Getting Started with Aquarium Plants

Live plants add so many benefits to an aquarium, such as natural beauty, water purification, and enrichment for your fish. However, it can be a bit daunting to set up your first planted tank. Not to worry – follow our step-by-step guide to learn all about aquatic plants and how to care for them.

Step 1: Choose Your Aquarium Plants

We recommend that you start with easy, beginner-friendly plants that don't need a lot of light. These species are more forgiving of beginner mistakes and also require less maintenance in general.

Step 2: Choose a Light for Aquarium Plants

Once you have found your favorite plants, it's time to choose the light. Your plant selection will impact whether you need high lighting or low lighting, so research the needs of your plants and then watch the following video that explains how to pick the right planted aquarium light. We also have an LED Aquarium Lighting Guide that recommends specific products based on the size of your fish tank.

Step 3: Choose a Substrate for Aquarium Plants

Your plant selection also affects what type of substrate or ground covering you need for the bottom of your tank. Some plants like anubias and java fern don't require any substrate, whereas others like sword plants and cryptocoryne plants need nutrients in the substrate for their roots to consume.

Step 4: Set Up Your Planted Aquarium

Once you have finished the research phase and gathered the necessary materials for your planted tank, it's time to put all the pieces together. Before you get started, watch this video from beginning to end to make sure you have everything you need.

Step 5: Feed Your Aquarium Plants

Congrats on setting up your first planted aquarium. Now let's focus on what it takes to keep the plants alive. In general, plants need sufficient lighting and nutrients to grow, so learn how to create a happy and healthy environment for them to thrive.

Step 6: Minimize Algae in Your Planted Tank

Algae is a common issue that pops up in all planted aquariums, even those kept by the most veteran aquascapers. While algae is a natural part of the aquarium ecosystem, most people don't like the way it looks. Find out the best ways to get rid of algae and minimize its growth in the long term.

Step 7: Address Any Plant Nutrient Deficiencies

If you find that your plant growth is stunted, the leaves are discolored, or the stems keep melting away, your plants may be missing certain nutrients. Learn how to spot the symptoms and fix the deficiencies to grow healthy plants.

Always wonderful. The site is easy to use (a little too easy).

good

Great product perfect for my betta tank. doesn’t take ip much room, quiet and easy to assemble.

Had one plant not make the journey. Customer service was excellent and refunded immediately. Great company

I love shopping at aquarium co-op online! It was easy to navigate for someone coming into the hobby. Lots of great products with good descriptions to help me find what I need.

Aquarium Co-op is best in class with great selection, service and super fast delivery. Spend enough to get a free shirt as they’re great too!!!

I love Aquarium Co-op products!!! This is the best place for me in this hobby.

Aquarium Coop quality has been consistently good since they started, and still improving every purchase. Good for beginners and experienced hobbyists.

Aquarium Co-Op was my number one source for all things aquatic before I ever had a tank. The blog and YouTube channel were paramount to my research. When the time came to set up my kid's 30 gallon and then my own 75 gallon- Aquarium Co-Op was my first stop. I was able to get everything online that I needed (except the tank) and I've had phenomenal success with both tanks. I run their easy flow sponge filters and use several of their filter media options in my canister. I also use their magic feed food and easy green fertilizer. I swear by the measuring jar (looks like a glass you'd take a swig of your favorite fermented drink)- and I also love the dual ended scoop. Everything is easy to find on the website and their customer service is top notch!

I recommend it

Plants were packaged so nicely and suffered no melt in my tank. I was worried because it’s a long trip to WA state but everything arrived in good condition.

Great company. Just change main shipping company. Amazon is not keeping up with their volume as they grow..

Everything came healthy and well wrapped

You guys are great!! Not a fan of you using Amazon Delivery Service only complaint..

Ordered an Anubsis Berberi. It was beautiful, packaged well and great condition.

Shopping the site is so fun. Always something new. Very clear where everything is as well.

Great plants and quick shipping!

Always quick shipping with fair prices! The plants are amazing too!

I'm not sure, so I defer to your great knowledge, but perhaps higher levels of some of the Trace minerals? Anyway, I'm happy and sticking with the All-In- One.

Great service and great products

Just an old man that loves aquariums

Order came quickly, no issues at all.

Excellent shipping and handling always on time products are getting better and better even with experts helping to go that extra mile to make it well worth being inside of that company

Made a purchase on the website last month. There was a bug about the free t-shirt and it charged me. I sent an email to customer service and Candi took care of it quickly! I love there personal touch to customer service and prompt response. I always look forward to my ACO boxes in the mail, well packed and fun to discover what sticker i get this time.

Easy peeze

Great quality and service

Aquarium CooP is a terrific company to do business with.. their products are high quality fairly priced and customer service is the best I’ve ever experienced from anyone..this is a company where ethical standards is not a goal but is apparent in every business transaction I’ve had with them..thank you Cory and your entire team for making significant contributions to our hobby and providing a very high standard of service to your customers…Will

The website is very easy to search

Easy to shop and quick delivery. And good quality products.

So thrilled about any donations! It's so generous! Great products!

customer service is excellent

Very professional company, I will definitely be ordering from you again. Thank you.

Always pleasant to work with. If something goes wrong, the staff is always willing to help me out

Great products will buying many more things.

We had to travel about an hour to get to the store and we are happy we made the trip. The staff was super helpful and a pleasure to work with. It has a good selection of fish and aquascape materials. We definitely recommend a visit. It was a great experience.

Excellent plants, great in-house developed products, ordering was easy, shipping was fast. Can't wait to put in my 3rd order!

Shipping and products were great! I wish the options didn't sell out as quick I had to pivot my original wish list but regardless so good

Aquarium co-op is an excellent place to shop for your aquarium needs. Fast shipping and awesome products!

My only problem with the move to Kentucky it takes so much longer to
get my packages......Live plants take a beating?

Everything was perfect and the information provided on the site was helpful to someone new to aquarium care & Fish care.

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