Plants for Small Fish Tanks: 12 Best Options to Choose From

Having a small fish tank comes with its own unique challenges when it comes to decorating and aquascaping. With limited space choosing the right plants can make all the difference in creating an attractive underwater environment.

The good news is that there are many great plant options that thrive in nano tanks and compact aquarium setups By picking varieties that stay small, you can add beauty and interest while keeping a clean, organized look.

In this article, we’ll cover 12 of the best plants for small fish tanks. We’ll look at their key features, care requirements, and how they can transform your petite aquascape.

Anubias Nana Petite

One of the top plants for nano tanks is Anubias Nana Petite. This compact variety of Anubias only grows 3-5 inches tall, making it perfect as a foreground plant. Its lush green leaves add a pop of color against driftwood, rock, or aquarium gravel.

Anubias are some of the easiest aquarium plants to grow. They do fine in low to moderate light and have low nutritional needs. Just attach them to decor instead of planting in substrate. Slow-growing, they rarely need trimming to maintain size.

Bucephalandra

Bucephalandra is another hardy, slow-growing plant that adapts well to small tanks. Its thick leaves come in shades of green, brown, and red depending on variety. Use Bucephalandra to accent hardscape or let it spread across the substrate.

Like Anubias, this plant attaches to surfaces instead of rooting in gravel. It thrives in low to medium light with few to no added nutrients. Bucephalandra stays compact and is less prone to rapid upward growth.

Java Moss

No nano tank plant list is complete without Java Moss. This versatile plant can be grown in a variety of ways Attach it to rocks, wood, or decor to create a natural effect Or let it float at the surface for interest and cover.

Java Moss provides terrific functionality too. Its tangled growth traps debris and helps keep water clean. Fry and baby shrimp use it as protection. Java Moss thrives in low to medium light with little intervention, staying bushy and petite.

Dwarf Hairgrass

Dwarf Hairgrass makes lush green carpets when given sufficient lighting. It sends out runners that spread horizontally, covering the substrate in grassy texture. This foreground plant grows no more than a few inches high when properly trimmed.

Moderate light and added CO2 will encourage Dwarf Hairgrass to grow dense and even. Without enough nutrients or brightness, it may get leggy and struggle. Frequent trimming maintains its petite size and full appearance.

Cryptocoryne Parva

Cryptocoryne Parva is one of the few Crypt species that stays naturally small. It reaches just 2-5 inches in height, producing uniform rows of grassy foliage. This plant does need brighter light than some Crypts to prevent vertical growth.

Place Cryptocoryne Parva front and center for a vivid pop of green. Combine it with other plants like Java Fern or Anubias for contrast in color and texture. Easy to care for, it adds interest without overtaking a small layout.

Marimo Moss Balls

No list of small tank plants would be complete without Marimo Moss Balls. These unusual algae growths form soft, round shapes up to 5 inches in diameter. They make great additions to nano aquariums.

Marimo Moss Balls require only low to moderate light with cool water temperatures. Roll them gently in your hand to encourage a smooth, spherical shape. They grow slowly and add pleasing form and texture without overcrowding the tank.

Rotala Indica

For pops of color, try a red Rotala stem plant variety like Rotala Indica. You can trim stems to keep these plants compact and bushy. Plant several stems together for a denser appearance.

With sufficient light and added CO2, Rotala Indica produces vivid red leaves on green stems. It grows fast, so regular trimming maintains its petite size. Use this plant for striking color highlights in a nano layout.

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo is a stunning carpeting plant for small planted tanks. It forms a lush green mat of foliage that covers the substrate in texture. Monte Carlo rarely exceeds 2 inches in height and spreads readily under ideal conditions.

This plant needs high light and added CO2 to thrive. It can require frequent trimming to control growth and keep its compact shape. With proper care, Monte Carlo makes a gorgeous verdant foreground accent.

Staurogyne Repens

Another first-rate carpet choice is Staurogyne Repens. This fresh green plant produces compact mounds of rounded leaves on creeping stems. It grows just a few inches tall at maturity with a bushy, spreading habit.

Give Staurogyne Repens bright light and added CO2 to encourage dense, even growth. Let it fill out gradually or use trimmings to help it spread faster. The lush foliage looks especially striking contrasted with reddish Aquarium plants.

Alternanthera Reineckii ‘Mini’

Alternanthera Reineckii ‘Mini’ lives up to its name, staying under 6 inches in height. The leaves emerge with a stunning burgundy color that provides bold contrast. It works well as an accent plant in nano aquascapes.

This Alternanthera species needs a nutrient-rich substrate, along with medium to high light and CO2 supplementation. As a slow-growing plant, it’s easy to keep mini Alternanthera trimmed to size as needed.

Anubias Nana

Standard Anubias Nana makes a nice midground plant that typically stays under 6 inches. Its oval green leaves add texture and color contrast when combined with smaller foreground plants.

Anubias Nana attaches to hardscape and is undemanding. It thrives in most lighting conditions. For tiny leaf size, choose Anubias Nana ‘Petite’ which maxes out around 3 inches tall. Both work well to provide height and visual interest.

Java Fern

No list of aquarium plants safe for small tanks is complete without Java Fern. This hardy plant comes in dwarf and standard sizes. It attaches to decor instead of planting in the substrate.

Java Fern is readily available and adapts to a wide range of conditions. Its graceful, deep green fronds contrast nicely with petite plants beneath it. Trim regularly to control size and maintain an orderly look.

Water Wisteria

For quick-growing beauty, add Water Wisteria. This stem plant is easy to prune and keep bushy. Plant several stems to create an attractive green backdrop for small foreground plants.

Water Wisteria needs medium to high light to flourish. Provide added CO2 along with micronutrients for the best color and growth. Even in low tech tanks, this plant can add feminine, flowing appeal that contrasts shorter plants nicely.

Tips for Choosing Plants

When selecting plants for a small tank, focus on species that naturally stay compact. Look for slow growers ideal for nano setups and low tech conditions.

Mix heights, textures, and colors for visual interest. Use tall background plants to give the illusion of depth alongside smaller midground and foreground varieties.

Provide key nutrients through substrate, root tabs, and the water column. Add supplemental CO2 if possible for faster growth and spreading.

Trim plants regularly to encourage bushy, compact shape and prevent overtaking tiny tanks. Remove and replant trimmings to fill in bare spots.

Invest in quality aquarium lighting suited to high tech or low tech setups. Light is crucial for plant growth and promoting vivid coloration.

Group plants in clusters for a clean, organized look. Follow the Rule of Thirds for pleasing aquascape aesthetics. Leave some open space between groupings.

Tiny tanks offer unique challenges for growing aquatic plants, but a myriad of great options are well-suited for nano aquascapes. Focus on compact, slow-growing varieties that you can readily trim and shape as needed.

By mixing complementary colors and textures that stay small, you can create a beautifully balanced underwater oasis even in limited space. With the right plants and care strategies, miniature aquariums can showcase dazzling plant displays.

Nano Plants A-Z