Okay this is my list of truly aquatic plants some are from my own research and others are out of this months Australian Aquarium Keeper. While there are many 'sub varieties' this is just a basic list, feel free to add to this list. If it is a plant in which i have researched i shall place an asterix next to it. there will be a description and there needs whether they require good lighting, ferts and co2.

part 1:

* Anubias
A plant commonly found in Africa has become more common in planted aquariums as now it comes rooted to driftwood and comes in many 'sub varieties'
It is slow growing and will grow in terrariums sizes vary from species. Grows best in high light with co2 ferts are not required if the tank is stocked sufficiently.


Aponogeten - Lace Plants

Lace Plants are one of the most famous aquatic plants, the most famous is of course the Madagascar variety. The leaves are like lattice and the major drawback with lace
plants is they have a cooling off period once a year where the leaves die off and all you see is the bulb. It comes in two forms broad and wavy leave forms, can grow fairly
large up to 60cm (24") they require extremely high light and do best with co2 and ferts


*Bacopa

Bacopa enjoys cooler waters so is ideal with goldies they have bright green leaves and come in an extremely wide range of varieties and needs high light


Barclaya

A very pretty plant that comes in two colours green and purple. It is extremely delicate and is not a good beginner plant requires trimming and thrives in a co2 rich environment


Blyxa

Blyxa comes in two forms it looks like a shrub and comes in dwarf and standard it resembles val and does best in 20degrees celsius lowlight and can take some abuse this is a good plant
for anyone who is new to live plants


Bolbitis

This plant grows well in tanks it resembles java fern does well in light but will grow equally as well with no lighting requires no co2 or ferts but if they are used it will help the plant grow quicker
they are excellent beginner plants maybe one of the best around


*Cabomba

This is one of the old favourites in aquariums unfortunately it has grown rapidly in lakes and rivers in the past years having it banned in parts of the US and Australia. There are 3 fine leaf varieties
divided from the central stem requires little lighting and some possible co2


*Ceratophyllum - Hornwort

a fine leave plant which prefers hard waters and cool waters this is a good goldfish plant easy for a beginner to care for requires little lighting.


*Ceratopteris - Water Sprite

A plant which grows very fast and is a very good background plant. It is a fine leaf plant and is not recommended for a beginner due to its rapid growth rate will need to be trimmed and the trimmings
can be planted which is an added bonus. It is very pretty in a tank, it needs high lighting, co2 and ferts


This concludes part 1 of true aquatic plants part 2 and 3 are soon to come

to let everyone know part 2 is coming tomorrow just incase people forgot this was an ongoing thread.

wow Dan you should send this to koko so you can get that research pin

i believe koko was the one who pinned it i will check and see i think you can only post goldfish related things

when your finished hun pm let me know I will make a page for it and a medal for u

thanks hun i decided since i am home today i will do it now and combine part 2 and 3 together

Dan, this is a great idea!!! I know that one day, I would like to get some REAL plants for my tank and it is so nice to have a reference to go to. So, thanks from me to you!!!!

Finally got my butt into gear and am doing part 2&3 i have decided to combine them into one giant part 2

Cryptocoryne (crypts)

This is one of the more stunning aquarium plants they have some extremely bad habits commonly known as crypt meltdown. They are not for the beginner if you do like the looks of
cryptocoryne you should try wendtii as they are very similar to crypts but require alot less work. Requires highlight and ferts

*Echinodorus (sword plants)

While every one has heard of Amazon Sword there are a lot more sword plants than you first think. They can come in all shapes and sizes, there are some swords which can be used as foreground(runner plants) then there are mid ground plants and background plants. From cross breeding specimens there are many different varieties. medium to highlight is must have if you keep sword plants
*Eleocharis (hair grass)

There are 3 forms of hair grass the most commonly found is the dwarf variety which makes a breathtaking lawn of fine leaved grass. the only real requirement for hair grass is high light.

Hetheranthera

There is really only one variety which is suitable to a life submersed in water. It will grow well in a aquarium and in a pond, it is a real ruff looking plant. Does not require much can with stand some abuse, it does well in low light but can grow in all conditions

Hydrocotyle

These plants are hard to get. The leaves resemble a human kidney. It grows like a weed. Requires medium to high light and needs trimming from time to time

*Hygrophila[b]

There are many species of hygrophila. They require trimming as they grow quite quickly. It comes in a beautiful green and yellow colour which is quite striking in planted aquariums. I have this in all of my tanks and i have to trim it weekly it grows so fast. I would recommend this to anyone. requirements are they do [b]best in high light but will grow regardless of lighting. I do recommend ferts if you are planning to have it grow to it's fullest extent other wise they are not needed. The added bonus which i like is the cuttings can be replanted and in about a month you will have a bushy vibrant looking plant.

