The Best Aquatic Plants For Blackwater Aquarium

Maintaining a blackwater tank seems easy to handle, as most elements inside the tank are hardscape and leaf litter. In fact, it does not appear that way. The keepers should consider many things when building their darkwater aquarium. One of which is the addition of aquatic plants. Remembering that their requirements for growth in the tank differ from each other, and most aquarium plants are difficult to live in acidic water with more shaded areas.

Leaf litter releases tannins, causing a brown color effect in this tank style. It mimics a natural ecosystem of dense forest streams with slow-moving water. Commonly, a particular creature and vegetation can survive in that condition.

Tannins can reduce the pH of water, potentially leading to problems for aquarium inhabitants. In acidic water, snails’ shells become thinner, growth level slows, and can even cause death for them, as well as shrimp and some fish species. It is also harmful to a few live plant types.

Therefore, if you decide to create a blackwater aquarium, understanding all the elements required for a blackwater setup is necessary. Then, ensure that the theme sets up what you want to build. After that, you need to prepare the materials.

Keep in mind, if you want to add aquatic plants to the setup. Only a few species can thrive in the rich tannin conditions. They typically have strong, heavy, and thick body parts and can grow under dim lighting and survive in conditions with a lack of CO2.

Of course, aquatic plants with that specification can be easily found at the trades. Many aquarium shops sell them at affordable prices. So, keep calm, everything you need to achieve your own stable blackwater tank is possible.

In this article, we will share a list of live aquatic plants that are fit for decorating your blackwater aquarium. Let’s check the list:

Anubias Species

Anubias genus is a semi-aquatic plants that originate from western and central Africa. In their natural habitat, they primarily reside in freshwater streams and rivers. However, some species can adapt to marsh areas and live there.

Their name are derived from one of the Egyptian gods, “Anubis”, who is a god of the afterlife. It is because in the wild, they usually thrive in shady areas. Anubias species generally have thick, broad, and darker leaves. They are rich in species, with various leaf forms and sizes, making their appearance look more attractive when planted in the tank.

A fun fact about them is that Anubias are epiphytes. It means they grow up on the hardscape. This makes this species more suitable for a blackwater environment, where the tank contains many roots or wood. Never bury their rhizomes. This bad practice will rot their roots and lead to their death.

Most anubias species can grow well in acidic water and tolerate low CO2 conditions. They do not need a high-tech tank with a bright lamp to grow up. Since you provide a clean aquarium at low temperatures and perform a weekly 20% to 30% water change, they will live well. Suck up the decaying leaf litter and replace it regularly. Add fertilizers to maintain stable nutrient levels in the water.

Due to their various sizes, they are suitable for nano and larger darkwater tanks. For a 5-to 10-gallon tank, anubias nana golden is a nice choice. However, if your tank capacity is more than 30 gallons, we advise putting anubias barteri.

Their prices are different depending on the species and availability. Rare anubias species, such as Anubias marbled white and A. Pinto, usually sell for about $30/pot or more. While the common ones, such as anubias nana and gracilis, will sell for around $10 or less per cup.

Below are some types of Anubias plants that you can add to blackwater aquariums:

• Anubias Nana Pangolino
• Anubias Barteri Var Nana Wrinkle Leaf
• Anubias Gilletii
• Anubias Pynaertii
• Anubias Gracilis
• Anubias Heterophylla
• Anubias Hastifolia
• Anubias Gigantea
• Anubias Lanceolata
• Anubias Frazeri
• Anubias Nana Golden
• Anubias Barteri Var. Glabra
• Anubias Minima
• Anubias Nangi
• Anubias Afzelii
• Anubias Caladiifolia
• Anubias Nana Petite
• Anubias Barteri Var Angustifolia

Bucephalandra

Bucephalandra genera are other aquatic plants that can adapt well to a dark-water environment. They are flowering plant species native to Borneo (Kalimantan), Indonesia. In nature, this genus usually inhabits streams and rivers in tropical forests as epiphytes that grow on rocks.

P.C. Boyce and S.Y. Wong are the first describers of this genus. In Borneo, they discovered 30 species of bucephalandra. Their names are taken from the Greek words βοῦς (bous, meaning bull or cow), κεφαλή (kephalē, meaning head), and ἀνήρ (anēr, meaning man). Their name refers to their single male (staminate) flower shape.

Bucephalandra has similar characteristics to Anubias, where its leaves grow from the rhizomes. They generally have dark blue-green to green leaves, with most surfaces being glossy. It often featured yellow, white, or red spots on the back side of the leaf.

Their leaf textures differ; they may be slightly tougher or gentler, depending on the species and environment. Their shapes can also vary, ranging from linear to elliptic, oblong, oblanceolate, and obovate. Their size can be small or larger, approximately 2 cm to 60 cm tall, with creeping stems and rooting.

In the wild, they sometimes inhabit acidic water bodies. This makes them have the ability to adapt to the blackwater aquarium ecosystem. As hardy aquatic plants, they require minimal care, making them suitable for beginners, too.

Unfortunately, due to limited stock in the trades. Some species of them may not be found in certain countries. Common species that usually sell on trades, including B. Green Wavy, B. Red Mini, and B. Kedagang. Generally, sellers offer a price range of $8 to $30, depending on size, quality, and species.

Due to their size, they are relatively small, making them fit for putting in a nano blackwater tank. It usually installs the minimum required equipment and is inhabited by a few fish. However, these hardy aquatic plants can still grow in optimal conditions.

Amazon Swords

The name of these plants is derived from their leaves, which resemble a sword blade. They are popular and are usually used by aquarists across various aquarium themes due to their adaptability and abundant availability in the trade.

