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.
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.
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
Water Fern
Azolla filiculoides
Dwarf Chain Sword
Helanthium tenellum
Carolina Mosquito Fern
Azolla caroliniana
Giant Salvinia
Salvinia molesta
Common Duckweed
Lemna minor
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
Scarlet Temple
Alternanthera reineckii
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.
Lemon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
X-Ray Tetra (Pristella)
Pristella maxillaris
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya
Twig Catfish (Farlowella)
Farlowella acus
Gold Barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
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.
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.
Glosso
Glossostigma elatinoides
Glossostigma elatinoides, commonly known as Glosso, is a classic and highly popular aquarium carpeting plant native to the swamps and bogs of Australia and New Zealand. Prized for its ability to form a dense, bright green mat along the aquarium floor, it is often a centerpiece in high-tech nature aquariums. It is a demanding plant that requires intense lighting and carbon dioxide supplementation to creep horizontally; without these, it tends to grow leggy and vertical. Frequent trimming is necessary to prevent the carpet from overgrowing itself, which can lead to the lower layers dying off and the mat detaching from the substrate.
Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana
A popular houseplant and marginal terrarium plant frequently sold for aquariums. While its roots can be permanently submerged, its foliage must remain above the water line to prevent rotting. It is highly effective at absorbing nitrates when grown in open-top tanks, hang-on-back filters, or ripariums where its stems extend out of the water.
Asian Watermoss
Salvinia cucullata
Salvinia cucullata is a distinct floating fern native to Asia, instantly recognizable by its tightly cupped or hood-like leaves. It thrives in still waters, absorbing excess nutrients directly from the water column, making it an excellent plant for managing water quality and outcompeting algae. The trailing root-like structures (which are actually modified leaves) provide a perfect refuge for fry and shrimp. It requires moderate to high lighting to maintain its characteristic cupped leaf shape; under low light or poor nutrition, the leaves may grow flat.
Sweet Potato
Ipomoea batatas
While not a true aquatic plant, the sweet potato is widely used in the hobby for aquaponics and extreme nitrate reduction. The tuber or a cutting is suspended at the water's surface, allowing an extensive, dense root system to grow down into the water column while the leafy vines grow entirely emersed above the tank. The massive root network provides excellent refuge for fry and shrimp while rapidly absorbing excess nutrients.