Anubias barteri nana
Level: Easy
Light: Any light level is acceptable
Placement: Fore to mid ground.
This plant does best went the roots are exposed to the water. Therefore we suggest that this particular plant be removed from any potting material and tied to a piece of rock or wood. You can temporarily attach this plant using string or rubber bands, once the plant has anchored itself to the material, the supports can be removed. This particular species of plant grows very slowly, and thus can grow in almost any aquarium. The leaves are quite sturdy and thus are resistant to fish eating the leaves. Because the leaves are quite broad they are subject to algae growth. Wiping the leaves regularly with an algae scrub with help to control it.
Aponogeton Madagasacar
Level: Difficult
Light: Very Bright
Placement: Mid range in the aquarium
This a a rather rare plant, and only suitable to the most stable of aquarium with small fish that won't try to eat the leaves. Aponogetons typically only last one season, after which the plant dies unless stored properly
Aponogeton species
Level: Easy
Light: Low to Bright light
Placement: Mid Range to the Back of the Aquarium
Because this plant has a bulb, it contains it's own energy source for growth, making it an ideal plant for most aquariums. This plant can grow quite quickly so do not worry if the specimen that you are purchasing is small. Make sure the bulb is firm. Soft bulbs are usually indicative of a spent bulb, which can not grow any longer. There are many sub species of this plant offer a wide range of leaf shapes. This plant tends to last only one season, unless stored properly out of season.
Bacopa carolinsis
Level: Moderately easy
Light: Medium to Bright Light
Placement: Mid ground to Back of the aquarium
This plant is quite attractive. Remember to remove the plant from any potting material. Make sure that this plant is spaced well. Plants that are planted too close together tend to drop their lower leaves, which do not regrow. If this plant gets a little too tall just pinch off the top and replant as a separate plan
Bacopa monneri
Level: Moderately easy
Light: Mid to Bright Light
Placement: Mid range to the back of the aquarium.
This particular plant has the same requirements as Bacopa carolinsis
Cabomba carolinsis
Level: Moderately Difficult
Light: Bright Light
Placement: Back of the Aquarium
Cabomba is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium, due to it low price. Unfortunately it is a very fragile plant, and tends to get eaten quick quickly by most aquarium inhabitants. We would suggest Limnophilia sessilifloria if you like the look of this particular plant, as it tends to be more hardy.
Cardamine lyrata (money wort)
Level: Moderately Difficult
Light: Mid to Bright light
Placement: Mid Range in aquarium
This is a very unusual looking plant. Typically sold in bunches, make sure to keep the plants well spaced. Don't forget to use SERA FLORENETTE A, when first introducing this plant.
Crinum thianum (Onion Plant)
Level: Very Easy
Light: Low to Bright light
Placement: Back of the Aquarium
This has got to be the easiest plant to grow. It comes with a large bulb which helps to get it started in growth. Left to its own devices this plant has been known to grown 18 feet in length. Trimming the excess length will help to keep it under control, as well as helping the plant to bunch out, and grown new bulbs.
Cryptocoryne becketti
Level: Moderate
Light: Bright light
Placement: Foreground
Cryptocoryne plants are best used in mature aquariums, of 6 months or older. This species of plants used rhizomes, similar to potatoes for growth. The natural habitat of this plant is the river banks rich in organic material. Thus if you place them in a "clean" aquarium they tend to starve. It is very common for this plant to drop it's leaves when being introduced into a new aquarium, but if adequate nutrients are present, they will regrow quickly.
Cryptocoryne
wendetti
Level: Moderate
Light: Bright
Placement: Foreground to Mid range
Same requirements as other Cryptocoryne
Echinodorus
barthii
Level: Moderately Difficult
Light: Bright Light
Placement: Back of aquarium
It is not very common to have plants in the aquarium other than a green colour. Red plants tend to have lower chlorophyll contents therefore requiring higher light and iron level than other plants. Only attempt to grow this plant if you have SERA FLORA DEPOT, SERA FLORENA, Bright lights, and an Iron test.
