Home Plants 13 Plants for Brackish Water: Exceptional Selections

Plants

13 Plants for Brackish Water: Exceptional Selections

Plants for brackish water are surprisingly easy to find and even easier to maintain. While it does require a bit of patience, aquarium plant hobbyists will be rewarded with beautiful and lush foliage.

As long as you have the right plant varieties – such as water sprites or anubias – you can never go wrong.

Contents

Plants That Are Ideal for Brackish Water
Conclusion

Plants That Are Ideal for Brackish Water

1. Java Fern

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity of 7 parts per thousand 61 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	Low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water
Ideal for	Sailfin molly American Flagfish Sea catfish
Common issues	Burned patches from too much light Can dissolve when under extreme stress

Java fern is undeniably one of the best aquatic plants for aquariums since they grow well in both freshwater and brackish environments.

Since it grows well in both soft and hard water, the Java Fern brackish water environment won’t be much of an issue. To make your aquarium look even better, attach this fern to some driftwood or rocks.

2. Seaside Brookweed

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 13 parts per thousand 64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	Low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water
Ideal for	Banded archerfish Green Scat, Ruby Scat Hogchoker
Common issues	Can die if fully submerged all the time

Botanically known as Samolus valerandi, this aquatic plant is thought to have derived its name from Greek and Latin origins. Place the Seaside Brookweed as accents for your brackish aquarium.

Place it in the foreground, where it can attract the eye with its rosette foliage arrangement and delicate white flowers at the top.

3. Water Hyssop

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 9 parts per thousand 64 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water
Ideal for	Blackchin tilapia Orange chromide Green chromide
Common issues	Roots will wither and die from lack of water Root rot and stem rot will develop if too much water Can become invasive if left in the wild

Known as Bacopa monnieri, the plant takes its name from the Latin word “bacopa” and from a French botanist by the name of Louis-Guillaume Le Monnier. It is extremely easy to care for the Water Hyssop.

Given that it is very adaptable and versatile, it fits well in any environment, even if it is grown in a brackish aquarium.

4. Java Moss

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 7 parts per thousand 60 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, tolerates hard water
Ideal for	Bumblebee goby Water Cow Violet goby, Dragon goby
Common issues	Can promote algae growth Low light levels can produce lesser and darker leaves Warm temperatures can cause the moss to grow slower than usual

Like most mosses, this variety is incredibly easy to care for and propagate. In fact, you can just leave it alone, and it will continue to put forth more foliage as the days go by.

Due to its low cost, this moss is popularly used in many aquascapes. Pair it with other water plants, such as the others on this list, to create a contrast of colors, textures, and heights.

5. Water Sprite

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.5 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 7 parts per thousand 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water
Ideal for	Bumblebee goby Water Cow Violet goby, Dragon goby
Common issues	Due to rapid growth, leaves can turn brown pretty quickly

This adaptable plant prefers to grow in waters with a pH level of 6.5 to 8.0. Like most plants that thrive in brackish water, this plant can grow in both soft and hard water.

Due to its vivid green colors, you can place this plant almost anywhere in your aquarium. Grow it alone or pair it with other plants as it can be allowed to float or affixed on rooted substrates.

6. Anacharis

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 8 parts per thousand 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Can also tolerate low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water
Ideal for	Orange chromide Green chromide Mayan cichlid or Mexican mojarra
Common issues	None

This plant is a popular addition to many aquariums due to its appearance, versatility, and adaptability to different water conditions. The leaves are light to bright green with finely serrated foliage with long brittle stems.

It does a great job of removing excess nutrients, oxygenating the tank, and outcompeting unwanted algae in brackish water.

7. Anubias

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity from 7 up to 10 parts per thousand 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	Low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water
Ideal for	Hogchoker Snook Tarpon
Common issues	Slow-growing

This aquatic foliage plant grows in partial or fully submerged water, regardless if it’s in freshwater or brackish environments. Due to their resilience and ease of care, these plants are in high demand among hobbyists.

Since the plants tend to be around only 2 to 4 inches tall, they make wonderful foreground decorations in aquariums and terrariums with brackish water.