Limnophila (Ambulia)

Finer leaves divide this plant giving it is own unique look it has come about by cross breeding cabomba. In low light the plant will grow out of the water in search for the light it requires and in highlight it will stay submerse for it's life. Requirements does best in medium to highlight with ferts and co2

*Ludwigia

This plant is really pretty in any tank due it's unusual colouration. it has the normal green colouration on top but the under side of the leave is red, they is now a variety where it is reversed so the red is on top and green is underneath. requirements this plant needs regular cutting back if kept in medium to highlight does best with ferts. While this plant can be kept in lowlight it will take an extremely long time to grow.

Mayaca

This plnt has very fine leaves and is not suited to life with goldfish. does best in a small aquarium with very high light and co2

*Micranthemum

A small rounded leaf plant on many stems, that generally grow straight towards to the surface. if given time can grow quite dense and resembles hygrophila. will grow in most set ups it can be fiddly to look after but well worth it.

*Microsorium (Java Fern)

There are many variations on this old classic plant. It is good for a beginner as it will grow in hard water with very little light just be warned it has a tendency to die off in warmer water which is why i will give this my award of best plant tp be kept with goldfish

Myrophllum (parrots feather)

This plant is south american and mainly found in the amazon, there have been recent discoveries in Australia where parrots feather has been found in the wild. They are generally bog plants will grow in aquaria if it is warm which is why it is better suited to tropical fish

Nomaphila (temple plant)

These plants require cutting every once in a while. They large and dark redish leaves, they can and will grow out of the water with highlighting.

Nymphaea (water lotus)

This plant has spectacular round leaves held by the most delicate stem. While they can be kept submerse it is quite hard as they have a tendency of sending lilypads to the surface. this plant is better suited to a pond as in an aquarium with lighting which it requires it would most likely be burned from the heat of the lighting system

Potamageton

This plant is very bland looking as it comes in brown and translucent leaves. Does best in cooler environment and is quite sensitive to ph,temperature and nitrate fluctuations. Requires medium to high light with co2

*Rotala

Red plants are always breath taking especially in an aquarium the prettiest voted by Australian Aquarium Keeper being R.macrandra this requires high lighting. All species of rotala require high light with ferts and can be trimmed monthly. The trimmings can be replanted.

Sagittaria (sag)

Thin strip leaves which grow straight is broader at the tip then at the base. Grows best in highlight

*Vallinseria (Val)

Similar to sag but much longer is normally used as a background. There are variations in the shape of the leaf they can straight and rigid or can spiral like a spring. There is a giant form which has maroon leaves this plant will live in high to very high light anything below that and it will die.

*Versicularia (Java Moss)

A very hardy plant it will stay in the shape it is molded in when there is high light in low light it will go bushy and loose it's vibrant green colour. This plant makes an excellent spawning media. It can grow on porous surface, as stated earlier does better in highlight.


There i have finished my list i hope it can help some people who are new to world of Aquarium plants

edit: just noticed i accidentally bolded a description my bad

oh and i could not help but put this in. Are you sick and tired of your plants being nibbled by the fish why not buy a gibba the venus fly trap aquatic version your fish come up to nibble on the plant and then it nibbles back lol

Hey, Dan,
You know what would have made this EXTRA good???? Photos!!!! Not saying that you haven't done a wonderful job, though! Thanks again!!!

yeah i know but frankly i am lazy maybe later i will post pics

What about Elodea?

Elodea is Anacharis i thought i put it in but it must have slipped my mind good spotting

Thanks Elodea helps keep my tank less cloudy

Plants really do not keep the water clear it was most likely cloudy as the beneficial bacteria just started to have a growth and when you added the plant the bacterial bloom which caused the cloudiness was already starting to sub side. The plants do absorb some of the waste produced by the fish so in a sense there is less mess to become stirred from foraging fish or gravel vacs which could make the water cloudy.

Do you kind of understand what i am saying?

Kets what country do you live in Elodea is what most of the countries in the southern hemisphere say like me and the fellow Aussies on this board Anacharis is what most of the folks in the northern hemisphere say like the guys in the US

I live in the US. My science teacher calls it Elodea.

oh okay that is unusual that you teacher calls it elodea

Eh, not really. Technically, Elodea is the scientific name of Anarchis. And as a science teacher, it would make more sense to use the scientific name during teachings rather than the common name.

oh ok i am used to the scientific name being Egeria it was changed from Elodea in 1969. Egeria is the more broad term for Elodea it includes all sub varieties of elodea instead of having to say elodea bifoliata (one of elodeas many sub varieties

Also, where is Lemna?

As i said at the start of this thread my list is only a basic list there are over 500different species of Aquarium plants you a free to add a list in your posts just make sure to put the lighting requirements and basic needs of the plant