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Planted Aquarium - Top Tier Plants

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Plants that grow fast in most conditions, and are perfect when starting a new tank. Easy to care for, and ensures good water quality, and less algae.
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Floating Plants

 
Emily Jensen profile picture
Salvinia Minima is my absolute favorite floating plant. It grows very fast, and has nice roots that my shrimp love to hang from.
Water Spangles - Salvinia Minima
 
Emily Jensen profile picture
The Rosette Water Lettuce is a big floating plant, compared to what one normally sees. 

I find they give a more “clean” look, and i have a few of these in a shallow vase for decorattion. They grow fast, and have fairly large roots. This plant is great for a big aquarium, pond, or a dramatic look in a small tank.
Pistia stratiotes - Rosette Water Lettuce
 
Emily Jensen profile picture
This is a fern that floats. Very cool. It is a very unique floating plant, that grows fast and gets a red hue with enough light.
Azolla -Floating Plant
 
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Spiky moss can grow anywhere in your aquarium, and doesn´t need to be rooted anywhere. You can fasten it to surfaces, or let it float around in your tank. 

I like it because it allows my to add interest and depth in the aquarium. It grows fas, shrimp and fry love to hang out in it, and it is very easy to move around if you want to rescape.
Spiky Moss - "Java Moss"

Stem Plants / Bare roots

 
Emily Jensen profile picture
This plant is the fastest growing plant I have in my aquariums. I always use it when creating a new planted tank, because of its fast growth. Fast growth means fewer nutrients in the water, which means less algae and less nitrates. 

It has many small leaves, and is one of the first plants to start bubbling, men the water is saturated with oxygen.
Elodea Anacharis / Densa
 
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Fast growing plant that is easy to propagate. Turns red with strong light,or stays a beautiful bright green in regular conditions.
Limnophila sessiliflora
 
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Water sprite is a fern that grows fast and big. It has an interesting leaf structure, and is a great hiding place for small fish or fry. Shrimp loves to hang out in it as well. 

The plant produces off-shoots, that you can cut off, for propagation.
Water Sprite (Indian Fern) Small
 
Emily Jensen profile picture
Ludwigia Red is propable the reddest plant you can get without co2 injections. It is also considered fast growing. Not the fastest one, but enough that you can see a difference every few days. It is easy to propagate.

The red gives a great contrast to all the green plants out there. I put this one in almost all of my aquariums.
Ludwigia Repens Red
 
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Classic fast growin plant, with long leaves emerging from the roots. This plant can be grown on rocks or on driftwood, and easily moved around the aquarium
Java Fern

Emmersed Growth

 
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The Cyperus plant grows both in and out of your tank!
You plant it in the substrate, and it will grow tall and out of water. 

Not only does it add interest to your tank, it sucks oxygen from the air outside your aquarium, and deposits it the roots. 

The cyperus plants is also a great houseplant, pond plant, and patio plant. Its roots need to be immersed in water, and is a great plant for the over eager waterer. 

Fast growing emmersed plants are one of my favorites.
Cyperus alternifolius - Umbrella Palm
 
Emily Jensen profile picture
Growing houseplants in your aquarium is not only very pretty, but very beneficial for you aquarium, and your fish. The root net sucks nitrates and co2, and uses it to produce new leaves above water. The root net also provides a great hiding place for... 

Great if you just want to propagate plants as well.
Aquarium Plant Holder - For House Plants in Your Aquarium

Resources and Guides

 
Emily Jensen profile picture
Ms. Diana Walstad wrote the book on planted aquariums, and was the forerunner for the natural aquarium that has gained popularity today. Visit her site, and/or buy her book if you want to learn more in depth about it all.
Planted Aquariums - Walstad Tank
 
Emily Jensen profile picture
Diana Walstad´s book on the subject.
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise
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Emily Jensen profile picture
Keeping Fish Simple is a great resource for learning about fishkeeping, and plants
7 Tips for Growing Freshwater Plants in an Aquarium
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