Species Catalogue

Cryptocoryne wendtii Bronze is a popular mid-sized stem plant featuring distinctive bronze to reddish-brown foliage that deepens in color under high light and nutrient-rich conditions. This hardy crypt develops attractive, slightly wavy leaves and grows moderately, making it an excellent choice for aquascapers seeking reliable, low-maintenance greenery with warm coloration.

Classic brown variant of C. wendtii with bronze-brown ruffled leaves. One of the most popular and beginner-friendly crypts.

The green form of Cryptocoryne wendtii has smooth, bright green leaves with a subtle hammered texture. It is one of the most adaptable crypts available, tolerating a wide range of light, water, and substrate conditions. An excellent beginner midground plant.

Larger C. wendtii variant from the Mi Oya river. Reddish-brown leaves that can reach 8+ inches. Impressive for a background crypt.

Red-brown variant of C. wendtii. Deeper red than the brown form. Hardy and easy — adds warm colour to low-tech planted tanks.

Dark, hammered-leaf variant of C. wendtii. Very compact growth. Dark olive-bronze leaves with unique puckered texture.

Rare Brazilian stem plant with tiny round leaves. Pinkish-red under high light. Very slow growing and demanding — a true collector's plant.

Cyperus helferi is the only fully aquatic sedge used in aquascaping. Its long, gracefully arching bright green leaves create a unique grass-like texture that moves beautifully in current. It requires CO2 and fertilisation to grow well submerged.

Classic, bulletproof stem plant with whorls of bright green leaves. One of the best beginner plants — grows rapidly without CO2 and tolerates cool water. Also excellent for goldfish and temperate tanks.

Fine, fluffy dark green tufts that resemble a softer version of Bryopsis. Often appears in high-nutrient systems and around powerhead intakes. Like Bryopsis it is resistant to most herbivores. Sea hares will consume it; magnesium treatment (1500–1800 ppm) is effective. Reducing phosphate below 0.05 ppm also helps.

Brown, dusty coating on glass, substrate, and decorations — the most common algae in newly set-up tanks. Feeds on silicates from tap water and substrate. Almost always disappears on its own within 6–8 weeks once silicates are depleted. Otocinclus catfish and nerites clean it rapidly.

Flat, iridescent brown-olive blades that spread over rockwork and corals. Beautiful under certain lighting — shimmers blue-green — but highly invasive in reef tanks. Produces chemical deterrents that most fish avoid. Very difficult to eliminate; manual removal stimulates regrowth. Sea urchins (Diadema) and Thalassoma wrasses occasionally graze it.

A slender, delicate stem plant with fine, needle-like opposite leaves. Under high light and CO2 it develops vivid orange-red colouring that makes it a stunning accent in Dutch and Nature Aquarium layouts. It is sensitive to low light and nutrient deficiencies, which quickly cause yellowing.

Brown, stringy, bubble-filled slime that often appears in new reef tanks — frequently mistaken for cyanobacteria. Dinoflagellates ('dinos') form slimy mats that can smother corals and sandbed. Treatment is complex: raise nitrates (>2 ppm), raise phosphates (>0.05 ppm), run extended dark periods, and increase UV sterilisation. One of the most frustrating reef nuisances.