Live plants polish water and calm guppies, but they don’t have to be demanding. Choose hardy species that match your tap water.
Floating cover
- Water sprite / hornwort: fast growers that absorb nitrate and shade fry.
- Salvinia: compact floaters that thrive in gentle flow; great for low-tech tanks.
Easy rooted plants
- Anubias and Java fern: tie to wood/rock; avoid burying rhizomes.
- Cryptocoryne wendtii: tolerant of moderate light and varied hardness.
- Vallisneria: creates tall grass beds for fry cover; trim runners to control spread.
Water parameters
Most Australian tap water (neutral to alkaline, moderate hardness) suits these plants. Provide 6–8 hours of light, avoid extreme fertiliser dosing, and prune weekly to keep flow clear.