition.
However, under high lighting conditions, it will grow better and become denser.
Placement in aquarium
Java moss is a short plant, so you should put it in the foreground of your aquarium. Or you can also use it as a carpet plant.
Substrate requirements
This plant doesn’t have real roots, so you don’t necessarily have to plant it in a substrate.
You will need to attach it to something in your aquarium, whether that is driftwood, rock, or any other ornament in your tank.
This plant can be attached to an ornament, driftwood, or rock. You can also use aquarium-safe glue to attach it.
Fertilization requirements
This plant can do well without any additional fertilizers. However, if you want to encourage faster and denser growth, then you should supplement it with liquid fertilizers.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
18. Anubias
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Anubias barteri |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Anubias |
| FAMILY | Araceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low-Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Slow |
| TEMPERATURE | 72-82°F |
| pH | 6.5 – 7.8 |
| HARDNESS | 60- 160 ppm |
| PLACEMENT | Mid-background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 12 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 Gallons |
| PROPAGATION | Rhizome Division |
Anubias is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.
This plant is very hardy, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
Light requirements
Anubias does well under low to moderate lighting conditions.
So ideally, you should provide it light anywhere between 2 to 3 Watts per gallon of your aquarium.
Placement in aquarium
Anubias don’t grow very tall so depending on the size of your aquarium, you should put it in the foreground or mid-ground of your aquarium.
Substrate requirements
Anubias doesn’t have real roots; instead, it has rhizomes, so you don’t necessarily have to plant it in an aquarium substrate.
However, if you want to plant it in a substrate, you can bury its roots. Just make sure not to bury its rhizome.
Another common way of putting this plant in an aquarium is by attaching it to any ornament or putting it between ornaments or rocks in the aquarium.
Fertilization requirements
For healthy growth, you should supplement Anubias with liquid fertilizers that contain all the nutrients.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
19. Water Sprite
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Water Sprite |
| COMMON NAMES | Water Fern, Indian Fern |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Ceratopteris thalictroides |
| FAMILY | Pteridaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Medium to high |
| GROWTH RATE | Low to Moderate |
| TEMPERATURE | 68-82°F |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Mid to Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 13.5 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 Gallons |
Water Sprite is another popular plant in the aquarium hobby.
This plant is specifically popular among fish keepers because it provides a lot of hiding places and covers for their aquarium fish.
Light requirements
Water Sprite does well under high lighting conditions, so you should provide it with light anywhere between 4 to 5 watts per gallon of your aquarium water.
Placement in aquarium
Under high lighting conditions, this plant can grow pretty tall. So depending on the size of your aquarium, you should put it in the middle ground or background of your aquarium.
Substrate requirements
You can either plant this plant in your substrate, and in that case, you can use any substrate of your choice, whether that is sand or gravel.
Besides, you can also keep it floating in your aquarium.
Fertilization requirements
This plant can do well without any additional fertilizers.
However, if you provide it with some additional fertilizers, it will grow faster.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
20. Water lettuce
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Water Lettuce |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Pistia |
| FAMILY | Araceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Moderate |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Moderate |
| TEMPERATURE | 70 to 80 °F |
| pH | 6.5-7.2 pH |
| HARDNESS | Soft to Moderately Hard |
| PLACEMENT | Water Surface |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 10 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
This is a very good floating aquarium plant you can keep in your aquarium.
However, it is a bit tricky to keep in aquariums because it requires very specific conditions to grow.
Basically, it requires a lot of humidity to grow, and it is very difficult to provide humidity in home aquariums.
However, if you can provide it with the ideal conditions that it needs, it’ll grow very fast.
Besides, if you live in a tropical region, it is a great plant to keep in your outdoor pond.
Light requirement
Ideally, you should provide moderate lighting conditions for this plant, anywhere between 3 to 4 Watts per gallon of your aquarium.
Placement in aquarium
As this is a floating plant, you should keep it floating on the surface of your aquarium water.
Fertilization requirements
This plant can do well without any additional fertilizers; you just need to provide sufficient light.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here
How much oxygen do fish need in aquariums?
The amount of oxygen that fish need varies from species to species. However, generally speaking, fish need dissolved oxygen levels between 5 to 6 PPM in an aquarium.
Oxygen levels below 4 PPM may stress your aquarium fish.
How do I know if my aquarium has enough oxygen?
Ideally, your aquarium should have oxygen levels between 5 to 6 PPM.
You can measure the amount of oxygen in your fish tank using an oxygen sensor or dissolved oxygen kit. And see whether your fish tank has sufficient oxygen or not.
