Best Low Light Aquarium Plants 2020

There are many kinds of aquarium plants out there depending on the light they need and their height in general. Some are best for the background while some can be used for bottom-feeding fish or for the breeding fish (and even shrimps).

This is why you may be looking for the best low light aquarium plants if you don’t have one yet. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of them, as well as tips on how to choose one.

Low light aquarium plants are ideal for those who are still starting out on their aquarium and don’t have a bright LED light to boot. These are also the best for beginners and for fish that do well in low light environments.

Top 5 Best Low Light Aquarium Plants

Here are our top picks for the best low light aquarium plants:

Greenpro Microsorum Pteropus Hardy Leaf

Also called the Java Fern, this one can grow up to 14 inches in height and it can be situated on rocks or even driftwoods.

It can be planted on fish tanks that are for freshwater fish. When you order one, you can get a plant that’s about 4 to 6 inches in height.

The Java fern has been USDA-approved and it is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. It comes in its own pot and you can just remove it there and plant it in your driftwood.

As it is a low light plant, it needs to be fully submerged to plant it. When it gets shipped to your doorstep, it comes in a good container so that its roots could be protected from damage.

Things We Liked

• Good shipping packaging
• Up to 14 inches in height
• Easy for beginners
• Ideal for driftwood
• Okay for freshwater fish

Things We Didn’t Like

• Not ideal in sand substrate

G’z Aquarium Floating Plants Package

This plant package comes with 3 different species, all of which are low light plants: the  Amazon Frogbit, the Dwarf Water Lettuce, and the Water Spangles, with 12 pieces each.

The seller also guarantees 100% Alive On Arrival (AOA) and ensures that the plants make it to your doorstep. In fact, they cancel orders if the temperature is unstable in the area.

It does not require any CO2 as it is a low light plant, and it also requires no substrate to plant. Each of the plants that are going to be sent to you will have about 3 to 4 leaves.

If you set the lighting just right, the plants could grow faster than you think, despite their small size. One package should be sufficient for a 50-gallon tank.

Things We Liked

• 3 plants in 1 package
• No substrate required
• Alive on Arrival guarantee
• No CO2 required

Things We Didn’t Like

• The plant species have a low survival rate

Mainam Echinodorus Parviflorus Rosette Amazon Sword

If you would like Rosette Amazon Sword, which is also a species of low light aquatic plants, this one could be for you.

It has a medium growth and is ideal for novices and intermediate fish keepers. It has a 3-day live guaranteed and it can be safe for all fish and aquatic pets.

Each stem or plant comes at a length of 3 to 7 inches in one bundle. The Rosette Sword (Echinodorus parviflorus) is a type of Amazon Sword with a smaller height so it’s ideal for those who want a low light plant that doesn’t get in the way of other fish as a mid-ground or foreground plant.

You can place it in your substrate or gravel and they can grow even without the need for fertilizer.

Things We Liked

• Low-profile height
• Good for novice fish keepers
• 3-day live guaranteed
• No fertilizer needed

Things We Didn’t Like

• The roots were trimmed too much so it could be difficult for substrate planting

Greenpro Java Fern on Driftwood

This one is Java fern, which can be planted on your existing driftwood. It ships with boxes so that they can arrive alive.

Each of the plants that could arrive in your doorstep may measure 6 to 8 inches in height. The difficulty level of this plant is both for beginners and for experts.

Like most aquarium plants, it does need to be rinsed in de-chlorinated water first so that it will grow just fine.

Since the plant is ideal for up to 78 degrees, it can be a good aquarium plant for those who are keeping Betta fish and other tropical fish.

You can also add fertilizers to the Java fern if you like. The plant is also backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Things We Liked

• Driftwood-friendly
• Ships in a box
• Ideal for beginners
• Okay for tropical fish
• Satisfaction guarantee

Things We Didn’t Like

• Some batches could have snails

Mainam Amazon Sword Plant Echinodorus Bleheri

If you liked our Rosette Amazon Sword pick earlier, this one is the regular Amazon Sword species.

It comes in a single bundle that only requires low to moderate light and has slow growth. Like our previous picks, it has a 3-day live guarantee in case your plant dies in transit. You could also plant this in black blasting sand.

Being safe for all aquatic pets such as fish, this one has a slightly tall design so you can probably plant it as a background plant or decor.

It also has a sturdy build so you can use it as a good hiding place for your fish. It can be grown on both substrate and regular gravel with the right NPK parameters.

Things We Liked

• Slow growth rate
• Good customer service
• Can be grown on substrate or gravel
• Vibrant green color
• 3-day live guarantee

Things We Didn’t Like

• Could lose some leaves in the first few days

AquaLeaf Aquatics Java Fern Bare Root

If you just want a bare root of the Java Fern, this one can be for you.

It has a height of 4 to 6 inches when you receive one and it can be easily attached to any rock or driftwood. Since it has a spacious and wide design, your fish can use it as a hiding place, especially if they are small.

As it is a low light plant, it grows slow but quite hardy. This would be an ideal fish tank plant if you have cichlids and any South American fish of similar kind.

