Fast-growing aquarium plants
Fast growers pull nutrients out of the water before algae can use them, which makes them the cheapest algae control there is. Expect to trim regularly. Profiles list light, CO2 and growth rate for each species.
89 plants
Amazon frogbit
Limnobium laevigatumMedium lightFloating2 in (5 cm)
Ambulia
Limnophila sessilifloraLow lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Ammannia gracilis
Ammannia gracilisHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Aponogeton boivinianus
Aponogeton boivinianusMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Aponogeton crispus
Aponogeton crispusMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Aponogeton ulvaceus
Aponogeton ulvaceusMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Aponogeton undulatus
Aponogeton undulatusMedium lightBackground21.7 in (55 cm)
Brazilian pennywort
Hydrocotyle leucocephalaMedium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)
Butterfly fern
Salvinia auriculataMedium lightFloating1.6 in (4 cm)
Canadian waterweed
Elodea canadensisLow lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Caulerpa
Caulerpa proliferaMedium lightBackground5.9 in (15 cm)
Chaetomorpha
Chaetomorpha linumMedium lightFloating7.9 in (20 cm)
Corkscrew val
Vallisneria natansMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Creeping bacopa
Bacopa australisMedium lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Creeping Charlie
Clinopodium browneiMedium lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)
Duckweed
Lemna minorLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Dwarf water lettuce
Pistia stratiotesMedium lightFloating3.9 in (10 cm)
Fairy moss
Azolla filiculoidesMedium lightFloating0.8 in (2 cm)
Floating bladderwort
Utricularia gibbaMedium lightFloating0.8 in (2 cm)
Floating water sprite
Ceratopteris cornutaMedium lightFloating15.7 in (40 cm)
Giant ambulia
Limnophila aquaticaHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Giant baby tears
Micranthemum umbrosumMedium lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Giant duckweed
Spirodela polyrhizaLow lightFloating0.4 in (1 cm)
Giant vallisneria
Vallisneria giganteaLow lightBackground59.1 in (150 cm)
Glosso
Glossostigma elatinoidesHigh lightForeground1.6 in (4 cm)
Grape Caulerpa
Caulerpa racemosaMedium lightBackground4.7 in (12 cm)
Grassy arrowhead
Sagittaria gramineaMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Green cabomba
Cabomba carolinianaHigh lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Guppy grass
Najas guadalupensisLow lightFloating35.4 in (90 cm)
Hornwort
Ceratophyllum demersumLow lightFloating39.4 in (100 cm)
Hydrocotyle Japan
Hydrocotyle tripartitaMedium lightForeground2 in (5 cm)
Hydrocotyle mini
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioidesHigh lightForeground2 in (5 cm)
Hygrophila balsamica
Hygrophila balsamicaHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Hygrophila corymbosa
Hygrophila corymbosaLow lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Hygrophila guianensis
Hygrophila guianensisMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Hygrophila polysperma
Hygrophila polyspermaLow lightBackground17.7 in (45 cm)
Japanese cress
Cardamine lyrataMedium lightMidground17.7 in (45 cm)
Jungle val
Vallisneria americanaLow lightBackground39.4 in (100 cm)
Limnophila aromatica
Limnophila aromaticaHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Limnophila hippuridoides
Limnophila hippuridoidesHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Lindernia rotundifolia
Lindernia rotundifoliaLow lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)Ludwigia Cuba
Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Cuba'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Ludwigia palustris
Ludwigia palustrisMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Ludwigia Pantanal
Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Pantanal'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Ludwigia super red
Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red'High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Mexican oak leaf
Shinnersia rivularisMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Mosaic plant
Ludwigia sedioidesHigh lightFloating11.8 in (30 cm)
Myriophyllum Guyana
Myriophyllum mattogrossenseMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Myriophyllum Roraima
Myriophyllum sp. 'Roraima'High lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Pearlweed
Hemianthus glomeratusMedium lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)Persicaria kawagoeanum
Persicaria sp. 'Kawagoeanum'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Persicaria Sao Paulo
Persicaria sp. 'Sao Paulo'High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Pogostemon quadrifolius
Pogostemon quadrifoliusMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Red cabomba
Cabomba furcataHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Red Devil sword
Echinodorus 'Red Devil'Medium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)Red myriophyllum
Myriophyllum tuberculatumHigh lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Red root floater
Phyllanthus fluitansHigh lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Red water lily
Nymphaea rubraMedium lightMidground23.6 in (60 cm)
Riccia fluitans
Riccia fluitansHigh lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)Rotala Blood Red
Rotala rotundifolia 'Blood Red'High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)Rotala Ceylon
Rotala rotundifolia 'Ceylon'Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Rotala Colorata
Rotala rotundifolia 'Colorata'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala Green
Rotala rotundifolia 'Green'Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Rotala H'ra
Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra'High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Rotala macrandra
Rotala macrandraHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Rotala macrandra Bangladesh
Rotala macrandra 'Bangladesh'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala macrandra Green
Rotala macrandra 'Green'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala Nanjenshan
Rotala sp. 'Nanjenshan'High lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala Orange Juice
Rotala rotundifolia 'Orange Juice'High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Rotala pusilla
Rotala mexicanaHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Rotala rotundifolia
Rotala rotundifoliaMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Rotala wallichii
Rotala wallichiiHigh lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
Salvinia natans
Salvinia natansMedium lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Sea grapes
Caulerpa lentilliferaMedium lightBackground3.9 in (10 cm)
Sea Lettuce
Ulva lactucaHigh lightFloating9.8 in (25 cm)
Senegal tea plant
Gymnocoronis spilanthoidesHigh lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
Star grass
Heteranthera zosterifoliaHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Stream bogmoss
Mayaca fluviatilisMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Taiwan lily
Nymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan'Medium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Vallisneria spiralis
Vallisneria spiralisLow lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Water hedge
Didiplis diandraHigh lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
Water hyacinth
Pontederia crassipesHigh lightFloating15.7 in (40 cm)
Water poppy
Hydrocleys nymphoidesHigh lightFloating11.8 in (30 cm)
Water spangles
Salvinia minimaMedium lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
Water sprite
Ceratopteris thalictroidesMedium lightBackground15 in (38 cm)
Water wisteria
Hygrophila difformisMedium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Watermeal
Wolffia globosaMedium lightFloating0 in (0.1 cm)
Waterweed
Egeria densaMedium lightBackground39.4 in (100 cm)
Willow hygro
Hygrophila salicifoliaMedium lightBackground23.6 in (60 cm)
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