Tropical Fish Forums

[unissuh]

Since it seems to be quite a common question, decided to post a list of all the low light plants that I can think of; note that I have tried many but not all so cannot guarantee accuracy. We do have an article on it, but it is rather limited.

Aegagropila linnaei (algae, marimo ball)
Anubias spp (all species will grow in low light as far as I know, range from small to huge in size)
Aponogeton spp - crispus, natans, rigidifolius, tofus, ulvaceus, undulatus
Bacopa spp - caroliniana, monnieri (never had much luck with this one)
Barclaya longifolia (nice red variants)
Bolbitus heudelotii (sensitive to limiting nutrients in my experience I.e. probably needs ferts)
Cabomba caroliniana (not sure about this one)
Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort)
Ceratopteris spp - cornuta, thalictroides (water sprite)
Crinum spp - calamistratum, natans, thaianum (onion plant)
Cryptocoryne spp (some species are more touchy than others, lots of varieties ranging from red to green and very small to large)
Echinodorus spp (sword plants; again lots of species, pretty much all will grow in low light as far as I know)
Egeria densa (previously Elodea; does not like Excel)
Elatine spp - triandra, gratiloides (carpet plant, almost like low light carpeting HM, quite nutrient hungry)
Eleocharis spp - acicularis, parvula, sp 'Japan' (hairgrasses, algae magnets in my experience)
Fissidens spp - fontanus (US Fissidens moss), berteroi
Fontinalis antipyretica (willow moss)
Helanthium spp - tenellum, bolivianum etc (chain swords, previously part of the Echinodorus genus)
Hemianthus micranthemoides (pearl grass, probably will not carpet in low light)
Hydrilla verticillata
Hydrocotyle tripartita (grows tall)
Hygrophilia spp (lots of species, all grow in low light as far as I know; worthwhile to make note of corymbosa 'Kompackt' as somewhat shorter/bushier and polysperma 'Rosenervig' as reddish)
Landoltia spp (duckweeds, floating)
Lemna spp (duckweed, floating)
Limnobium laevigatum (amazon frogbit, floating)
Limnophila sessiliflora (ambulia)
Lomariopsis lineata (Subwassertang, liverwort)
Ludwigia spp - arcuata, repens
Marselia spp - drummondi, hirsuta etc (carpet plants mostly), mutica (emergent)
Microsorum pteropus (java fern, few different varieties e.g. 'Windelov', 'Narrow leaf', 'Phillipine')
Monosolenium tenerum (liverwort, pellia)
Najas spp - guadalupensis (guppy grass), tenuifolia
Nymphaea spp (lotus plants, lots of varieties including some nice reds)
Nymphoides aquatica (banana lily)
Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce, floating)
Riccia fluitans
Rotala spp - sp 'Green', rotundifolia
Sagittaria subulata (probably will grow tall in low light)
Salvinia spp (floating, some sp declared noxious in many areas)
Spirodela spp (duckweeds, floating)
Staurogyne spp (closely related to Hygrophilia spp, can be used as carpet or short bush)
Taxiphyllum spp (mosses, includes flame, taiwan, giant, java etc)
Utricularia spp - gibba, utricularia (carnivorous)
Vallisneria spp - americana, annua, asiatica, nana, spiralis (I think there are a couple of touchy species within this genus, but all commonly available ones are fine; does not like Excel)
Vesicularia spp (mosses, includes Singapore, weeping mosses)
Wolfia spp (duckweeds, watermeal, floating)

Hope this gives some people ideas. Let me know if theres something you think is wrong or I've missed.
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[rales12]

Oh my gosh... This is super helpful, unissuh! Will give me a very good place to start with, rather than doing random Google searches of 'low light aquarium plants' and the like.

[bozistheboss]

[Caton]

This is really useful. Just wondering, but can this be made a sticky?
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[unissuh]

Dunno, guess it depends on what Marcos thinks.

Could always just bookmark the thread for future reference.
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[Kaitswyn]

Yay, now I don't have to go through every page in the garden section checking light requirements! Thanks! One question though, can someone tell me a wpg range forlow light plants? I fear I may not even have enough light for them

[unissuh]

Hard to give you a general rule as some plants on that list are hardier than others e.g. most of the stems get leggy at 1 wpg but Anubias, java fern, crypts and swords often will do fine.

I'd try for at least 1+ wpg on a 10g+ tank for the hardier plants (e.g. Anubias, java fern etc), if you can get a little more light, around 1.5 wpg, it will make your life a lot easier. This is quite often close to what the stock lighting on tanks are anyway. Would not exceed 1.6-1.8 wpg as you may start to edge over into medium light territory.
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Fishing in the Rivers of Light

[Dusko]

Nice list unissuh

just to add;
most plants considered high light will do well in low (medium) light conditions if CO2 levels are high enough, or if Excel or Easy Carbo is being dosed.
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[Kaitswyn]

Thanks! Guess I need to go back to the store again.