Sufficient light is one of the main things often lacking in an aquarium that has not been specifically set up for plants.
Different plants will require different amounts of light to thrive. The list below categorises some of the more commonly
available plants in general groups based on their light requirements.
|
Low-moderate - These plants should grow ok with only standard aquarium lighting, i.e. one fluorescent tube,
although some will grow better with more light.
|
| Anubias species |
| Cryptocoryne species (most) |
| Echinodorous species - Amazon swords (some) |
| Microsorium pteropus (Java Fern) |
| Vesicularia dubyana (Java Moss) |
| |
|
Bright - These plants will require additional lighting to thrive, i.e. at least one additional fluorescent tube, or T5 lighting.
|
| Aponogeton species |
| Ceratopteris thalictroides (Indian fern) |
| Crinum species |
| Egeria densa (Waterweed) |
| Hygrophila difformis (Water wisteria) |
| Hygrophila polysperma (Giant/green/Indian Hygrophila) |
| Lilaeopsis species |
| Limnophila species |
| Ludwigia species |
| Myriophyllum species |
| Nesaea species |
| Nymphaea stellata (Water lily) |
| Pogostemon species |
| Rotala species |
| Sagittaria species |
| Vallisneria species |
| |
|
Very Bright - These plants will require strong lighting, i.e. at least 1-2 additional fluorescent tubes,
preferably high light tubes with reflectors (particularly important for deeper tanks). The bright lighting required
is much easier to achieve with high-intensity T5 tubes, rather than standard (T8) tubes.
|
| Bacopa species |
| Cabomba species |
| Rotala macrandra |
