Egeria densa, commonly known as Anacharis or Brazilian Waterweed, is a very fast-growing and extremely popular stem plant. It is widely recommended for beginners due to its hardiness, vigorous nutrient absorption, and excellent water oxygenation capabilities. While usually planted in bunches in the substrate, it draws almost all of its nutrients from the water column. It thrives in cooler water, making it a staple for unheated tanks, though its delicate leaves make it highly palatable to goldfish, turtles, and other herbivorous species.
Anacharis At a Glance
Anacharis Care and Setup
Layout Fit
Anacharis usually works best from the midground into the background and needs enough room to mature at about 100 cm tall and 5 cm wide.
Water Window
Aim for freshwater conditions with a steady current, plus 10 to 28 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 3 to 15 dGH.
Upkeep Rhythm
Expect fast growth with high maintenance. Plan to trim and thin it regularly so it does not crowd slower plants.
Anacharis Care Guide Summary
The Anacharis is a stem plant that usually works best from the midground into the background. Give it room to reach about 100 cm tall and 5 cm wide, so the mature plant still fits the layout. It rewards stable conditions and a deliberate routine with light, nutrients, and pruning. In day-to-day care, it responds best to moderate light, freshwater conditions, and a steady current. It usually grows well without added CO2. Keep this species within a comfortable range of 10 to 28 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 3 to 15 dGH.
Anacharis Planting, Feeding & Maintenance
The Anacharis does best when the setup matches the way it naturally grows. Plant it with enough room for the crown and new roots to establish cleanly. Most of its nutrition comes from the water column, so steady liquid fertilization matters more than heavy root feeding. An inert substrate is workable as long as the rest of the fertilization plan is consistent. Keep the routine steady: moderate light and low nutrient demand usually give better results than big swings from week to week. It is usually treated as a submerged display plant rather than an emersed grow-out choice.
Best Use Case for Anacharis
Anacharis is usually at its best when you want a midground and background plant with moderate light demands and a high maintenance rhythm that fits into a real weekly routine. It is especially useful when you want a plant that keeps doing its job even in a busier community tank.
Anacharis Compatibility
Use these signals as quick context, not hard rules. They help you judge how well Anacharis is likely to stay in place, tolerate curious fish, and contribute real cover in a mixed planted tank.
Aquarium Benefits
The Anacharis can work very well in a mixed tank, but its value depends on how well it handles fish pressure and how much usable cover it really provides. It is a poor match for plant-eating or rough fish because the leaves are easy for them to damage. Its anchoring strength is limited early on, so avoid pairing it with persistent diggers or boisterous substrate movers. It creates meaningful shelter for fry, shrimp, and cautious fish. It casts a moderate amount of shade, which is helpful when you want softer pockets of cover. Aquarists also lean on it for breaking up sight lines, shelter for fry, a grazing surface, and surface cover, not just for appearance.
Anacharis Propagation
This species is usually propagated by stem cuttings, physical division, and offsets. With fast growth and high upkeep, it can overtake nearby space if you let maintenance slide. That gives you a better sense of whether simple trimming is enough or whether it is smarter to plan division, replanting, or thinning before the layout closes in.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anacharis
Is Anacharis a good beginner aquarium plant?
This is not the easiest starter plant. It is considered a beginner species that requires high upkeep, and it rewards aquarists who can keep light, nutrients, and CO2 stable.
Where should Anacharis be placed in an aquarium?
This plant usually looks best from the midground into the background. At full size it can reach about 100 cm tall by 5 cm wide, so leave room for it to mature. It is best rooted into the substrate.
Does Anacharis need strong light or CO2?
For the best results, provide it with moderate lighting. Additionally, it usually grows well without added CO2.
What water conditions suit Anacharis?
Aim for freshwater conditions, a steady current, and a range around 10 to 28 °C, pH 6 to 8, and 3 to 15 dGH to keep this species inside its comfort zone.
How does Anacharis spread or help the aquarium?
