Planted tanks
Where to Place Aquarium Plants
A great planted tank is built in layers. Put the right plants in the right zone — foreground, midground, background, floating, and epiphytes attached to hardscape — and your scape gains depth, your fish get cover, and everything grows the way it should.
The five zones
Which Plants Go Where
- Foreground (front)
Low carpeting plants that keep the open view. Easy picks: dwarf sagittaria, micro sword, Monte Carlo, or moss.
Keeps the front low so you can see into the tank. - Midground (middle)
Bushy, medium-height plants that bridge front and back. Easy picks: Cryptocoryne, Anubias, dwarf hairgrass clumps.
Adds body and hides the base of taller stems. - Background (back)
Tall, fast-growing stems that form a lush wall. Easy picks: Vallisneria, Amazon sword, Rotala, Hygrophila.
Creates depth and hides equipment. - Floating
Plants that drift on the surface. Easy picks: frogbit, red root floaters, duckweed (careful — it spreads fast).
Shades the tank, soaks up nutrients, and calms shy fish. - Epiphytes (on hardscape)
Plants that attach to wood or rock instead of substrate. Easy picks: Anubias, Java fern, Bucephalandra.
Don’t bury their rhizome — tie or glue it on, or it rots. - Carpet (advanced)
Dense low carpets like dwarf baby tears usually want more light and CO2.
Skip these until you’ve grown easier plants first.
Avoid these
Common Placement Mistakes
- Don’t bury epiphyte rhizomes (Anubias, Java fern) in the substrate — they rot. Attach them to wood or rock.
- Don’t put tall plants at the front — they block the view and shade everything behind.
- Don’t let floating plants cover the whole surface — they’ll starve plants below of light and lower gas exchange.
- Don’t plant a carpet under low light — it’ll grow leggy or melt. Match plants to your light.
Plant Placement FAQ
What are epiphyte plants?
Epiphytes are plants that grow attached to surfaces rather than rooted in substrate — like Anubias, Java fern and Bucephalandra. Tie or glue their rhizome to wood or rock; burying it causes rot.
Are floating plants good or bad?
Good in moderation — they shade the tank, absorb excess nutrients (helping with algae) and make shy fish feel safe. Just thin them regularly so they don’t cover the whole surface.
Where do I put Anubias and Java fern?
Both are epiphytes — attach them to driftwood or rock in the mid or background. They’re hardy, low-light, and perfect for beginners. Never bury the rhizome.