8. Cryptocoryne

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 7 parts per thousand 73 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water
Ideal for	Barred Mudskipper Atlantic Mudskipper Knight goby
Common issues	Slow growth Can easily overcrowd tanks and aquariums

This is one of the largest in its species, often found in the mangroves and tidal zones of Southeast Asia. While it has a slow rate of growth, it can reach up to 3 feet in length. The leaves are bright green and lance-like with long fleshy stalks of leaves.

It grows better in enriched substrates with high amounts of light. To contain its growth, prune this aquarium plant regularly.

9. Marimo Moss Ball

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 7.0 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 6 parts per thousand 43 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	Low to moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water
Ideal for	Mayan cichlid or Mexican mojarra Siamese tigerfish New Guinea tigerfish
Common issues	Grows slowly Can easily perish when water values rapidly change

These plants are popular in many tropical aquariums due to their striking appearance. These green algae do require a cooler temperature than most aquatic plants, so you might need a more specific tank to house them.

The green spherical balls can grow up to 8 or 12 inches across in their natural habitats. Commercial ones tend to be sold at 2 inches or even smaller.

10. Brazilian Micro Sword

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.5 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 7 parts per thousand 64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Can tolerate moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water, very hard water
Ideal for	Sailfin molly American Flagfish Sea catfish
Common issues	Can be easily overtaken by larger plants

This plant forms a thick beautiful green carpet when grown in very high levels of light, carbon dioxide, and nutrients.

The grass-like appearance is due to the presence of swaying sword-like leaves in vibrant shades of green. As a result, the Brazilian micro sword is often used as aquascaping material in the foreground and midground parts in aquariums of various sizes.

11. Water Spangles

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.0 to 8.0 Salinity of up to 7 parts per thousand 72 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water, hard water
Ideal for	Atlantic Mudskipper Knight goby Blackchin tilapia
Common issues	Can grow very fast that it can easily overtake some plants

This free-floating aquarium plant is not picky about its water conditions as it can be found in stagnant and slow-moving waters. Swamps, marshes, streams, ponds, and canals are just some of its favorite places.

Hobbyists love this plant because it is so easy to maintain since it requires no fertilization to grow well. As a result, it is often found in many commercial tanks.

12. Vallisneria

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.5 to 8.0 Salinity from 9 up to 15 parts per thousand 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	Moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water
Ideal for	Siamese tigerfish New Guinea tigerfish Bumblebee goby
Common issues	Rapid growth may overcrowd the tank and other plants

This plant is a popular aquarium plant for many hobbyists. Due to its versatility, almost all fish stores have a variation or a cultivar of this plant on hand.

Despite its rapid growth, it requires very little in terms of care. Usually, the plant gets its nutrition from the substrate or from the water column, even if they are placed in aquariums with brackish water.

13. Duckweed

Water pH level, salinity level, temperature	pH of 6.5 to 7.5 Salinity of up to 7 parts per thousand 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit
Growing conditions	High levels of lighting Moderate lighting levels Soft water, moderate water
Ideal for	Bumblebee goby Water Cow Violet goby, Dragon goby
Common issues	Extremely rapid growth can be hard to control

Hobbyists tend to be divided when it comes to this particular plant. The extreme polarity of opinions is due to duckweed’s vigorous growth in that it can easily double its total biomass in 2 to 4 days.

Since it is very hardy and tolerant of water conditions, it can be hard to eliminate this plant once you decide it’s not for you, even if your aquarium contains brackish water.

Conclusion

When growing plants in brackish water, it is important to remember a few things.

Here are some of the most important takeaways from this article:

Ensure that your plants have enough time to acclimatize to a brackish aquarium.
Provide your aquarium plant with the right amount of light, water pH levels, and temperature.
Select or pair the plants that work best for you in terms of care and aesthetic values.

Before long, your aquarium will host the most ideal environments for brackish water plants and animals. Do you have any favorites on this list?

5/5 - (5 votes)

Author
Recent Posts

Evergreen Seeds

If you are looking for help gardening you’ve come to the right place! We love gardening and we want to share this love with you. Join our dynamic garden community.

Latest posts by Evergreen Seeds (see all)

Grow Mango Tree Indoors: Best Tips and Tricks For You - September 21, 2023
Are Lilacs Deer Resistant? 10 Other Deer Resistant Plants - September 19, 2023
7 Plants With Red Stems To Add Color to Your Garden - September 18, 2023