It is usually propagated by stem cuttings, physical division, and offsets. In the display tank, aquarists value this plant for breaking up sight lines, shelter for fry, a grazing surface, and surface cover.
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Guidarium Editorial Desk
Reviewed against Guidarium care, stocking, and compatibility standards. Read the editorial policy.
- Last reviewed
- April 21, 2026
- Last updated
- April 21, 2026
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Plants That Grow Well With Anacharis
These plants share compatible water parameters and growth habits with Anacharis, making them reliable companions in a shared aquascape.
Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia
Mexican Oak Leaf
Shinnersia rivularis
Water Wisteria
Hygrophila difformis
Water Fern
Azolla filiculoides
Watermeal
Wolffia arrhiza
Waterweed
Elodea canadensis
Side-by-side comparisons for Anacharis
These guides compare Anacharis directly with another plant, helping you choose between similar roles, care needs, and layout tradeoffs.
Baby Tears
Lindernia rotundifolia
Bog Moss
Mayaca fluviatilis
Carolina Fanwort
Cabomba caroliniana
Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping Ludwigia
Ludwigia repens
Dwarf Ambulia
Limnophila sessiliflora
Fish That Suit Anacharis
These fish pair well with Anacharis based on shared water preferences and temperament, helping you build a balanced tank around this plant.
Scissortail Rasbora
Rasbora trilineata
Rummynose Rasbora
Sawbwa resplendens
Rosy Red Minnow / Fathead Minnow
Pimephales promelas
Rose Danio
Danio roseus
Tequila Splitfin
Zoogoneticus tequila
Sunset Platy (Variatus Platy)
Xiphophorus variatus
Related plant profiles
These cards open plant profiles directly. They are chosen by overall care, layout, and growth-pattern similarity, rather than a side-by-side comparison guide.
Waterweed
Elodea canadensis
Elodea canadensis is an extremely hardy, fast-growing stem plant renowned for its oxygenating capabilities. While it can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, it particularly thrives in cooler temperatures and is often used in coldwater setups or unheated tanks. Its dense growth provides excellent refuge for fry and shrimp, though it requires frequent trimming to prevent it from overtaking the aquarium.
Water Primrose
Ludwigia palustris
Ludwigia palustris is a highly adaptable and popular stem plant known for its striking red and green foliage. It is one of the easiest red plants to grow in the aquarium, making it an excellent choice for beginners looking to add color to their aquascape. It grows rapidly, branching readily to form dense, bushy clusters when trimmed regularly.
Water Wisteria
Hygrophila difformis
A highly popular, hardy stem plant known for its deeply lobed, fern-like submerged foliage. It is exceptionally forgiving for beginners and absorbs excess nutrients rapidly, making it excellent for outcompeting algae. Its leaf shape changes drastically depending on light levels and whether it is grown emersed or submerged.
Water Violet
Hottonia palustris
Hottonia palustris, commonly known as the Water Violet, is an elegant stem plant native to Europe and northern Asia. It features unique, deeply pinnate, feather-like bright green leaves. In the aquarium, it creates a highly textured focal point in the midground or background. It thrives in slightly cooler water temperatures and benefits significantly from CO2 injection and moderate to high lighting, which encourages dense, bushy growth.
Water Hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes
A remarkably fast-growing, free-floating aquatic plant known for its bulbous, spongy leaf stalks and striking purple flowers. Its extensive feathery root system provides unmatched filtration, nutrient uptake, and refuge for fry. However, its highly aggressive growth rate and massive shade cast require extremely frequent culling, making it more common in ponds or large open-top aquariums.
Banana Plant
Nymphoides aquatica
The Banana Plant is a unique, eye-catching aquarium plant famous for its cluster of thick, banana-shaped root tubers that store nutrients. It initially produces light green, heart-shaped submerged leaves and will rapidly shoot lily-like pads to the water surface if allowed. To maintain bushy submerged growth, surface-reaching leaves should be routinely trimmed.