Amazon swords originate from Cuba, South America, and Central America. Actually, different species are often offered under this common name because of their similar shapes. Echinoduras grisebachii, E. amazonicus, and E. bleheri are common species sold by sellers.

Their leaves can grow large, reaching about 40-60 cm in the water. Amazon swords have short stems and lanceolate or narrowly oval leaves. Their leaves may be bright or dark green with a slightly wavy effect and prominent veins. Because of their size, they are suitable for a large aquarium as midground or background plants.

Of course, they can tolerate acidic water and shade areas, making them a good choice for adding to a big darkwater aquarium. Amazon swords are relatively inexpensive. Sellers usually offer them starting from $5 to $20, depending on size and quality. The bundled products are often cheaper than purchasing per pot.

You can easily multiply these plants by trimming the side shoots of their leaves, then planting them into the substrate. To control their leaf size covering your tank, remove the older leaves and new growing side shoots.

Cryptocoryne

Looking for live aquarium plants that are set in all positions of your tannin-rich tank? Cryptocoryne genus may become a good choice. Like Amazon swords, they can grow in the substrate, making them proper to add.

They naturally live in rivers with low current and forest streams in Southeast Asia, the Tropical Regions of India, and New Guinea. Aquarists usually call this genus “Crypts”; another common name is “water trumpet” because its flowers resemble a trumpet.

The Cryptocoryne genus varies in size and color (green to reddish-brown), which drives hobbyists to create their own tank setups. Their leaves are generally lanceolate or ovate, sometimes with a prominent central vein. They can grow in low to medium lighting and acidic water with a pH range from 6-8.

Use high-nutrient soil to improve their health. Adding regular fertilizer doses and performing water changes to maintain stable water conditions. Although they are categorized as tougher aquatic plants, cryptorynes are susceptible to “Crypt Melt.” It is a phenomenon in which plants suddenly shed their leaves. This usually occurs when they are introduced into a new tank or different conditions. Rapid environmental change and transition from the emerged to the submerged form usually cause this incident.

Several common species that sellers usually offer at affordable prices, including crytocoryne parva, c. wendtii, c. crispatula, c. beckettii, and c. lutea. Normally, sellers sell them for about $5 to $20, depending on the species and portions. The smallest species (c. parva) is appropriate for a foreground plant and a nano aquarium. While if you search for the mid or backside position, c. wendtii and c. crispatula are the proper choices.

Red Tiger Lotus

Nymphea zenkeri is a robust tropical water lily that can adapt to blackwater environments. They can create a new atmosphere with their impressive appearances. These flowering aquarium plants are native to tropical West Africa and Southeast Asia.

Mottled leaves and deep red color are the traits that set them apart from other plants for a blackwater aquarium. They can grow to 60-80 cm tall, with leaves measuring 2-6 inches long. Their leaves resemble arrowheads and connect directly to the central root base via a long, thin stem.

We suggested using a minimum 10-gallon tank for keeping them with low to high lighting. The important thing is that they can survive in acidic water (pH 6-8). Red tiger lotus can grow submerged and emerge, with leaves that can float at the surface or even fully immersed.

To propagate Nymphea zenkeri, separate the bulbs from the mother plant, then replant them in the substrate. This water lily needs many nutrients to grow. They consume large amounts of CO2, iron, nitrates, micro, and macronutrients. So the keepers should provide them with regular fertilizer to help them thrive.

Red tiger lotus benefits other critters by promoting biofilm growth and providing shelters and hiding spots for shy fish. In trades, this plant is usually offered at various prices, starting from $8 – $25 per pot, depending on size.

Amazon Frogbit

Limnobium laevigatum, a.k.a. Amazon frogbit, is a striking floating plant. They originate from South and Central America and inhabit slow-moving waterways such as ditches, marshes, bogs, and swamps. They have extraordinary resilience, adapting to a wide range of water conditions and environments. This makes them become one of the recommended floating plants for covering the surface of blackwater aquariums.

They have several common names, including smooth frogbit, South American spongeplant, and West Indian spongeplant. Their leaves are bright green, smooth, small, round, and unmarked. Their roots are long, extending up to 50 cm, with a fuzzy, branching appearance.

The recommended tank size for keeping them is 10 gallons (40 liters), as they grow faster. They grow optimally in soft to moderate water hardness, about 6-7.5. Of course, they can thrive in blackwater environments.

Amazon frogbits are easy to reproduce. They can propagate in two ways: first, sexually through flower pollination, which produces seeds. The second is vegetative, in which they multiply by producing young plants from the side shoots of mature one. At least, you should spend $4 for a portion of Limnobium laevigatum. These floating aquatic plants are popular, so you can find them at nearby aquascape stores and add them to blackwater aquariums.

Salvinia Natans

Salvinia natans, popularly called floating ferns, is another free-floating aquarium plants that offer some benefits for blackwater aquariums. They can be discovered in almost all countries around the world that are rich in freshwater, humid air, and sunlight.

These aquatic plants have three leaves: two are floating at the surface, and the third is submerged, serving as the roots. The floating forms have dense, stiff hair on the upper surface and elliptical to ovate leaves. If left unattended, salvinia natans can form thick mats and cover the entire surface of aquariums due to their rapid growth rate. They will block the light from the lamps, causing the plants below to suffer. On the other side, it also serves as a shade area for fish.

Remember, floating ferns can thrive in a wide range of water conditions due to their tough adaptation. This makes floating ferns suitable as floating plants for covering the blackwater aquarium. In online marketplaces, salvinia natans is often labeled as a cheaper floating plant. At least, you just spent about $3 for a small cup of this plant.