Anacharis
Egeria densa
Hydrocharitaceae
About
Anacharis is the trade name for Egeria densa, a fast-growing South American stem plant with brittle stems and whorls of narrow, bright-green leaves. It is the classic beginner oxygenator: root it loosely or let it drift, and it strips nitrate hard enough to starve algae while tolerating anything from an unheated tub to a tropical community tank. At heart it is a cool-water plant, growing best around 18-24 °C and turning pale and leggy if held much above 26 °C for long. Because discarded aquarium water is exactly how it escaped into waterways worldwide, it is listed as a noxious or prohibited plant in several US states and in New Zealand — check your local rules before buying, and never put trimmings into a natural water body.
Care
Plant loose bunches in the substrate or let them drift, give moderate light and cool water, and trim the tops weekly, because it grows fast enough to shade its neighbours out. No CO2 required.
Diet
Feeds mainly from the water column and pulls nitrate and ammonia down quickly; its adventitious roots are more for anchorage than nutrition, so root tabs are optional.
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Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Anacharis need?
- Anacharis does best at 10–28 °C (50–82.4 °F), pH 5–9 and a general hardness of 3–25 °dGH.
- Where should Anacharis be placed in the aquarium?
- Anacharis works best at the back of the tank and reaches around 100 cm.
- Is the Anacharis suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Anacharis is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.