Low Light Aquarium Plants Complete Guide

Plants that need 3 watts per gallon of light or less are considered as low light aquarium plants.

Are you considering planting an aquarium in your home? You should know that all aquarium plants need light to grow and thrive. However, the amount of light that aquarium plants need to thrive is not the same. Some plants require the right amount of light to grow, while low light aquarium plants can grow and flourish even in low light environments.

This post will discuss how you can run a low light aquarium system and the best low light aquarium plants that you can quickly grow. So, let’s get started!

How Much Light Do Low Light Aquarium Plants Require to Thrive?

For some aquarists, a healthy lighting environment is what makes plants grow and thrive in their aquarium. Although the quality of light plays a significant role to keep your plants growing and thriving, the balance between CO2 levels, water quality, available nutrients, and smart planting are also some factors that make the difference between a happily thriving plant and a plant that live only a week or so.

That said, one thing is for sure – aquarium plants do need light to complete their photosynthesis process, and without this process, the plant dies after a few days. Moreover, I have interacted with some aquarium keepers who have successfully kept their aquarium plants thriving under the stock fluorescents that they have got with their new fish tank. Still, these lights are too low and do not provide enough light to the plants they need.

You should also know that stock fluorescent lights are just for your aquarium decoration and not meant for providing lights to your aquarium plants. It also means they don’t support the photosynthetic life of your plants.

So, what light is best for aquarium plants?

The most popular light option for aquariums is LED lights. Some aquarium enthusiasts even set up their own light systems using materials from hardware stores. However, the best light should have bulbs, ranging from 5000K to 10000K.

Now, let’s get back to the topic – best low light aquarium plants!

11 Best Easy to Grow, Low Light Aquarium Plants

Here is a list of plant species that could be the best for your low light aquarium.

Anubias Barteri

Anubias Barteri is a lush green, low light aquarium plant that is popular among aquarists. It is remarkably easy to grow and care for. The plant is capable of thriving in a range of water temperatures. It is also remarkably tolerant of low and moderate lighting environments.

The aquarium plant features bright pointed leaves, making it a good pick for both background and foreground landscaping in your aquarium. The plant is a root feeder, so you will need some additional space to allow its roots to grow through. Anubias Barteri is also a fast-growing aquarium plant and has a modest size of about 16 inches.

How to Keep Anubias Barteri Happy?

• Keep the light low.
• Take special care of the roots.
• Plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate.

Light Level: Low to moderate light.

Java Moss

Java Moss is a common moss that grows naturally and abundantly on trees and rocks in tropical climate areas. It doesn’t have roots, which means it can float through the water to get the nutrients it needs. The moss can be attached to rocks and woods below or above the water to make your aquarium more natural-looking. That is why Java Moss is not only an aquarium plant; it is also used in terrariums and paludariums.

The plant is a slow grower and needs a bit more attention since it gains the nutrients it requires directly from the water. You might need to trim the aquarium plant to keep it healthy and thriving.

How to Keep Java Moss Happy?

• Keep the tank temperature between 21° to 24°.
• Keep the lighting low to prevent algae growth.
• Trim the moss occasionally.

Light Level: Low, but you can provide more light to encourage its growth.

Anubias Nana

Anubias Nana is another low light, fast-growing aquarium plant and a relative to Anubias Barteri. It features dark green pointed leaves, growing just above your aquarium base. The plant is easy to care for, so it is an ideal pick for beginners. It is tolerant to both temperature and light shifts, and you can grow the plant in standard tank conditions.

The aquarium plant is a root feeder, so you can encourage its growth with fertilizing. However, when planting, make sure to use a gravel substrate instead of sand to give some room to its roots to grow.

How to Keep Anubias Nana Happy?

• Plant it in a shady place within the aquarium to avoid algae development.
• It needs constant fertilizing.
• Provide CO² supplements to keep it thriving.

Light Level: Low Light

Green Hygro

Green Hygro is also a fast-growing aquarium plant and features long leaves, varying from green to brown to red depending on the light environment provided to it. It likes a substantial substrate to anchor its roots. So, make sure to get a well-planted aquarium substrate.

Also, make sure to provide a low light to the plant to avoid browning. Because of the plant’s prolific growth, it is a type of weed and prohibited in some US states. So, before acquiring the plant for your aquarium, make sure to check local laws first.

Moreover, it is a prolific plant; it can get out of control when it likes a setup. CO2 can also help to encourage plant growth but are not strictly necessary.

How to Keep Green Hygro Happy?

• Keep changing the water occasionally.
• Prune it regularly.
• Provide it a fluorescent plant or CFL bulb.

Light Level: It likes low lighting, so the plant’s rapid growth will occur even when the light is very low.

Sunset Hygro

Similar to Anubias Nana and Anubias Barteri, Sunset Hygro and Green Hygro are close relatives. However, the most significant difference between the two is the color of their leaves. The Sunset Hygro features pink-red leaves with white veins. This low light and fast-growing aquarium plant can be anchored to the substrate or free-floating at the top of your aquarium.

When you plant the Sunset Hygro in the substrate, it will gain the nutrients it needs through its leaves and roots. The aquarium plant is native to South Asia, so it likes warm water tanks. Moreover, the plant is a bit hardy, needs easy and very little maintenance, and can tolerate various lighting conditions.

How to Keep Sunset Hygro Happy?

• Keep changing the water to promote healthy growth.
• Prune the plant regularly to encourage new growth.
• Keep it under low light conditions.

Light Level: Low to moderate light.

