Aquarium Adviser

Your Best Resource for Aquarium Supplies

  • Aquarium Filter
    • Canister Filter
    • Power Filter
    • HOB Filter
    • Turtle Tank Filter
    • Betta Filter
  • Led Aquarium Light
    • LED Lighting for Reef Tanks
    • LED Lights for Planted Tank
    • Aquarium Light Timer
  • Protein Skimmer
    • HOB Protein Skimmer
    • Nano Protein Skimmer
  • Pump
  • Fish Tank
    • Betta Fish Tanks
    • Nano Reef Tank
    • 20 Gallon Aquarium Kit
    • Fish Tank Guide
  • Reviews
    • Aquarium Filter Reviews
      • Fluval FX4 Review
      • Fluval FX6 Aquarium Canister Filter Review
      • Fluval 306 Canister Filter Review
      • Fluval External Filter 406 Review
      • Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter Review
      • SunSun HW304B 370GPH Pro Canister Filter Kit Review
      • EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter Review
      • Hydor Professional External Canister Filter Review
      • Cascade 1000 Canister Filter Review
    • LED Aquarium Lights Review
      • Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light Review
      • Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Light Review
      • Current USA Orbit Marine Pro LED Review
      • Finnex Planted+ 24/7 Fully Automated Aquarium LED Review
      • Finnex FugeRay Planted Aquarium LED Light Plus Moonlights Review
      • Galaxyhydro LED 55x3w Dimmable 165w Full Spectrum LED Review
      • Beamswork EA Timer FSPEC LED Aquarium Light Review
      • Koval 156 LED Aquarium Light Review
    • Protein Skimmer Reviews
      • SCA 302 Skimmer Review
    • Aquarium Heater Reviews
      • Hydor External Heater Review
    • Aquarium Air Pump Reviews
      • Tetra Whisper Air Pump Review
    • Reef Salt – Salt for Reef Tank
    • Coral Food
    • Turtle Food
    • Betta Fish Food
    • Cichlid Food
    • Tropical Fish Food
    • Aquarium Sand
    • Aquarium Water Conditioner
    • Substrate for Planted Tank
    • Substrate for Betta Tank
    • Sand for Reef Tank
    • Aquarium Gravel
    • Aquarium Plant Fertilizer
  • Equipment
    • Aquarium Heater
    • Aquarium Thermometer
    • Auto Top Off System
    • Aquarium Wave Maker
    • Aquarium Powerhead
    • Automatic Fish Feeder
    • Aquarium Chiller
    • UV Sterilizer
    • Aquarium CO2 Regulator
    • Aquarium Air Stone
    • Aquarium Filter Media
    • Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner
    • Aqueon & Python Water Changer
  • Blog
Home » Blog » The 10 Live Saltwater Aquarium Plants – Guide & Care

The 10 Live Saltwater Aquarium Plants – Guide & Care

January 20, 2020 7 Comments

Share this...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr

The 10 Live Saltwater Aquarium Plants - Guide & Care

Saltwater aquariums can be challenging but they’re not as difficult as one might think.

With a little bit of research and thoughtful planning, you can build a thriving ecosystem that’s fun to watch and makes a beautiful addition to your home.

While it’s easy to focus on the fish and other creatures you want to add to your tank, don’t forget to put some time into choosing the right plants, too.

In order to create a natural-looking saltwater tank, you need the right combination of saltwater aquarium plants and animals.

Table of Contents

  • The 10 Best Saltwater Aquarium Plants
    • 1. Red Mangrove Propagule
    • 2. Halimeda
    • 3. Dragon’s Tongue Algae
    • 4. Green Finger Algae
    • 5. Red Gracilaria Algae
    • 6. Turtle Grass Shoots
    • 7. Mermaid’s Fan
    • 8. Tufted Joint Algae
    • 9. Blue Hypnea Algae
    • 10. Shaving Bush Plant
  • Saltwater Aquarium Plants Guide & Care
    • Choosing the Right Plants
    • General Care Guidelines
  • Conclusion

The 10 Best Saltwater Aquarium Plants

There are a lot of great saltwater plants to choose from but here are ten of the best:

1. Red Mangrove Propagule

Red Mangrove Propagule

In the tropical oceans of the world, Red Mangrove trees reproduce in two ways, by forming large seeds or producing a propagule.

