Picture this: you set up your new plant’s tank and have a live tiktok unboxing, and showcase your latest aquarium decor, decorative plants from Amazon, to your amazing followers. But before you have time to bask in your new purchase, algae patches have taken over your aquarium tank.
Even if artificial plant decor might be a good idea, it has caused many aquarists to consistently battle murky tanks, green water, and stubborn algae that just won’t go away despite their best efforts.
Here’s the truth: having a thriving pond or aquarium system requires a careful selection of easy aquatic plants that trigger or encourage natural filtration. So even though artificial decor (plants) may look good aesthetically, in the long run, they are just triggers that encourage algae formation in your tank or pond.
So what do you do? In this guide, we will show you quickly the best low-maintenance live plants that can outcompete algae, promote natural filtration, and improve water quality, free of slimy algae.
Why Live Plants Help Fight Algae
Algae thrive because of leftover nutrients in the water, like ammonia, fish waste, nitrates, phosphates, etc. Live plants feed on these same nutrients as algae, so their presence starves the algae of nutrients, thus hampering their growth. Also, the photosynthesis process in the plants produces oxygen, and your tank water takes on the ecosystem of a natural pool or pond where fish and other aquatic creatures can thrive with minimal effort.
Why Live Plants Are Better Than Artificial Decor
Fake decor or plastic plants, however nice they may look, do nothing to improve the quality of your water. This is because they cannot absorb the excess nutrients from your tank. These excess nutrients are what feed and cause algae to thrive, compelling you into frequent cleaning and water changes.
Live plants, on the other hand, have a natural filtration system or structure.
Here is how it works: the excess nutrients in your water are absorbed by the live plants, leaving no excess nutrients to promote algae growth.
In essence, your live plants act as natural cleaners (natural filtration) by soaking up waste products released by your fish, and also release oxygen created by photosynthesis to give your aquatic creatures a thriving natural ecosystem suitable for their growth and your comfort. This way, live plants compete with algae for the nutrients in the water, thus eliminating any unwanted algae blooms.
The result is a low-maintenance tank that remains clean and healthy for an extended period.
What Is an Easy Aquatic Plant?
Easy aquatic plants are live plants that can thrive with little effort. This makes them low-maintenance as they do not require expensive lighting systems or CO₂ shots to thrive. Best of all, they are sturdy and can withstand changes in pH levels without wilting or dying off. And they are quick absorbers of excess nutrients in the tank water, outcompeting the algae and practically giving them no breathing space to flourish or bloom.
7 Best Live Plants for Natural Filtration (No CO₂ Needed)
- Elodea (Elodea densa / Brazilian Waterweed / Anacharis)
This is a sturdy, quick-growing green stem live plant. It is low-maintenance as it rapidly absorbs excess nutrients in your water, thus outcompeting algae and starving them of the nutrients needed to bloom or flourish. - Ludwigia repens
This gives your tank a burst of color with its red and green stem live plant with large oval leaves. The Ludwigia repens grows rapidly and sucks up nutrients from the water. - Hornwort
This is a tough live plant that can adapt quickly. It is fine, bushy foliage without any roots. It absorbs nutrients quickly and directly through the stem and leaves, stripping the water of the nutrients algae thrive on. It also releases compounds that stifle algae growth. Best of all, it thrives easily in most light conditions. - Duckweed
These are tiny floating plants with green fronds. They grow quickly and spread a thick mat on the water’s surface, limiting algae growth by blocking light and simultaneously absorbing nutrients from the water in waves. - Vallisneria (Val / Eelgrass)
This is a long ribbon-style live plant that sways softly. Its growing nature pulls nutrients from the substrate and water column, starving the algae of their source of food. - Bacopa caroliniana
The Bacopa is an easy-to-grow live stem plant. Its broad, wax-felt green leaves grow more slowly than most live plants but steadily consume nutrients, reducing the nutrient level available to algae.
Tips for Success with Easy Aquatic Plants
Adding easy aquatic live plants to promote natural filtration is one of the best decisions to free your tank from rapid algae growth. They are low-maintenance and thrive under the simplest care routine. Here are some quick tips to keep them algae-free:
- Select the Right Tank Size for Your Live Plants and Lighting: While not all live plants require excessive light, easy aquatic plants do need some. A simple LED light will work; just make sure to fit one in your tank.
- Avoid Overfeeding Your Fish: More food means excess nutrients and algae fuel. So even with your easy aquatic plant, which helps to combat algae, make sure to only feed what your fish require.
- Regular Water Changes: Changing your water regularly clears out built-up nutrients and provides stable water. Create a routine to help you stick to regular water changes.
- Prune and Thin Live Plants as Needed: Fast-growing species like some of these easy aquatic plants, e.g., Hornwort, can quickly overtake your tank. So regular pruning and trimming keep them healthy. Adopting these quick tips for your live plants will promote natural filtration and make your tank low-maintenance, giving you a healthier, more beautiful tank with minimal effort.
Conclusion
When algae overtakes your tank, it can be tiring to consistently scrub or clean artificial decor. Live plants play a critical role in water quality and are the perfect fit for anyone looking for natural filtration options. That’s not all, they also help your aquarium have a more natural look and feel. With the right easy aquatic plant, your aquarium can thrive with low-maintenance live plant species like Hornwort or Bacopa caroliniana. These live plants absorb waste and nutrients, starving algae of the nutrients needed to thrive. Try this today, and you will leave artificial decor out of your tank for good.