Besides that, you can also observe your fish and look for signs such as rapid gill movements and fish becoming less active and coming to the surface of the water gasping for air because these signs show that your fish tank probably has a low amount of oxygen.
And if you noticed any of these signs, then you can oxygenate your fish tank by adding some oxygenating aquatic plants as well as using other methods mentioned in this article.
What are the symptoms of low oxygen levels in aquariums?
Your aquarium fish will show some signs of low oxygen levels in your fish tank.
Fish become less active
When there is a low amount of oxygen in a fish tank, the fish will start to move less, and generally, they will not be as active.
Rapid gill movement
When there is a low amount of oxygen in a fish tank, your fish will try to absorb as much oxygen from the water as it can, which will cause rapid gill movements.
Fish gasping at the surface of the water
When there is a low amount of oxygen in the tank, the fish will come to the surface of the aquarium water to take in oxygen. This is because there is more oxygen near the surface of the aquarium water.
What are other ways to increase oxygen in a fish tank?
There are several other ways of increasing oxygen in a fish tank, which include installing an air pump in the tank, doing water changes, pouring water down from some height, etc.
I have talked about all the other ways of increasing oxygen in a fish tank in this article.
What affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in aquariums?
There are several things that can affect the amount of dissolved oxygen in your aquarium.
The number of fish in your aquarium
If your fish tank contains a lot of fish compared to its size, it will cause oxygen depletion in your fish tank.
Water temperature
Warmer water has a comparatively lower ability to hold dissolved oxygen than cooler water. So if the temperature of your aquarium water is very high, this can lead to low levels of oxygen in your fish tank.
Surface agitation on the surface of your aquarium water
Gas exchange happens on the surface of your aquarium water when the surface of the water agitates. So if there is low surface agitation in your aquarium, this can cause a low amount of oxygen in your fish tank.
How to measure the amount of oxygen in an aquarium?
There are a couple of ways to measure the amount of oxygen in a fish tank.
- You can measure the amount of oxygen using an oxygen sensor.
- You can measure the amount of oxygen in your fish tank using a dissolved oxygen kit.
However, generally speaking, you don’t really need these equipment to measure the amount of oxygen in your fish tank.
You just need to make sure that your fish tank has sufficient surface agitation, a few good oxygenating plants, and is not overstocked to make sure that it will always have sufficient dissolved oxygen.
Besides oxygenating water, what are the other benefits of aquatic plants in an aquarium?
There are several benefits to keeping live aquarium plants in your aquarium besides keeping aquarium water well oxygenated, such as,
- Plants can provide food for the fish
- Plants can provide hiding places for your fish
- Plants will also absorb nitrates from your fish tank.
I have talked about all the benefits of live aquarium plants in a fish tank in this article.
FAQ
Generally speaking, you don’t need to worry about having too many oxygenating plants in an aquarium as long as you are keeping a reasonable number of aquatic plants.
However, there is a possibility that oxygen depletion may occur in your fish tank at night because there are too many live aquarium plants in the tank.
This is due to the fact that live aquarium plants take oxygen during the night.
Fast growing oxygenating plants can help stop algae growth in your aquarium.
This is due to the fact that fast growing aquatic plants will rapidly absorb the nutrients that algae need to grow.
So basically, the plants will starve the algae of nutrients and thus help to stop their growth.
Technically speaking, a fish tank can be too oxygenated, and this can cause lethal gas bubble disease.
However, generally, gas bubble disease is caused by excess nitrogen and not oxygen.
Compared to the oxygen that gets added to the fish tank due to the gas exchange that happens at the surface of the water, live plants add a very small amount of oxygen to the water.
That’s why, to make sure that your aquarium or pond has sufficient dissolved oxygen, you should make sure that your fish tank or pond has water surface agitation as well as some oxygenating plants.
Fast growing floating plants can add a good amount of oxygen to the water.
Duckweed is a very fast growing aquatic plant, so it will add a lot of oxygen in the water.
Yes, aquarium plants use oxygen at night.
Moss plants are fully submerged in the water, so they will produce a good amount of oxygen in the water.
Aquatic plants need oxygen during the night.
Hornwort is a great fully submersible aquatic plant, so it will produce a good amount of oxygen in a fish tank or pond.
Conclusion
So these are the best oxygenating plants for aquariums and ponds.
Live plants bring a lot of benefits to your aquarium or pond.
Keeping live plants is one of the best things you can do to maintain a healthy aquarium.
I hope you found this article helpful.
If you do, please share it with your friends.
Let me know if you have any doubts in the comments section below and I am happy to help you.
Also, let me know if you have any other plant suggestions in the comments section below.
Happy Fishkeeping!