It also works just fine for freshwater and planted aquariums in general.

Things We Liked

• Generally ships without pests
• Ideal for cichlids
• Comes with baby ferns on the leaves
• Sealed plastic bag in a box
• Spacious and wide design

Things We Didn’t Like

• Could be a bit too small for some owners
• Not ideal for turtle tanks

Mainam Anubias Barteri Coin Leaves

Great for adding a natural umbrella for your fish, this low light plant grows slow but steady.

It has a 3-day live guarantee and it has wide leaves so your fish could definitely use it as a breeding ground or as a shade.

Most customers ordered the plant and they were pest-free, so it seems like a nice species to try. The plant is also ideal for those who are keeping plecos.

The Anubias barteri is a nice plant for those who want heart-shaped leaves for added decoration to their fish tank.

The plant could arrive at about 6 to 7 inches in height with cleaned roots. Since the Anubias barteri is ideally planted without burying the roots, they are best for driftwood.

Things We Liked

• Well-packaged
• 3-day live guarantee
• Large leaves for fish shade
• Ideal for driftwood
• Attractive leaf design

Things We Didn’t Like

• The roots could be trimmed too short

SoShrimp Flame Moss Mesh Pad

If you want a natural carpet that is ideal for low light conditions, this carpet plant may be for you.

It measures 3 x 3 inches and comes with a stainless steel mesh so it can be submerged without the worry of corrosion.

The flame moss has moderate growth and can also work even on driftwood. The packaging is a double Ziploc for extra protection (and some added water to keep it moist).

This flame moss pad could be best for those who want added attraction to their current substrate or gravel.

It can be grown even without CO2 or fertilizer so it may be ideal for beginners. Since it is 100% safe for shrimps, you can also use it if you’re taking care of those.

Things We Liked

• Well-packaged
• Ideal for shrimp tanks
• No fertilizer or CO2 needed
• Moderate growth
• Works even on driftwood

Things We Didn’t Like

• May come with snails and snail eggs

Greenpro Bolbitis Difformis Baby Leaf Fern

Yet another one from Greenpro, this potted baby fern leaf has small leaves so it can be a foreground plant.

It has a slow growth rate so it can be ideal for busy people who don’t want to trim their plants all the time. It already arrives in a pot and stands at about 2 inches so it is ready to be deployed to your aquarium.

The plant can grow to about 3 to 5 inches and it is also USDA-approved.

Since it has a wide design, it can be a good place for Betta fish to hide and play around. It works best on rocks or driftwood, as substrate planting could hurt its roots. While it does shed at first, it will only be in the first few days.

Things We Liked

• Grows slowly
• USDA-approved
• Ideal for Betta fish tanks
• Wide design
• Comes in a pot

Things We Didn’t Like

• Could have some minor shedding at first

Aquarium Live Water Plants Flame Moss Pad

This moss pad is much like the above-mentioned pick but from a different manufacturer. Measuring 3 x 3 inches, this one can be ideal for low light conditions and those fish or shrimp that don’t really eat algae.

It arrives with no pesticides so it can be safe for your fish. If you have guppies, you can use it as their breeding ground.

It can be placed even in an established tank, contrary to most plants, so you can plant it right away. It doesn’t require CO2 and does well with pH levels of 5.5 or 7.5 and temperatures of 75 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

It arrives nicely packaged with a slightly damp moss pad and can grow in about 2 weeks as a slow grower.

Things We Liked

• Ideal for breeding guppies
• Dense design
• No CO2 required
• No pesticide
• Slow grower

Things We Didn’t Like

• Some part of the mesh doesn’t have enough moss

Things to Consider Before You Buy

To choose the best low light aquarium plants, here are the things you need to consider:

What are some common low light aquarium plants?

Common low light plants for aquariums include:

• Anubias barteri
• Java fern
• Java moss
• African water fern
• Green hygdrophilia
• Flame moss
• Amazon Sword

How do I plant low light aquarium plants?

Low light aquarium plants can be classified into the following:

1. Root feeders. They are planted into the substrate or gravel so they will need roots that are long enough. If you have a substrate that has a lot of nutrients, root feeders are the best way to go.

 

2. Column feeders. Also called rhizome plants, these are okay to plant in your driftwood without the need for a substrate. This may be ideal if you don’t currently have a substrate.

How do low light aquarium plants get delivered safely?

To ensure that they get delivered safely, they should be backed by a live guarantee, in which the seller will deliver a second batch in case the first one dies in transit. You can also request the manufacturer to ship at certain times of the day to avoid plants dying.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, our top pick for the best low light aquarium plants is the Greenpro Microsorum Pteropus Hardy Leaf because it has a good shipping packaging, is easy for beginners, ideal for driftwood, okay for freshwater fish, and can grow up to 14 inches in height.

While it may not be ideal for substrate (sand), it can be attached to any driftwood just fine. You also get a satisfaction guarantee in case the plant dies in transit, although that’s a common feature most plant sellers give.