While mangrove seeds don’t do too well in an aquarium environment, propagules are much hardier and are a unique addition to the tank.

Propagules are usually about six to eight inches long and resemble a tall candle. It can be planted in sand or between rocks. With proper lighting, the roots take hold quickly. This plant helps lower nitrates but may require iron supplements.

2. Halimeda

Halimeda Plant

Because they’re found in oceans across the world, the Halimeda plant fits into just about any environment.

This attractive plant has irregular oval-shaped leaves that resemble coins that look as if they’ve been glued together in a single chain. It’s also known as the Money Plant.

These plants are pretty hardy in an environment with enough light and calcium but don’t tolerate high nitrate well. Most fish don’t like to eat them and they’re not invasive so they get along well with most other living creatures.

3. Dragon’s Tongue Algae

Dragon's Tongue Algae

This gorgeous plant adds a pop of bright orange color to your tank and has an interesting texture for even more visual interest. Plus, it’s effective at improving water quality by oxygenating the water and filtering excessive nutrients.

In the right conditions, this plant is a fast grower and should be anchored to rockwork for best results. This isn’t a good choice for tanks with large herbivores unless you’re looking for a food source for them. That said, it’s great in a nano reef tank and a good fit with seahorses.

4. Green Finger Algae

Green Finger Algae

Green Finger Algae is a gorgeous decorative plant that’s deep, bright green color is a welcome addition to any aquarium. It’s a lush, dense plant that’s easy to care for and adds a bit of softness to newly established tanks.

Most herbivores aren’t interested in Green Finger Algae so it’s compatible with most tank inhabitants. This alga also provides natural filtration and oxygenation to help keep the tank clean and healthy.

5. Red Gracilaria Algae

Red Gracilaria Algae

If you’re having a difficult time keeping the nutrients balanced in your tank, consider adding a red Gracilaria.

This plant is extremely effective at keeping excess nutrients from building up and can help get rid of invasive algae growth.

This is a great plant for a refugium because it can be harvested and fed to plant-eating fish in the main tank. It’s a great fit for the main tank, too, just be sure to anchor it to a rock or other firm surface where it can root and gain stability.

6. Turtle Grass Shoots

Turtle Grass Shoot

This simple-looking plant is actually really fun to watch. Each plant comes from a strong runner with new growth constantly sprouting from the ends. It needs a sandy substrate about six inches deep with enough space to spread its roots.

Turtle Grass shoots require strong light for about ten hours a day and need a month or two to get established when transplanted from one environment to another.

Once it’s acclimated, small fish, seahorses, and invertebrates like to hang around in the broad leaves.

7. Mermaid’s Fan

Mermaid’s Fan

The Mermaid’s Fan is a tropical plant that grows throughout the Caribbean. It has a short stem that can be planted in substrate or live rock and a fan-shaped, rounded leaf. Most fish don’t feed on them so they’re a good fit for most aquariums.

These plants may be a little tricky for beginners. While they’re hardy in the right environment, they need calcium to grow and aren’t very tolerant of elevated nitrate and phosphate levels. They grow to about four inches tall and shouldn’t be pruned excessively.

8. Tufted Joint Algae

Tufted Joint Algae

For a plant that looks cool and helps to maintain a healthy aquarium, Tufted Joint Algae is a great choice. It’s a small, segmented green plant with small tufts at the end of each branch that looks like it came from prehistoric times.

This plant oxygenates the water and helps balance the nitrogen cycle, though it doesn’t do well in environments with high nitrates or phosphates. It should be anchored to a reef and requires moderate light and water flow for best results.

9. Blue Hypnea Algae

Blue Hypnea Algae

One of the most unique plants you can add to a saltwater tank is Blue Hypnea Algae. It has a beautiful iridescent blue color that adds a lot of visual interest. It’s very dense but grows slowly in matted clumps.

This plant requires coarse substrates for strong root development and high spectrum lighting for optimal color development. It helps absorb nitrates and phosphates and makes a great home for small shrimp and other aquarium inhabitants.

10. Shaving Bush Plant

Shaving Bush Plant

These hardy looking plants have a long stalk with long leaves that resemble a large pipe-cleaner.

They’re great at controlling excess nutrients, particularly nitrates and phosphate. They should be planted in an area of the tank with good light exposure for best results.

Most plant-eating fish will leave the shaving bush plant alone, though if you have urchins in your tank, they may consume it. Another thing to consider is these plants may require an iron supplement.

