Create an aquarium that feels alive.

No. Many aquatic plants can be kept successfully without injected CO₂. CO₂ expands the range of plants you can grow and can increase growth rates, but the right choice depends on the lighting, plant species and style of aquarium you want to maintain.

Hardy, slower-growing plants such as many Anubias, Java Fern and Vallisneria are commonly used in lower-tech aquariums. The best beginner plant is still one that matches the light and planting position in your tank.

Their roots can reach into substrate, but the rhizome should not be buried. These plants are usually attached to rock or wood, where the rhizome remains exposed.

There is no single correct intensity for every planted tank. Different species have different requirements, and stronger light also increases demand for nutrients and carbon. Consistency is more useful than simply pushing light as high as possible.

Some plants shed older leaves while adapting to different water, light or growth conditions. What matters is whether healthy new growth begins to appear. Persistent decline can indicate a mismatch in light, nutrients, carbon or planting method.

Live plants add surface area for biofilm, create shelter and make a shrimp aquarium structurally richer. Many plants in the Glass & Gill range are tagged as shrimp-safe, but the whole aquarium still needs stable water and appropriate care.

Both can be useful. Fast growers can fill space quickly and respond visibly to changes in the aquarium. Slow growers hold their form longer and often work well on hardscape. A mix can make a layout easier to balance.

Trim when growth begins to shade other plants, block circulation or distort the shape you are trying to maintain. There is no universal schedule because growth rate varies with species and aquarium conditions.