Top 3 Easiest Aquarium Plants for Beginners

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elodeaFor me, there is something special about any aquarium that features thriving plant life. Not only do such tanks look more natural and inspire a greater sense of peace, but they offer their inhabitants a richer environment. Moreover, growing plants produce oxygen and function as a natural “sponge” for nitrogenous waste, which complements your bio-filter as well. Of course, many people struggle with growing aquatic plants, even those with substantial experience. However, there are a few species that I would encourage anyone starting out to try (either together or by themselves) for a greater chance of success. Here they are, in reverse order.

#3:  ANACHARIS (Egeria densa)

Anacharis is found all over the Americas and is probably the most well known and used aquarium plant around the word. Indeed, it is typically the plant of choice for science classrooms during photosynthesis demonstrations as it produces copious amounts of oxygen bubbles when subjected to high light levels.

Anacharis is typically reported as a medium to high-light plant, but I think it grows more sustainably in medium light levels at best. Sure, under bright light it will grow very quickly, but like many other already fast-growing stem plants, it will soon exhaust growth limiting nutrients and trace elements (especially without substantial ongoing fertilization) and then crash and “melt” away (this also happens with hornwort, but much faster).

This plant can be anchored to the bottom with a weight, or allowed to float and drift. In my experience, floating plants tend to grow best, but this may be because they are closer to the light source in such cases.

Regardless how it’s used, it’s a fairly hardy plant and, because it does grow quickly, does well in heavily stocked aquariums where a lot of waste is produced. Like most plants, though, it’s best to start out with a large bunch of the material and let an equilibrium within your tank to be reached (some material will grow and other stems may die depending on light/nutrient levels).

#2:  JAVA FERN (Microsorum pteropus)

Java fern is darn near indestructible, although in poor conditions can be rather ugly or ragged-looking. Still, it is a near bulletproof option for those new to aquatic plants. I thing this plant looks and reacts best to being anchored to rocks or, better yet, driftwood. It can tolerate all sorts of light levels, but in my opinion is better suited to relatively lower light tanks, as it is a slow grower and can be quickly overtaken by algae under higher light conditions.

At any rate, it’s very hard to go wrong with Java Fern and I recommend trying a few plants as their long, broad leaves are a nice complement to virtually any aquarium.

#1:  JAVA MOSS (Vesicularia dubyana)

OK, this is my all time favorite newbie plant species and possibly my favorite aquatic plant of all time, period. For the sake of convenience, I am also including in this discussion a myriad of other loosely related mosses as well, which in large part can be cared for similarly.

Java Moss is a relatively cool water plant, but can also do well in typical tropical warm water aquariums. It is a very slow-growing plant (when not subjected to high light and CO2 injection) and can be floated or attached to the substrate, rocks or driftwood.

In my opinion, Java Moss and it’s relatives grow and look the best when attached to driftwood. Basically, you can wrap the moss around any sinking driftwood with thin fishing line and just let it go. This moss should do well under even weak lighting, but don’t push your luck. For example, if you have a 10 gallon tank that’s illuminated by a 15-watt or similar weak florescent tube, make sure to leave the light on for at least a few hours a day. If, on the other hand, your tank is situated right next to a bright window (your tank should never receive direct sunlight), then you might be able to get away with no supplemental light all.

If using Java Moss as a spawning medium or hideout for baby fish (for which it’s perfect) or freshwater shrimp, floating the stuff is fine, and the moss will spread throughout your tank’s water column. And if it starts to get a little crowded, just remove some and move it to another tank, or sell/give some away. Further, if you’ve got a terrarium with land areas that are constantly moist, Java Mass will grow terrestrially too, and form a beautiful green carpet. Truly wonderful stuff.

Marineland PC-ml360 C-360 Review

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Marineland’s PC-ml360 / C-360 canister filter offers solid performance and value for freshwater or saltwater tanks up to 100 gallons in size.

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Marineland has been putting out great aquarium products for a very long time, and the C-360 is no exception. The specs on this unit are solid: a certified flow rate of 360 gallons per hour, a “no-bypass” type media tray design, and a three stage filtration system.

