Species Catalogue

A blue-green or red-brown slime that coats the substrate, plants, and glass with a slimy, foul-smelling mat. Technically a bacterium, not true algae. Caused by low nitrates, poor flow, and organic waste. Responds to a 3-day blackout combined with the antibiotic erythromycin or hydrogen peroxide treatment.

Red, purple, or dark blue-green slime mats that smother the sandbed and rockwork with a slimy, oxygen-depleting film. Technically a bacterium. Caused by low nitrates, poor flow, and high dissolved organics. A 3-day blackout, hydrogen peroxide spot-treatment, and improved flow usually break the cycle.

Blyxa aubertii is a delicate, fine-leaved stem plant native to Southeast Asia, featuring narrow, bright green leaves arranged in whorls along slender stems. It grows moderately fast under good conditions and is popular for creating a feathery, natural appearance in the midground to background. The plant requires consistent care but rewards attentive aquarists with lush, vibrant growth.

Blyxa Japonica is an elegant plant that produces rosettes of narrow, grass-like leaves with a slightly golden-green hue. It does not spread by runners but instead produces daughter plants around the mother. Under good light and CO2 it takes on olive-golden tones that complement red and green stem plants beautifully. A staple in Nature Aquarium style.

Sometimes sold as 'Baby Bolbitis' or 'Mini Bolbitis', this small aquatic fern produces deeply divided fronds similar to the full-size Bolbitis heudelotii but significantly more compact and fine-textured. It attaches to driftwood and rock and grows well in moderate flow. One of the finest detail ferns in the hobby for Iwagumi and Nature Aquarium style.

Popular carpet plant forming a dense lawn of short, narrow blades. Grows slowly without CO2 but rewards patience. Spreads via runners — plant individual blades 1 cm (0.5 in) apart for the fastest carpet.

Brazilian Pennywort is a popular stem plant with round, coin-shaped leaves that grows quickly and adapts well to various tank conditions. It's an excellent choice for beginners due to its hardy nature and ability to thrive in low to medium light. This versatile plant can be used as a background plant, midground filler, or even as a floating plant.

Feathery, fern-like dark green algae that is notoriously difficult to eliminate — one of the most persistent reef tank nuisances. Resistant to most herbivores. Best controlled by raising magnesium to 1500–1800 ppm for 2–4 weeks (magnesium treatment). Sea hares will consume it but are not a permanent solution.

Iridescent green spheres that appear harmless in small numbers but rapidly colonise rock if left unchecked. Emerald crabs are the most effective biological control. Do not pop bubbles — they release spores and worsen the outbreak. Manual removal requires extracting the entire holdfast; even fragments regrow.

A genus of slow-growing rheophytic plants native to Borneo, prized in aquascaping for their thick, waxy leaves that come in a remarkable range of colors — from green and brown to blue, purple, and red — often with iridescent shimmer. They can be grown attached to rocks or driftwood like Anubias, tolerate low to medium light without CO2 injection (though CO2 accelerates growth), and are well-suited to shrimp tanks.

A round-leaved Bucephalandra variety named for its broad, almost circular apple-green leaves with a softly ruffled margin. New growth often emerges with reddish or pinkish tones before settling to a bright green, adding seasonal colour variation. One of the more recognisable Buces due to its distinctive leaf shape. Works beautifully attached to smooth stones in a Nature aquarium layout.

Small-leaved Buce with green to olive leaves and silvery spots. Compact growth makes it ideal for small tanks and detailed aquascapes.