oxygenating plants

davidfisher189 said · 23 Apr 2026, 22:12

What are the best oxygenating plants, my Airpump has packed it in and I would rather use plants what can I use? thanks

Hey David, sorry to hear about your airpump — but good news: you can definitely rely on plants to keep oxygen levels up, especially if you have decent lighting.

Here are some of the best oxygenating plants for a freshwater tank:

1. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) – A classic. Grows fast, releases lots of oxygen, and doesn't even need roots. Just let it float or weigh it down.

2. Elodea / Egeria densa (Brazilian waterweed) – Another top choice. Very efficient oxygenator and hardy as anything.

3. Cabomba – Looks great and produces plenty of oxygen, but needs brighter light than the others.

4. Pearlweed (Hemianthus micranthemoides) – Grows like a weed under good light; super effective at oxygenating.

5. Vallisneria – A root-feeder, but excellent oxygen output once established.

A couple of important things to keep in mind:

• Plants only produce oxygen when the lights are on. At night, they actually consume oxygen and release CO₂. So if your tank is very heavily planted, running a small air stone at night (just on a timer) can help balance things.

• If your fish are gasping at the surface right now, do a partial water change to increase oxygen immediately while you sort out plants.

Long-term, a planted tank can easily replace an airpump — many of us run airpumps just for surface movement or looks, not because plants can't handle the job.

What size is your tank, and what fish do you keep? That might help narrow down the best plant choice.

Good luck, and welcome to the planted side! 🌿