Saltwater Aquarium Plants Guide & Care

Most people might assume that keeping fish in a saltwater aquarium is difficult without giving much thought to the plants. Like anything living in a confined, artificial environment, saltwater aquarium plants require proper care.

A saltwater aquarium must be maintained so both fish and plant life thrive but it’s not always easy to create a perfectly balanced ecosystem. Here are some things to keep in mind to build a welcoming ecosystem for your saltwater aquarium plants.

Choosing the Right Plants

When putting together your saltwater aquarium, it’s important to choose the right mix of plants. This usually involves a little bit of research because there are a few different things to consider.

First, make sure the plants are going to fit in with the rest of the tank inhabitants. Will they accept the plant? Will the plant be aggressive toward them?

When choosing fish, it’s a little easier to determine whether or not certain species will get along. Basically, you have to know if the fish are aggressive or if they’ll eat the other fish. But what about plants? How do you determine if a plant is a good fit?

One of the most important things is to make sure that all the plants you choose are healthy. Sick plants have organisms that can aggressively attack other plants or release chemicals into the water that throw off the balance of the whole tank.

On the other hand, there are ways the environment could be aggressive to the plant as well. If the plant is healthy but there are fish or other inhabitants that like to eat the leaves, dig up the roots, or there isn’t enough carbon dioxide, the plant won’t survive.

You also have to consider the chemical balance. This includes not only the artificial carbon dioxide injection but other parameters, too, like ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite.

While these are the same chemicals you’re already monitoring for your fish, a saltwater aquarium should be balanced to benefit the plants and animal life. If the ecosystem is working well, the plants and fish should work together to help maintain the right balance.

Finally, think about the temperature and lighting that your plants and fish need. Because you’re always trying to replicate a natural environment, a somewhat constant temperature is important. Water temperatures don’t have wide fluctuations in the wild.

Of course, it’s also important to maintain the appropriate temperature as well. If it’s too hot or too cold, the entire ecosystem suffers.

Appropriate lighting is essential, too. Plants need the right amount of light for photosynthesis. Without it, they won’t release the oxygen needed to balance the rest of the ecosystem and will eventually die.

General Care Guidelines

Even if you put together the perfect balance of saltwater aquarium plants and fish, tank maintenance is still very important. While this list is not all-inclusive, here are some basic care and maintenance recommendations.

  • Perform daily inspections. Look for any inhabitants that may be sick or injured. This applies to both animals and plants. Remove any floating debris and top off the water if needed.
  • Keep up with water changes. Algae is a common problem in any aquarium and regular water changes are one way to keep it under control. Replace about 25 percent of the water every two weeks or so.
  • Check the water chemistry regularly. Some people do this every day to make sure that nothing is out of balance but once a week should be enough. Checking the chemistry frequently is the best way to catch a problem early when it’s easier to fix.
  • Change the filter once a month, if necessary. If you have a lot of inhabitants in your tank with a heavy bioload, it’s important to check and replace the filter monthly.

When it comes to maintaining your saltwater aquarium, remember that it’s easier to take care of problems when they first arise than to wait until they get more difficult to control. Monitoring your aquarium carefully helps your plants and animals stay strong and healthy.

Conclusion

Saltwater plants are an essential part of any thriving marine aquarium. The right plants not only improve the look of your tank, but they can also help keep the water chemistry balanced and provide food for plant-eating animals.

It’s important to choose plants that fit with the rest of the living inhabitants of the tank, including fish, invertebrates, and other plants. The wrong plant can wreak havoc on a thriving tank or quickly be eaten or destroyed.

Finally, remember to perform regular maintenance checks and makes adjustments when necessary. It’s always easier to take care of problems when they’re caught early.

Adding the right plants to a saltwater tank really makes a difference in the water quality and creates an environment that more closely resembles one in nature. A little bit of research and planning goes a long way.

