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Hello!

If there’s one thing that makes or breaks a soil-based tank, it’s plants.

Finding the right plants for your tank doesn't just mean 'lots and lots of plants', it means finding the right mix of them too. Each type plays a different role in keeping your tank stable and healthy. If we neglect one component, the system can fall out of balance. (For example, filling a soil-based aquarium with epiphytes will end in tears as there is nothing oxygenating the substrate.)

I like to divide plants into four categories, ensuring my tanks have at least one type of each:

• Floating plants to use atmospheric carbon, absorb nutrients, and provide shade
• Root feeders to oxygenate the substrate
• Water column feeders to pull excess nutrients from the water
• Epiphytes and mosses to cover your hardscape and support biofilm.

And if your tank is open-top, there’s a fifth category: hydroponics, growing a houseplant with its roots in the water.

Here are a few species that fit those roles beautifully, especially if you’re just getting started.

Floating Plant — Red Root Floater (Phyllanthus fluitans)

A hardy and rewarding floating plant that is easy to grow. Its small rounded leaves blush red under strong light, and the roots hang below like fine red threads. Red Root Floaters grows fast and provides a contrast to the greens often associated with 'beginner' plants.

Root Feeder — Cryptocoryne wendtii

I love crypts. Cryptocoryne wendtii is reliable (once you've got past any initial melt), unfussy, and grows steadily. It works quietly underground, oxygenating the soil and supporting the bacterial life that keeps a dirted tank stable.

Water Column Feeder — Pearlweed (Hemianthus glomeratus)

Pearlweed is a flexible all-rounder. You can let it form dense green thickets or trim it into a carpet. It’s hardy and fast-growing, which makes it great for soaking up ammonia and excess nutrients when your tank is young and still finding its balance.

Epiphytes and Mosses — Java Moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri)

It’s simple, reliable, and invaluable in low-tech aquariums. Java Moss grows attached to rocks or driftwood, pulling what it needs directly from the water. Its dense structure increases surface area for microorganisms and biofilm to colonise — a foundation for the detritus crew that breaks down waste and recycles nutrients.

Hydroponic Houseplant — Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

If you’ve got an open-top tank, Pothos is a brilliant addition. Add a small cutting to the edge of your tank, and watch as its roots extend down in the water whilst its leaves spill out over the edge. Hydroponic growth rapidly draws out nitrates and gives your setup that lush, overgrown look that blurs the line between tank and room.

Final Thoughts

A soil-based aquarium needs balance. Choosing plants with different functions is what makes that balance possible. These five are a strong foundation for any natural tank: hardy, affordable, and proven to keep systems healthy.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing the full plant chapter from my book, including my approach to figuring out how many plants you actually need. For more practical tips and setup guidance, you can read the first chapters of How to Create an Organic Aquarium for free here, or take a look at the book itself here.

Cheers,

Oli

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