The C-series canisters, including the C-360, are among Marineland’s heavy hitters in terms of biological filtration. Among other things, they come equipped with Marineland’s “BIO-Filter Balls,” which are designed to grow lots and lots of beneficial bacteria – i.e., the microorganisms that do the work of breaking down ammonia produced by fish into less harmful compounds.  In addition, the C-360 has a unique tray design that does not permit water to bypass the filter media. This “no bypass” feature therefore ensures that 100% of your tank’s water comes into contact with the filter media, where it can be treated. Given this very efficient and complete filtration, the C-360 is a good choice for handling high-bioload tanks.

In terms of operation and reliability, users report that the C-360 runs quietly and is easy to maintain. Moreover, it results in very clean water. However, with canister filters in general, you should routinely check the output flow – if the flow reduces significantly, it most likely means that you will need to clean the pre-filter or other media to maintain optimal performance of the unit.

As usual, Marineland offers reliable customer service, a good instruction manual, and a DVD guide with each purchase to get the unit up and running quickly. Regardless, the C-360 is not a complicated unit to understand and operate.  As such, it is a great canister filter for those transitioning from hang on back (“HOB”) models, or for those that simply want an easy to use and reliable canister that gets the job done.

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Aquatop CF500UV Review

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Aquatop’s CF500UV 5-Stage Canister Filter with 9 watt UV Sterilizer is one heck of a powerful filter for modest the price of this unit.

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Aquatop has been a relatively recent addition to the aquarium hobby, but has continued to raise the bar in terms of the value it delivers in its filtration equipment. Indeed, the CF500UV canister has the specifications you would normally find in an expensive external unit: a 5-stage filtration system; a 525 gallon per hour pump; a 9-watt UV sterilizer; a self-priming mechanism; and a large filter housing (18 inches by 12 inches by 11 inches) that can hold lots of media.

The 9 watt UV sterilizer itself is a fantastic feature. UV sterilizers are intended to eliminate unsightly or harmful organisms suspended in your tank water, such as bacteria, algae and parasites. As such, this is a fantastic feature for battling the dreaded “green water” problem that plagues so many fish tanks. Green water is really just a suspended algae that takes advantage of high light levels and available nutrients in the water. It can be a really nasty problem, especially if you have fish that produce lots of waste and/or strong lighting, or natural light shining on your tank.

In addition to the built-in sterilizer, the CF500UV is a great buy simply because it is very large and has a strong flow rate.  The heavy lifting of any filter is in its capacity to provide lots of surface area and flow to support beneficial bacteria which are responsible for breaking down fish waste (i.e., ammonia) into less harmful compounds.  With the CF500UV, you can use a lot of biological media, including some DIY materials if you care to, such as pad scrubbers, lava rock, etc.

Moreover, the consensus from the many happy users is that the unit is easy to set up and use, and it runs silently. Believe me, the value of silent operation cannot be understated!

All in all, Aquatop’s CF500UV canister filter is a super deal given its low price tag. If you need a large canister filter with UV sterilization capability for a tank up to 175 gallons in size, and cannot afford to go for the more expensive brands, the CF500UV is a very good option that seems to be delivering serious bang for the buck.

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Fluval 406 External Filter Review

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Hagen’s Fluval 406 canister filter is the “Mercedes” line of external filters, and comes with a superior design and craftsmanship, which shows in its durability, silent operation and performance.

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The 406 model is suitable for fresh or saltwater aquariums up to 100 gallons in size. It is equipped with a full set of mechanical, chemical and biological filter media, and the unit employs an advanced, instant priming system that is intended for quick startup. It also it comes with a clog-proof intake stringer, a pre-filter foam screen and sound-dampening impeller design, which is intended to make the unit run silently.

