7 Easy Carpeting Plants For Low-Tech Planted Aquariums - No CO2 And No Expensive Lighting Required!

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PLANT LIST (In Order Shown In Video)
🌿 Helanthium Tenellum Green
🌿 Moss
🌿 Littorella Uniflora
🌿 Marsilea Hirsuta
🌿 Dwarf Sagittaria
🌿 Monte Carlo
🌿 Eleocharis parvula

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7 Easy Carpeting Plants For Low-Tech Planted Aquariums - No CO2 And No Expensive Lighting Required!

Looking for the best carpeting plants for your low-tech aquarium setup? In this video, I’m sharing my real-world experience growing some of the easiest carpeting plants available for planted tanks. These options are perfect for fish keepers using low-powered lighting, skipping CO2 injection, and avoiding liquid fertilizers—ideal for beginners or anyone wanting a low-maintenance planted aquarium.

Everything in this video comes from personal experience in my own tanks—not just theory or what you’d find on aquarium plant profile pages. You’ll see how each plant performs under different conditions, from lighting intensity to substrate choice and water temperature.

My top pick is Helanthium tenellum ‘Green’, previously known as Echinodorus tenellus. It’s a fast-growing carpeting plant that spreads through runners and forms a dense mat over time. I’ve had excellent success growing it in my 12-gallon White Cloud Mountain Minnow tank using Fluval Stratum aquasoil and a budget-friendly Hygger light. Even in an unheated tank, this aquatic plant has shown impressive resilience and growth.

Moss carpets are another low-tech favorite. Instead of attaching moss like Java Moss or Taiwan Moss to wood or rocks, I anchor it to stainless steel mesh or 3D-printed mats and place it right on the substrate. This method works across various setups, regardless of whether you use aquasoil, dirt, or gravel. It’s an easy way to add visual interest to the foreground of your fish tank without needing a nutrient-rich substrate.

Littorella uniflora is a cold-water carpeting plant that does particularly well in room-temperature planted aquariums. Native to northern Europe—including the UK—it’s perfect for unheated tanks. Its growth habit is similar to Helanthium tenellum, but its thicker leaf shape gives it a distinct look. I’ve been growing it in a 29-gallon Medaka fry tank, and it’s adapted well even during winter months.

Another unique addition is Marsilea hirsuta, a clover-shaped aquatic plant that grows slowly but reliably in low-tech setups. I’m currently keeping it in a 25-liter Celestial Pearl Danio tank, and although growth is slow, it remains healthy and adds a unique texture to the aquascape.

Dwarf Sagittaria is a bit of a wildcard—it can either stay compact or grow tall depending on the lighting conditions. In tanks with 27–29 lumens per liter, I’ve seen height variations from 2 inches to 6 inches, making it more suitable for medium or larger planted tanks where its unpredictability isn’t an issue.

I also touch on my experiences with Monte Carlo, which initially grew well for me but later melted due to poor tank planning and competition for CO2. I’m now retrying it in a stronger-lit, better-balanced tank and hoping for better success. It’s a beautiful carpeting plant when conditions are right, but a bit more sensitive than other low-tech options.

Finally, I discuss Eleocharis parvula—often marketed as an easy carpeting option. While it’s hardy and survives well, its extremely slow growth makes it less rewarding in a low-tech environment. It took over a year to fill in a small shrimp tank despite consistent lighting and water parameters. I’d recommend it only if you’re patient or willing to invest in lots of starter pots upfront.

#aquariumplants #plantedtank #plantedaquarium

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro
00:23 - Helanthium Tenellum Green
01:46 - Moss
03:18 - Littorella Uniflora
05:01 - Marsilea Hirsuta
06:34 - Dwarf Sagittaria
08:21 - Monte Carlo
10:01 - Eleocharis Parvula