See also:

18 Best Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Beginners

More From Aquarium Adviser:
  • Benefits of Live Plants in Aquarium
    Benefits of Live Plants in Aquarium
  • How to Correctly Take Care of a Saltwater Fish Tank
    How to Correctly Take Care of a Saltwater Fish Tank
  • Why Are My Aquarium Plants Turning Brown?
    Why Are My Aquarium Plants Turning Brown?
  • 8 Fast Growing Aquarium Plants
    8 Fast Growing Aquarium Plants
  • How to Grow Plants in Your Aquarium
    How to Grow Plants in Your Aquarium
  • How to Plant Aquarium Plants in Gravel
    How to Plant Aquarium Plants in Gravel
  • Temperature for Fish Tanks - All You Need To Know
    Temperature for Fish Tanks - All You Need To Know
  • 15 Cold Water Aquarium Fish - Types of, Set up & Care
    15 Cold Water Aquarium Fish - Types of, Set up & Care
  • How Long Should You Wait to Put Betta Fish in a New Tank?
    How Long Should You Wait to Put Betta Fish in a New Tank?

Blog

Comments

  1. Griff says

    at

    Thanku!!! I’ve been looking for this type of article for a year!

    Reply
  2. Anne says

    at

    There is a glaring omission: these plants are for aquarium use ONLY!
    Duck weed got into the water system here, ponds and streams- and the water utility tells me the only hope of getting rid of it is a hard extended freeze. That doesn’t happen every year in the Pacific Northwest.
    Duck weed (or mosquito fern as I have been told this one is- duckweed is a generic term) has created a carpet on the pong and streams.
    The ducks are disappearing because they can’t swim easily through it.
    The frogs,other amphibians and fish will die as the bio-mass doubles in under 48 hours.
    This is the result of an aquarium being emptied into the stream/pond.
    This is an ecological disaster which is not even alluded to in this article.

    Reply
    • Dee says

      at

      These are all marine algaes not freshwater plants, which wont survive in fresh water. While I agree any type of aquarium should never be dumped into any water source because invasive plants and fish to diseases carried by those plants/fish/invertebrates you dont need to be rude. Frogbit has a place in eco systems but you can’t only blame uneducated or ignorant people for the whole crisis. Duckweed thrives in polluted bodies of water soaking up toxins like nitrates quickly, if grown cleanly it makes a super nutritious food, ask the ducks they and some species of fish love to eat it, however with humans polluting water sources with things like agricultural fertilizers these plants have a way to get a foot hold in an environment they are not native to. Yes I get your upset about this potentially invasive plant but most places it grows naturally you just dont see much of it because it is kept in check by the natural cycle. Maybe you should have read the article before bashing it as these marine “plants” which are actually algaes are not the same

      Reply
  3. Rebecca Gardner says

    at

    Thanks for explaining that Halimeda plants can survive in oceans all around the world, making them a good option for home aquariums. My husband and I really want to have a large saltwater aquarium installed in our living room since we both love animals and think it would go a long way in making the space more classy. I like the idea of incorporating plants as well as fish, so thanks for sharing this info about plants that can thrive in aquarium environments!

    Reply
  4. Trish says

    at

    Can one add plants ‘in the beginning’ when setting up a saltwater tank? or do you have to wait a bit?
    Our 40gal is about 3 months old.
    thanks!

    Reply
    • Rosa says

      at

      Where can I buy those plants

      Reply
  5. James Kaempf says

    at

    Very helpful in choosing new plants for my aquarium . Thank You

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Articles

What Fish Can Live With Goldfish? – 8 Goldfish Tank Mates List

62 Comments

How Often Should You Feed a Betta Fish?

59 Comments

How Often Should You Feed Goldfish? How Much?

40 Comments

10 Best Nano Saltwater Fish For Your Nano Reef Tank

39 Comments

The 10 Best Plants for Freshwater Aquarium

34 Comments

Recent Posts

  • How Often to Change Carbon Filter in Fish Tank?
  • Preparing RO Water for Freshwater Aquarium
  • Where to Place Wavemaker in Freshwater Aquarium
  • How Long Should You Wait to Put Betta Fish in a New Tank?
  • Where to Place Air Stone in an Aquarium?

Recent Comments

  • Margot Anderson on 15 Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium
  • cichlid on The Best Aquarium Plant Fertilizer for Plant Growth & Safe for Fish in 2022
  • Leeanne Lewis on The Truth About UV Sterilizers in Aquariums
  • Julian Frost on How to Clean Sand in Aquarium?
  • Athur on The Best Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner for Sand and Gravel Cleaning in 2022

Aquariumadviser.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
We do not specifically market to children under 13.

About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms | Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

DMCA.com Protection Status

© Copyright 2016-2022, Aquarium Adviser · All Rights Reserved