Flora & Fauna

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.

Attractive calcified green macroalgae with segmented, coin-like lobes. Grows upright and anchors into sandbed or live rock. Naturally calcified — contributes to calcium demand. Fish tend to leave it alone. Adds a natural look to the display tank and provides nutrient export.

Hammer coral is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral with distinctive T-shaped or hammer-shaped tentacles that sweep rhythmically in current. It is photosynthetic via its zooxanthellae but also benefits from target feeding with meaty foods two or three times weekly. It can sting neighbouring corals, so adequate spacing is essential.

The harlequin rasbora is recognised by the distinctive black triangular patch on its rear half set against a copper-orange body. Hardy, peaceful, and active in the midwater, it pairs beautifully with planted tanks.

Extraordinarily beautiful shrimp with large flat claws and white-and-pink/purple spotted pattern. Specialist predator that only eats starfish — a specific feeding commitment.

Bold orange-and-white banded wrasse with vivid blue teeth. Impressive predator fish for FOWLR tanks. Australian specimens (red-orange) are more vibrant than Indo-Pacific.

A delicate stem plant with tiny, round-to-oval bright green leaves growing in whorls of 3–4 around thin stems. Often confused with H. micranthemoides but has slightly larger leaves and a more upright growth habit. Grows quickly with CO₂ and high light, producing dense, bushy clumps that work well as a background planting. Without CO₂ it grows slowly and may become leggy. Regular trimming encourages compact, lush growth.

The Hillstream Loach (Reticulated Hillstream Loach) is a spectacularly patterned torrent fish with a flattened body and enlarged pectoral fins adapted for clinging to rocks in fast-flowing streams. In the aquarium it requires strong water movement, high oxygenation, and cool temperatures mimicking its native Vietnamese mountain streams. It grazes periphyton (algae and biofilm) from hard surfaces and benefits from supplemental feeding with blanched vegetables and spirulina wafers.

Distinctive pencilfish that swims at a 45° upward angle with its head tilted toward the surface. Copper-red body with a bold black lateral stripe. Fascinating schooling behaviour in planted tanks.

The Honey Gourami is one of the most peaceful labyrinth fish in the hobby — males develop a rich golden-honey coloration with an orange-red throat and belly when in breeding condition. At 4–5 cm it fits comfortably in nano and small community tanks. Less prone to disease than the Dwarf Gourami and considerably more tolerant of soft, acidic water, making it an excellent alternative for low-tech planted setups.

Striking apisto with vivid yellow, red, and blue colouring on males. Highly variable in colour intensity depending on mood and water quality. A showpiece fish for any planted South American biotope.

The Horned Nerite is a small, striking nerite species notable for its ornate shell decorated with irregular blunt horn-like protrusions that vary in number, length, and arrangement between individuals — no two are quite alike. Like other nerites it is an excellent algae grazer and cannot reproduce in freshwater, so populations remain controlled. The unusual shell adds unique sculptural texture to planted tanks and nano aquariums.

Hornwort is one of the most adaptable aquatic plants available, surviving in a wide range of conditions from cold ponds to tropical tanks. It requires no substrate and can float or be anchored. It grows rapidly, absorbing nutrients, and provides excellent cover for fry.

Elongated loach with a distinctive long snout for sifting sand. Spends much of its time buried with just its eyes visible. Peaceful and an excellent sand-bed cleaner.

A compact variant of pennywort that produces small, neatly round, bright green leaves on short stems. Unlike the faster-growing H. tripartita, it has a more controlled growth habit and can be used as a delicate foreground or mid-ground filler. It adapts readily to CO2 and non-CO2 tanks alike.

Hydrocotyle tripartita is a fast-growing stem plant with unique three-lobed leaves that create a lush, dense carpet or mid-ground cluster. With CO2 and high light it forms tight mounds. Without CO2 it grows taller and more open. Very popular in aquascaping.

A robust cultivar with unusually wide, wavy-edged leaves that give a bold, architectural presence in the background. The large leaf surface collects bubbles during pearling, making it a favourite for photography. Very easy to grow and tolerant of low-tech conditions.