Echinodorus
bleheri
Level: Moderate
Light: Mid to Bright Light
Placement: Back of aquarium
This is the most popular plant for use in the aquarium. Specimens of mature plants can grown over 18 inches. They grow new baby plants from runners, which can be separated from the mother plant when they are about 4 inches tall. If the runners are left above the surface of the aquarium, they will develop pretty little white flowers.
Echinodorus
maior
Level: Moderately Difficult
Light: Bright Light
Placement: Mid range to Back of Aquarium
Echinodorus
cordiflorus
Level: Moderate
Light: Mid to Bright light
Placement: Centre of aquarium
This species of plant can get quite large, as the leaves spread out rather than up. Make sure to maintain adequate Iron and Potassium levels in the aquarium to let this plant grow to it's glory
Heteranthera
zosterifloria
Level: Moderately Difficult
Light: Mid Range to Bright
Placement: Back of Aquarium
Hydrocotyle
leucocephala
Level: Moderately Difficult
Light: Mid to Bright
Placement: Anywhere
Hydrocotyle
sibthorpiodes
Level: Moderately difficult
Light: Mid to Bright
Placement: Foreground
Hygrophilia
corymbosa
Level: Easy
Light: Mid to Bright
Placement: Mid to Back of the Aquarium
Lilaeopsis
brasiliensis
Level: Moderate
Light: Bright
Placement: Foreground
Used as a carpet of grass in the front of the aquarium.
Limnophilia
aquatica
Level: Moderately Easy
Light: Bright
Placement: Back of Aquarium
An easier version of the Cabomba plant to grown.
Limnophilia
sessilifloria
Level: Moderately easy
Light: Mid to Bright
Placement: Back of Aquarium
A very lacy look to the leaves, looking more delicate than they really are.
Micranthemum
umbrosum
Level: Moderate
Light: Mid to Bright
Placement: Mid Range in the aquarium
Microsorium
pteropus
Level: Easy
Light: Low to Bright Light
Placement: Attached to wood and Rocks
Microsorium
windemlov
Level: Easy
Light: Low to Bright
Placement: Attached to Wood and Rocks
Riccia
fluitans
Level: Easy
Light: Low to Bright
Placement: Usually free floating but can be placed under netting to produce a carpet as shown.
Rotala
macrandra
Level: Difficult
Light: Very Bright
Placement: Mid Range
A very delicate leaf structure means that this should only be planted in the most calm of aquarium, with tiny fish such as neons. The red colour indicates a great need for SERA FLORA DEPOT and an Iron supplement such as SERA FLORENA.
Rotala
rotundifolia
Level: Moderately Difficult
Light: Bright Light
Placement: Mid to Back of Aquarium
If this plant is not kept in a bright place in the aquarium the leaves tend to turn a green colour instead of the normal red.
Rotala sp. nanjenshan
Level: Moderate
Light: Bright
Placement: Back of Aquarium
Rotala
walichii
Level: Moderate
Light: Bright
Placement: Midrange
A very unusual looking plant same care as Rotala macrandra
Sagitaria
subulata
Level: Difficult in Greater Vancouver
Light: Mid to Bright
Placement: Foreground
For some reason this plant needs an unusual amount of care to stabilize in our water, though once establish it grows quite well.
Salvinia
cucullata
Level: Easy
Light: Any
Placement: Usually floating on the surface
This plant can become a nuisance if you have a surface filter as it tend to clog up the mechanism. If let to grow over the entire surface of the aquarium, it can block need light from the other plants.
Vesicularia
dubyana
Level: Easy
Light: Any
Placement: Attached to wood and rocks is best
This is a very difficult plant to acquire, though very easy to grow. It is commonly know as java moss, and will easily attached itself to any porous material. You do not need a very large piece of this plant to get started, as it will establish itself quite easily.
Ceratopterus thailactroides (water sprite)
Level: Easy
Light: Mid to Bright
Placement: Background or Floating
This was once a very common plant, and then disappeared from the Greater Vancouver Area for about a decade, now with the help of one of our suppliers out of Quebec, we are now able to offer this plant again. Great in cold water tanks such as Goldfish.
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