The 406, like the 06 line generally, has also benefited from Hagen’s development of a more powerful motor and a high media holding capacity.  Hagen reports that this series holds 35-50 percent more volume than round canisters of a similar size.  Moreover, the use of the Bio-Foam material in the 406, which functions as a secondary layer of mechanical and biological filtration, increases filter performance and extends the life of filter carbon and filter pads, thereby simultaneously reducing the frequency of maintenance.  If you have every cleaned out a bunch of canister filters before, you will really appreciate this improvement!

Fluval certainly does not need positive publicity.  Over the many years it has been in business, Fluval has built up — I should say earned — an iconic reputation in the aquarium hobby for producing the best filters on the market. I can’t say this wasn’t earned. The Fluval 406 is as solid a piece of manufacturing you are going to find, and it is easily worth the higher price relative to other brands when you consider this model’s performance, silent operation and durability.  Even the higher quality small parts, like couplings, hoses, gaskets, etc., are worth the extra price.  Trust me, I’ve had several canisters that ran fine, until small parts broke or snapped off that couldn’t be replaced.

In a nutshell, if you are looking for a canister filter that performs and is built to last as very long time, then the Fluval 406 is definitely my pick for any fresh or saltwater aquarium up to 100 gallons.

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EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10 ES Review

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The EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10 ES is simply the best propeller pump we have reviewed for nano reefs up to 50 gallons in size, and is therefore well worth its considerable price tag.

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Serious reef enthusiasts understand that water movement is extremely important towards maintaining a healthy, growing reef community. Corals and other sessile reef organisms necessarily depend on strong and varied currents to bring them food and remove waste.  As such, pockets of slow water can create diffusion dead spots, which can dramatically reduce the uptake of oxygen and nutrients, which in turn can lead to sluggish growth and polyp expansion of your reef inhabitants.

The EcoTech Marine VorTech series is unquestionably the gold standard in propeller pumps and for good reason. Simply put, the MP10 ES moves a lot of water around for its small size of 2.5″ inches in diameter by 2 inches long. It produces a minimum / maximum flow rate of 200 and 1,575 gallons per hour, respectively, yet draws a mere 8-18 watts, respectively.

The MP10 ES is also extremely programmable, boasting various operational modes, including, among others: 1) constant speed mode; 2) feed mode; 2) reef crest mode; 4) lagoon mode; 5) short pulse mode; 6) long pulse mode; 7) night mode; and 8) tidal swell mode.  All of these and its other operational modes make for a highly controllable and versatile wavemaker/ current generator, which creates exceptional water movement and goes far towards mimicking a natural, turbulent reef environment in which your coral can thrive.

The EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10 ES is certainly not an inexpensive propeller pump.  However, it is not designed to be.  As noted, given the crtical importance of strong and varied water movement, we believe that this is clearly the most effective pump out there for nano reef applications, and is definitely well worth its price for those seeking maximum growth and vigor of their coral reef inhabitants.

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Fluval G3 Review

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The Fluval G3 is for the truly demanding aquarium enthusiast who wants a Cadillac-quality filter with some of the most intelligent features on the market today.

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Hagen’s launch of the Fulval G series was nothing short of epic, and just by looking at it you can see why. However, under the hood, the Fluval G3 really packs some of the most intelligent features we’ve ever reviewed, including an IPod style LCD screen, push button navigation, and a “HydroTech” intelligent monitoring system, which provides 48 days of flow rate and conductivity data, and 8-days’ worth of temperature charting. All of this is in addition to, of course, generous biological, chemical and mechanical media trays, a high quality, dual drive coil pump, premium fittings, and an extremely well-built filter casing, all of which is wrapped up in a housing that is built more to be displayed rather than hid under a tank stand!  The G3 series is suited for fresh or saltwater aquariums up to 80 gallons in size.

The Fluval G3′s bells and whistles surrounding its self-monitoring capability may seem at first overboard. However, for the serious aquarium enthusiast, this is very good data that can help dial in and maintain a narrow window of preferred temperature and water parameters.

In addition, the constant monitoring and display of flow rates is particularly useful in that it allows the user to identify even the slightest clogging of the media. As such, you can always detect and remedy situations when the filter is not running at full potential.  And Hagen has made cleaning of the G3 very easy by housing the mechanical pre-filter and chemical filter media in cartridges that can be accessed from the top of the unit.  This avoids the usual chore of disassembling the whole filter and disturbing all of the media trays.