A variegated cultivar with creamy white, pink, and green patterning on the leaves — the colours intensify under stronger light. A favourite in Dutch and community planted tanks for adding colour without the difficulty of true red plants. Stays compact and bushy with regular trimming.

A narrow-leaved Hygrophila with long, willowy green leaves held in whorls along upright stems. Grows faster than most Hygrophila species and provides a graceful, flowing texture in the background. The fine leaf texture contrasts well with broad-leaved plants like Anubias or Cryptocoryne. Easy to grow in most conditions — one of the few Hygrophilas that maintains its narrow, elegant leaf form even in low tech.

A striking stem plant with ultra-narrow, needle-like leaves that turn deep red-purple under high light and CO₂. The fine, dense foliage creates a delicate, feathery texture rarely seen in other stem plants. Grows quickly and benefits from regular trimming to maintain a bushy appearance. The colour is highly dependent on light intensity — low light produces mostly green growth. One of the most popular plants in competitive aquascaping.

A cultivar of the Temple Plant with shorter internodal spacing, producing a denser, bushier plant than the standard species. Large, bright green leaves are held close to the stem, giving it a robust, architectural look in the midground or background. One of the easiest stem plants to grow — thrives in low-tech tanks and is very forgiving of neglect. A great beginner plant that still looks impressive in mature scapes.

A standout aquascape plant with oak-like lobed leaves that are dark green on top and purple-red beneath. Unlike most Hygrophilas it can be attached to hardscape like Anubias. Under high light and CO2 the purple coloration intensifies dramatically, making it one of the most visually striking stem plants available.

A compact, attractive cultivar of Hygrophila siamensis with narrower, slightly undulated leaves that are bright green on top and pale on the underside. Very hardy and fast growing, it works well as a mid-background filler and helps suppress algae through nutrient uptake. Trims well and stays bushy.

The base species of the popular lancea group. A delicate, fine-stemmed plant with small, narrow lance-shaped leaves that grow in tight whorls around the stem. Under high light the leaves develop attractive reddish-pink tones. More compact and slower growing than most Hygrophilas, making it well-suited for the midground of Nature Aquarium and Iwagumi layouts.

An ultra-compact cultivar of H. lancea that stays exceptionally small — typically under 5 cm — making it one of the few true foreground stem plants. Leaves are tiny, needle-like, and can blush red or pink under strong lighting and good CO2. Ideal for nano tanks and detailed foreground work in competitive aquascapes.

A Taiwanese-bred cultivar with slightly broader leaves than the Araguaia form and notably more vivid red-pink coloration. Stays compact and dense with regular trimming and responds well to high light and CO2 by turning a deep wine-red. A sought-after plant in the ADA-style planted tank community.

Wiry, reddish-brown branching macroalgae that tangs and rabbitfish readily consume. Grows quickly and provides excellent nutrient export in refugia. Attaches loosely to rubble and rock. One of the most palatable macroalgae for herbivorous reef fish — can be offered directly as live food.

The quintessential beginner stem plant — grows rapidly in almost any conditions without CO2. Under high light the leaves take on a pink hue. Excellent as a background filler or for fishrooms and breeding tanks.

Solid white-cream form of the mystery snail — looks like a tiny porcelain ornament. One of the most elegant snail colour forms. Effective detritus cleaner that adds a clean aesthetic to planted tanks.

Bold, iridescent cichlid covered in electric blue-green spots. Named for the aggressive boxer. One of the most popular American cichlids — easier to keep than its aggressive reputation suggests.

Feathery, pinkish-white tufts of jointed calcified branches — a beautiful encrusting coralline relative that forms soft mats on rockwork. Provides habitat for tiny amphipods and copepods. A common and welcome hitchhiker on Mediterranean and Atlantic live rock. Tolerates cooler water than most corallines.

Delicate stem plant with rounded, lobed leaves on long stems. Prefers cool water — one of the best plants for temperate and coldwater aquascapes. Sends floating leaves to the surface when established.