A List of Oxygenating Aquarium Plants

Baby Tears

• The Baby Tear Plant, also called Pearlweed, grows in three varieties. It is native to the United States and Central America and often grown in aquarium farms. One of its varieties, Micranthemum micranthemoids, called Regular Baby Tear, is a spreading plant that attaches itself to the bottom of a tank. The leaves are green and round, and only the size of a fingernail. Two other varieties of Baby Tear appear very similar, but differ in size. The Dwarf Baby Tear and Giant Baby Tear have bright green leaves, unlike the Regular Baby Tear, which has leaves of a murky color. The benefit of growing the Baby Tear in an aquarium is its ability to adapt to the tank without the aid of supporting structures in which to grow.

Elatine gratioloides (Waterwort)

• This variety of oxygenating plant has a striking appearance. Its leaves reach out in a spider webbed pattern along the bottom of the tank. They are almost iridescent green, and tiny tendrils float toward the surface. It is perfect for decoration as well as its unique ability to filter algae.

Didiplis diandra (Water Hedge)

• Didiplis diandra grows thin green filament, like leaves, that are sometimes tinted red. They are different from other oxygenating plants because they can either float, be submerged, or root to the bottom of an aquarium. Didiplis can be invasive, however, and must be trimmed back often not to overwhelm the environment of a tank.

Glossostigma elatinoides (Glossostigma)

• Glossostigma is a somewhat rare oxygenating aquatic plant because it flowers tiny white buds during the warmer months. The leaves are egg-shaped or wedged, and the stems gently sway to the current of an aquarium. Not only are they upright, but also can form a carpet on the bottom of an aquarium. Glossostigma, like Didiplis diandra, also clarify the water in a tank.

Hemianthus callitrichoides (Carpeting Pearl Weed)

• Carpeting Pearl weed is a smaller plant. Its miniature leaves form in bunches of two. Green stems form along the aquarium bottom and the Pearl weed flourishes. Sometimes, however, it can overtake an aquarium like Didiplis diandra (Water Hedge). The leaves and stems must be clipped every month or so. It is classified as a creeper.