Water plants

Plants for natural aquarium: create an ecological ecosystem without filter

Why choose plants for a natural aquarium?

  • Water purification (nitrates, phosphates)
  • Oxygenation for fish and invertebrates
  • Authentically natural aesthetics and animal well-being
  • Reduction of energy consumption and noise: less technological equipment to buy, maintain and plug in!

Types of plants for natural aquarium

Floating plants

Floating frogbit — ultra-fast nitrate consumption

Azolla — unique brick-red color, anti-algae, very decorative

Floating frogbit — ornamental rosette, soft shading, diving roots

Oxygenating plants

Vallisneria - dense ribbons, continuously releases oxygen

Elodea - fast growth, fights filamentous algae and cyanobacteria, record oxygenation

Hornwort - fast growth, competes with algae, devours nitrates, protects fry

Bank / emergent plants

Sumpf-Schwertlilie - stabilizes banks, yellow flowering

Water mint - flower, subtle scent, absorbs nutrients, aquaponics star

Lobelia - aquarium or pond, magnificent flowers, exceeds the surface

Summary table

Plant type Example Difficulty Main role
Floating Floating frogbit Very easy Nitrate filtration + shading
Oxygenating Vallisneria Easy Oxygen supply
Bank Sumpf-Schwertlilie Average Decoration + stability + flowers

Our best "Star" plants

  1. Vallisneria asiatica – ideal for an aquarium without filter
  2. Floating frogbit – powerful surface purification
  3. Azolla – colorful touch, depollution champion
  4. Ceratophyllum – oxygen + refuge for fry + anti-algae fight

How to maintain plants in a natural aquarium?

  • Substrate or free growth? Depending on the species.
  • Light: moderate to strong depending on the species.
  • Pruning and harvesting: remove excess, especially for expansive floating plants.
  • Common mistakes: insufficient lighting, fertilizers and chemical treatments that damage the ecosystem's microbiota, too much aeration and/or current.

FAQ – Natural aquarium plants

What are the easy plants to start with?

Vallisneria, Hornwort, Java Moss: easy growth, very few requirements.

Can I make an aquarium without substrate?

Yes: opt for plants without substrate (floating, Ceratophyllum, Egeria najas or elodea). But it is better to use soil, even simple sand, to host the microbial biodiversity that is essential for balance.

Is a lot of light needed?

Standard LED lighting is sufficient; some plants redden more under intense light.

Which plants for a low tech aquarium?

Fast floating + oxygenating plants, e.g. Greater duckweed + Vallisneria or elodea.

How to naturally fight algae?

Introduce fast purifiers (Floating frogbit, Hornwort, elodea) and reduce excess nutrients. Then remove the excess plants once they have fixed these nutrients in their tissues.

  • Shipment security

    Your live items are shipped from Monday through Wednesday at noon to avoid delays over the weekend.
    Delivery takes approximately 48 hours.
    For France, an Express delivery option is available.

  • 100% French producer

    We are producers and breeders of aquatic plants and invertebrates
    whose species we select and test ourselves to find those best suited to natural or low-tech aquariums.
    We hand-pack them for each order just before shipping, ensuring maximum freshness.

  • At your service

    No bots at Aquazolla!
    We answer your questions by email and do our best to accommodate your specific needs: holidays, shipping dates, advice, etc.

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