We can go on and on about all of the high tech aspects of this filter, but, sufficed to say, the Fluval G3 covers all of the traditional aspects of power filtration, and then takes it to the next level with its data monitoring system and display. In conclusion, while all of these features are not necessary in a canister filter, if what you seek is the height of aquarium technology in an undeniably sleek design that you could proudly display along with your tank, the Hagen’s Fluval G3 is your filter.

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biUbe Pure Review

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The biUbe Pure Aquarium Kit with its 24-hour programmable LED light is a very stylish and cutting edge aquarium package that can add instant life to any room in the home or office.

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The biUbe aquarium kit line follows the popular biOrb model and, like its predecessor, is a very sleek, self-contained aquarium, which comes complete with all the accessories you need to keep and display small freshwater aquarium fish, including a 5-stage filtration system, aquarium gravel, an airpump, water treatment chemicals, and instruction booklet. This nine gallon model, however, presents a dramatic cylinder-shape, rather than the orb style of the biOrb.

Notably, this biUbe Pure unit also comes with a slim-line LED light that can be programmed to simulate a 24 hour light cycle. This is a tremendously cool, high-tech feature that makes the biUbe even that much more interesting while it is illuminated at different times of the day and night.

With a capacity of 9 gallons, you have significant flexibility in choosing fish for the biUbe.  However, as this tank has relatively little horizontal floor space given its cylindrical shape, I would recommend sticking with small live-bearing or schooling fish, like guppies, mollies, platys, tetras, rasboras, danios, etc. Of course, whatever you do, always be careful to cycle your tank (i.e., break in its filter) before adding fish to avoid “new tank syndrome.”  If you don’t know what I am referring to, please be sure to discuss this with your local pet store before you add any fish.

Like the biOrb, I really like the biUbe Pure. Its an interesting design that provides a nice environment for the fish and also fits in with a contemporary home or office.  Its also easy to set up and run for people with little or no experience. Further, with its LED light fixture, this tank will really pop and cast an attractive glow wherever it is situated.

Just as a thought, this would be a terrific setup to use with small schooling fish, like hardy danios or tetras, along with some small bottom feeder fish such as corydoras. Alternatively, you could house a single goldfish or two, but you should take care stick with small varieties.  Regardless of which fish you choose though, this set up will be sure to draw some attention from your friends and relatives, and you may find yourself spending a lot of time zoning out on your little aquatic realm.  Hey, but that’s what aquariums are for in the first place!

In a nutshell, the biUbe Pure is a very cool aquarium kit with a cutting edge LED light fixture, which also makes a wonderful gift for the new or experienced aquarium enthusiast.

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biOrb Silver Aquarium Kit Review

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The biOrb Silver Aquarium Kit makes a very interesting and self-contained aquatic conversation piece for any room in the home or office.

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The concept of the biOrb tanks is to provide the user with a self-contained, bowl-type aquarium, which utilizes a modern lighting and filtration system that is built-in to an attractive, contemporary design. This they have done.

The biOrb Silver Aquarium Kit is not just a fish bowl -  it comes with all of the more advanced features you’d look for in an aquarium kit:  an 8-gallon acryclic tank, a hood with a halogen light fixture, a five-stage filteration system, gravel, an airpump, water treatment chemicals and an instruction booklet.

Now, with any aquarium kit, one must respect the size and capactiy of the tank. For an 8 gallon tank, I would recommend some small livebearing or schooling fish, like guppies, mollies, platys, tetras, rasboras, danios, etc., or at most two or three larger fish, like smaller goldfish varieties. In any event, makes sure that your biOrb’s filter is properly cycled (i.e., mature with beneficial bacteria) before you go and put fish into it.  If you do not understand this or are not familiar with cycling a tank, please make sure to discuss this with someone at your local pet store before purchasing fish.

