Browse the Aquatic Motiv freshwater aquarium care guide library — photo-illustrated guides covering aquarium plants, snails, shrimp, bettas, lighting, CO2, and algae control. Every guide is written by the growers who keep these species, so you can set up and maintain a thriving planted tank with confidence.

Snail & Invertebrate Care Guides

Ultimate aquarium snail care guide

Ultimate Snail Care Guide

Mystery snail care guide

Mystery Snail Care Guide

Nerite snail care guide

Nerite Snail Care Guide

Rabbit snail care guide

Rabbit Snail Care Guide

Assassin snail care guide

Assassin Snail Care Guide

Trapdoor snail care guide

Trapdoor Snails for Ponds

Nerite vs mystery snails comparison

Nerite vs. Mystery Snails

Shrimp & Betta Care Guides

Neocaridina dwarf shrimp care guide

Neocaridina Shrimp Care Guide

Betta fish care guide

Betta Fish Care Guide

Best aquarium plants for bettas

Best Plants for Bettas

Plant Care Profiles

Bucephalandra care guide

Bucephalandra Care Guide

Alternanthera Reineckii care profile

Alternanthera Reineckii

Ludwigia Ovalis care profile

Ludwigia Ovalis

Ammannia gracilis care profile

Ammannia Gracilis

Aquascaping & Plant Health Guides

Ultimate guide to CO2 in planted aquariums

Ultimate CO2 Guide

Liquid carbon explained

Liquid Carbon Explained

How many hours of light aquarium plants need

How Many Hours of Light?

Choosing planted aquarium substrate

Substrate: Soil vs. Sand vs. Gravel

Aquarium nitrogen cycle guide

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

Crypt melt explained

Crypt Melt Explained

How to get rid of black beard algae

Beat Black Beard Algae

Stem plant propagation guide

Stem Plant Propagation

Beginner Plant Picks

Top 10 easy aquarium plants for beginners

Top 10 Easy Aquarium Plants

Top 5 best foreground plants for beginners

Top 5 Foreground Plants

Dwarf baby tears vs Monte Carlo carpet guide

HC vs. Monte Carlo Carpets

Quick Care Reference

Parameter Beginner-friendly range
Temperature 72–78°F (22–26°C)
pH 6.5–7.5
GH 3–8 dGH
KH 2–6 dKH
Photoperiod 6–8 hours/day

General starting points for a community planted tank — individual species vary; see each care guide for specifics.

Aquarium Plants

Dried pink ginseng root bundle with earthy tones and natural texture

Red Root Floaters

Lime green Salvinia Cucullata pine cone with dark brown tail

Salvinia Cucullata

Lacey Java Fern Windelov with green leaves and dark roots for aquariums

Java Fern Windelov

Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) with vibrant red and green glossy leaves

Red Tiger Lotus

Bundle of Water Wisteria Hygrophila difformis with serrated green leaves

Water Wisteria

Black plastic pot of Dwarf Hairgrass Eleocharis Parvula aquatic plant

Dwarf Hairgrass

Green Water Lettuce Rosette (Pistia sp.) with layered succulent leaves

Water Lettuce

Vallisneria Spiralis green aquatic plant with long slender leaves

Vallisneria Spiralis

Amazon Sword Plant with green leaves, white roots, and rubber band

Amazon Sword

Vibrant green Christmas moss (Vesicularia montagnei) with delicate fronds

Christmas Moss

Anubias Nana Petite green leafy aquatic plant in black soil pot

Anubias Nana Petite

Green Pothos in Black Pot with Cork Accents

Anubias Nana

Dwarf Baby Tears Hemianthus Callitrichoides green leafy aquatic plant in black pot

Dwarf Baby Tears

Fissidens Nobilis Moss Mat with trailing green stems for aquariums

Fissidens Nobilis

Narrow-Leaf Chain Sword Echinodorus tenellus artificial green plant with white speckles

Chain Sword Narrow-Leaf

Salvinia Minima green leafy aquatic plant with serrated glossy edges

Salvinia Minima

Dwarf Lobelia Cardinalis bunch in glass vase with green purple plant and moss

Lobelia Cardinalis

Water Sprite green aquatic plant with delicate fronds and roots for aquariums

Water Sprite

Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green: broad-leafed aquarium plant with white roots

Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green

Ludwigia Sp. Super Red Mini potted plant in black yellow pot

Ludwigia Super Red Mini

Pogostemon Stellatus Narrow-Leaf herb plant with slender green leaves

Pogostemon Stellatus Narrow-Leaf