Adding live plants to your freshwater aquarium can provide both beauty and healthy benefits to your fish. Many of the harmful nitrates naturally produced by fish waste and uneaten food will be removed from the water when live plants are added. Plants can also increase the oxygen content of your aquarium water, and are an additional source of food. Growth heights and rates of aquarium plants are all different, making some types more suitable for the foreground and some more suitable for the background. Taller and fuller plants make better choices for the background, and smaller, sparser plants make good foreground plants.

Background plants can hide the equipment needed to operate your tank, giving it a more aesthetically appealing look. They are also excellent for hiding small and shy fish. Examples of background plants are Vallisneria and Cabomba. Vallisneria, also known as Eel Grass, grows long leaves that appear similar to blades of grass. Cabomba, also known as Fanwort, is tall and bushy with feathery leaves similar to a fern.

Foreground plant examples are Riccia flutens and dwarf Cryptocorynes. These will create a carpet-like growth which can be very beautiful. Care should be taken that background plants do not overshadow these plants and deprive them of the light they need to thrive.

Lighting is important to the health and growth of your freshwater aquarium plants. In general, two to three watts per gallon is usually sufficient, but you should check the plant’s requirements to be sure. Some plants require specific levels of light to thrive best, while others can do well in a variety of light ranges.

The background plant Cabomba mentioned above requires a great deal (three or more watts per gallon) of light to thrive. Vallisneria is a background plant which needs only low levels (one watt per gallon) of light. It will do just fine with higher light levels, however.

Riccia flutens of the dwarf variety, also known as Crystalwort, can grow both in low and high-light environments without changing the growth rate or density of the plant. Dwarf Cryptocorynes have a low-light requirement, and will do better if the light is diffused rather than direct; through the leaves of taller background plants, for instance.

Fluorescent lighting will usually provide the light necessary for your plants to thrive. If you have a very deep tank, you may need to purchase a higher-output light, depending on the needs of your plants. These bulbs will need to be replaced at least once every six months because the concentration of the light will fade, leaving your plants with insufficient light to grow and thrive.
Gravel substrate will be fine for most freshwater aquarium plants. Adding fertilizer can be beneficial but is not always necessary. Choosing one plant that requires very bright light and another which needs lower levels to thrive will not work out very well in your tank. You should check the requirements of the plants you purchase to see what their individual needs may be in order to ensure compatibility in your aquarium.