I really like the biOrb Silver Aquarium Kit, and biOrb line in general, because it opens up fish keeping to an audience that is desirous of a slightly more stylish kit, which functions not only to display the fish, but also to provide a piece of interesting home decor.  I suspect this is why the biOrb has received such rave reviews from users. It is also a great choice because it offers lots of options in terms of inhabitants. For example, I can easily see a very attractive biOrb kit setup with a half dozen cardinal or neon tetras and a few corydoras catfish – you can’t do that in a conventional fish bowl!

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Penn Plax Cascade 1500 Review

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The Penn Plax Cascade 1500 canister filter offers top-notch quality, power and performance typically found only in much higher-end models.

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The Cascade 1500 is suitable for fresh or saltwater and comes equipped with a pump rated at 350 gallons per hour, which makes it suitable for tanks up to 200 gallons.  However, it can be used on much smaller tanks well. Indeed, the main consideration in selecting a filter is the bioload of the tank. For example, a 30 gallon turtle tank will product a lot of waste and therefore necessitate the power of a larger-capacity canister filter like the 1500.

The Cascade 1500 delivers the standard mechanical, chemical and biological filtration that you’d expect from a good canister filter via large filter media trays, and it primes with a simple push button feature. The package includes all of the accessories and hoses needed to get the 1500 started, and the unit can be easily manipulated with its 360-degree rotational values to accommodate various placements beneath the tank or in cabinet stand. As far as the filter media, the unit comes with some start-up material, but the canister can accept all types of media material, including floss and even DIY media (e.g., lava rock) if that is desired.

Penn Plax has been producing solid products, including canister filters, for the aquarium hobby for a very long time. It has not disappointed with this more powerful Cascade 1500 model.  This canister filter has received high praise from the hobby given its performance, durability and silent operation. Moreover, it is a very easy canister filter to set and maintain. Maintenance, in particular, is critical to make any canister run at optimal levels. Making this chore less tedious is therefore a very important feature.

In sum, I would place this filter along side pretty much any other canister in its field, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a dependable and no-frills alternative to some of the more exotic – and expensive – names out there.

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TaoTronics TT-AL09 Dimmable 120 watt LED Review

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TaoTronics has produced a top-notch dimmable reef LED light that generates beautiful and well-balanced light, which is designed for optimum growth of your coral.

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This TT-AL09 unit is a serious fixture for the reef enthusiast. It uses a series of 3 watt, Bridgelux brand LEDs, 28 of which are royal blue (450-470nm wavelength), and 27 of which are cool white (12,000-14,000K). The fixture is equipped with separate dimmer knobs, cords and switches for the blue and white LEDs, which provides lots of flexibility as far as creating various moods and intensities. And there are three lighting modes to chose from: 1) blue on, white off; 2) blue off, white on; and 3) blue on, white on. With both the blue and white LEDs on, the fixture draws approximately 120 watts of power. It also has 3, built-in 0.1 amp fans and 2 aluminum heat sinks to make sure it runs cool to the touch and silently. The TT-AL09 is rated to illuminate an area of roughly 4.85 square feet.

This unit is a great choice for featuring/growing your seaweeds, corals, fish, clams or mushrooms. And with its LED technology, you will avoid the money trap associated with typical HID reef lighting. Indeed, conventional HID fixtures generate tons of unwanted heat and usually necessitate expensive chiller equipment and/or loud fans to cool the units and your reef inhabitants. This expenditure can easily surpass the cost of your fixture outright, or in time due to your mounting electricity bills.

The TT-AL09 also is a safer and much longer lasting alternative to T5 or other fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent bulbs generally lose much of their punch after about a year of use. As such, you will most likely need to replace them annually. With the TT-AL09, its LEDs are rated to last over 50,000 hours – so you most likely will never need to replace them. Moreover, you will not encounter the hazardous chemical Mercury in its LEDs, as you will in fluorescent fixtures.

In short, if you are looking for a energy-efficient, long-lasting, safe, and powerful light source that produces beautiful and enriching light for your reef tank, the TaoTronics TT-AL09 Dimmable LED Grow Light is an excellent, cutting edge choice.

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