Hornwort

Hornwort is a low light aquarium plant that reaches a maximum height of up to 10 feet. It means the plant is a good pick for aquarists who have large tanks. Additionally, the plant also produces chemicals to inhibit the growth of other plants. It means you might see your other plants begin to die off after you plant it in your tank.

The plant is bright green and doesn’t have real roots, which means it doesn’t need a solid substrate. The plant can float freely in the water or may attach itself to objects present in the aquarium. Though it likes high light environments, the plant’s hardiness makes it grown in very low light conditions.

How to Keep Hornwort Happy?

• Add a fertilizer each week to maintain supplies.
• Keep the water clean.
• Keep the nitrogen compounds low.

Light Level: Low to moderate.

Java Fern

Java Fern is a classic, popular, and favorite aquarium plant among aquarists. The delicate looks of the plant add an appealing look to your aquarium. It is a slow-growing, easy to care for, and easy to maintain plant, making it a good option for beginners.

The aquarium plant can be kept with an expansive range of fish and does not need stringent water parameters, which is why it is incredibly appealing to so many aquarists. It is native to South East Asia and grows abundantly around trees, rocks, and ground.

Moreover, it is a versatile plant that thrives exceptionally in low light aquariums. The plant can also thrive exceptionally well when anchored to the bottom of the aquarium or by floating in it until it finds an object to anchor its roots. Java Fern doesn’t need any special lighting, but you should protect it from harsh lighting.

How to Keep Java Fern Happy?

• Provide enough oxygen to the plant.
• Put it in tanks larger than 10 gallons.
• Protect it from intense lighting.

Light Level: Low to moderate lighting.

Moneywort

Moneywort is a popular and easy to care for low light aquarium plant. It requires very little attention, which makes it an excellent choice for beginners. Since it is amphibious, the plant can grow either partially or fully submersed. The bright green color of the plant looks lime green when you keep it under suitable lighting conditions.

The plant is also a low-tech aquarium plant and can thrive very quickly. The plant is also incredibly popular among Ayurvedic herbalists and is used to improve brain health and many other health problems. The plant will grow very quickly in nutrient-rich soil and low to moderate lighting environments.

Moneywort also responds significantly to CO2, but it does not require such supplementation to grow and thrive at a slower pace.

How to Keep Moneywort Happy?

• Plant it in nutrient-rich soil.
• It likes low to moderate lighting.
• It likes to grow when emersed.

Light Level: Low to moderate light.

Rotala Indica

Another popular plant in the aquarium world is Rotala Indica. The plant is among fast-growing aquarium plants that are used to decorate the mid and background of planted tanks. The name came from Latin words, meaning “plant with the rounded leaves.” The plant is a close relative of rotundifolia and has only a few minor differences.

The indica features more rounded leaves, which tend to stay green regardless of the lighting conditions. You can plant both the species individually or in a bunch, but they need heavy pruning. However, when it comes to light requirements, indica can happily thrive even in low light conditions.

Moreover, before adding the plant to your aquarium, you should know that it requires water warmer than 72°F and a substrate that it can anchor itself to.

 

How to Keep Rotala Indica Happy?

• It needs heavy pruning to prevent itself from becoming too bushy.
• The plants thrive happily in warmer water (ideally 72°F).
• It likes low to moderate lighting.

Light Level: Low to moderate.

Rotala Rotundifolia

Rotala Rotundifolia is a recognizable low light aquarium plant, popular for its pink, narrow rounded leaves, which cascade downward in a bushy pattern when growing to the water surface. It is also a fast-growing aquarium plant and requires suitable lighting conditions to obtain its optimal coloration.

Similar to Hygros, Rotala Rotundifolia also need pruning to avoid overgrowth. The plant’s maximum width doesn’t exceed 6 inches but will continue its vertical growth, climbing the aquarium’s sides. The aquarium plant can tolerate very low light conditions and reveals its pink hue when exposed to brighter lighting.

How to Keep Rotala Rotundifolia Happy?

• Avoid overwatering the plant.
• Protect the plant from bright lighting.
• Reduce watering during cold temperatures.

Light Level: Low lighting.

Brazilian Pennywort

Bean-shaped, light green leaves of Brazilian Pennywort make the plant an attractive addition to your aquarium. The plant can be rooted to substrate or kept as a floating plant. It is a low-tech aquarium plant that grows very fast. It means the plant must be pruned more often to avoid overgrowth. It is an attractive plant and can be planted anywhere within the aquarium.

It grows a couple of inches each week, mainly when provided plenty of nitrogen in the water. However, you can slow the growth by lowering the number of nutrients and keeping it in low light conditions.

How to Keep Brazilian Pennywort Happy?

• It needs to be pruned more often to avoid overgrowth.
• It likes to thrive when provided plenty of nitrogen.

Light Level: Low to moderate lighting.

Wrapping Up

There you go – 11 best low light aquarium plants. All of these plants are easy to grow, maintain, and take care of. They can thrive happily, even in very low lighting environments. If you’re a newbie and want to make your aquarium look more attractive, make sure to add these plants to your aquarium.

FAQs

Q: What low light aquarium plants do not need CO²?

Ans: There are plenty of easy-live, low light aquarium plants that do not necessarily need CO², including Java Fern, Java Moss, Cryptocoryne, and Vallisneria.

Q: Can low light aquarium plants live without light?

Ans: Aquarium plants can survive up to three days without light. However, for more fragile plants, it is highly recommended to keep it under two days. Natural light is enough even for plants that require intense lighting conditions in your aquarium. But, make sure not to put them under direct sunlight.