Species Catalogue

Beloved velvety-green spheres of filamentous green algae — not a moss at all. Forms naturally in cold lakes where wave action rolls colonies into balls over decades. A low-maintenance aquarium icon that grows extremely slowly. Rotate occasionally for even light exposure.

The most popular carpeting Marsilea in the hobby, producing tiny two- or four-leaf clovers on short petioles that hug the substrate to form a dense, bright green carpet. Significantly smaller than M. hirsuta, making it better suited to nano tanks and foreground work in larger scapes. Grows reliably with good light and CO₂ but is surprisingly tolerant of lower-tech conditions compared to HC Cuba. The clover-shaped leaves are charming and create an instantly recognisable, naturalistic foreground.

Marsilea Hirsuta is a low-maintenance carpet plant that produces small, clover-like leaves on short stems. It spreads via runners to form a lush, medium-height green carpet without requiring CO2 injection — making it one of the easiest carpet plants for low-tech tanks. Leaves grow taller without CO2 but stay compact with it.

The smallest Marsilea species commonly available, producing miniscule two-leaf forms when submerged that create an incredibly fine, lawn-like carpet. Its wide geographic distribution makes it very adaptable to different water conditions. Under high light it carpets tightly to the substrate; in lower light, petioles elongate as the plant reaches for the surface. One of the most low-maintenance carpeting options available — more forgiving than HC Cuba or E. Belem.

The four-leaf clover aquatic fern produces charming four-lobed leaves that resemble tiny clover on short stalks. It can be grown as a compact foreground carpet in high-light CO2 tanks, or left to grow taller as a decorative mid-ground plant in low-tech setups. A unique texture plant that adds whimsy to any scape.

A beautiful, moss-like stem plant with densely packed, fine, bright green leaves that give stems a cylindrical, fluffy appearance. It grows in flowing, well-oxygenated water in the wild. Prefers soft, slightly acidic conditions and benefits from CO2. Often used in Dutch scapes as a light green accent column.

Melon Sword is a medium-sized stem plant with distinctive reddish-brown to burgundy coloration on its leaves, particularly under high light. It features broad, elongated leaves with prominent veining and grows in a compact, bushy form. This plant is moderately easy to care for and makes an excellent midground specimen.

Elegant fan-shaped calcified macroalgae on a slender white stalk. Grows in sandy areas near reefs and seagrass beds. A beautiful decorative species for low-flow areas of the display tank. Like Penicillus, it anchors in deep sand and has a natural lifespan of several months.

One of the most extraordinary organisms in biology — a single giant cell shaped like a wine glass on a slender stalk. Each 'plant' is a single cell that can grow to 10 cm. Famous in cell biology research. In aquariums it anchors in sand and is a remarkable conversation piece. Prefers cooler, calcium-rich water.

Fast-growing stem plant with distinctive oak-leaf-shaped leaves. Extremely easy and undemanding — grows well without CO2. The unusual leaf shape adds variety to planted tank backgrounds.

Small water lily that propagates prolifically from plantlets on its floating leaves. Produces striking red-spotted green pads. Remove surface leaves regularly to keep the plant growing compact submersed growth.

Baby Tears or Pearl Grass, this cheerful stem plant produces tiny, round, bright green leaves and grows fast even without CO2. Ideal for mid-ground mounds or as a floating plant for shrimp tanks. Often confused with HC Cuba but its leaves are larger and it is far more tolerant of low-tech conditions.

Needle Leaf Java Fern produces extremely narrow, grass-like fronds that are distinctly different from standard Java Fern. The slender leaves create a delicate, airy texture that contrasts beautifully with broad-leaved plants. It shares the same hardy, low-light, epiphytic growth habit of regular Java Fern — easy to grow attached to rock or wood.

The trident java fern is a cultivar with deeply lobed, multi-pronged fronds that create an elegant, fern-like silhouette. Like all java ferns it attaches to hardscape and requires no substrate. Very low-maintenance and suitable for low-tech tanks.

Miniature version of Christmas Moss with denser, more compact triangular fronds. Creates tighter texture on hardscape. Very popular for scapes.

Tiny rosette plant forming grass-like tufts. One of the most challenging aquarium plants to keep long-term. Needs very soft, acidic water, strong light, and CO2.

Mini Fissidens is a delicate, slow-growing moss with tiny, feathery fronds that create an intricate, lacy appearance. It features small, finely divided leaves arranged in a distinctive two-ranked pattern, giving it a refined aesthetic ideal for detailed aquascaping. This moss is prized for its ability to attach to hardscape and create natural-looking moss walls or carpets in foreground and midground areas.

Mini Pellia is a small liverwort that grows as a low, spreading cushion of dark green, branching thallus. It attaches readily to rock and wood and is prized for its dense, velvety texture in Nature Aquarium compositions. Slower growing and more demanding than Java Moss, it prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water with CO2.