Anubias are very resistant aquatic epiphyte plants with thick and bright dark green leaves. They differ from other traditional aquarium plants because of the rhizome from which their root system starts, used to anchor on any kind of surface.
The most common varieties of Anubias in the hobby are:
In general, they can tolerate a wide range of pH that can go from 5.5 to 8.5 and temperatures as high as 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30C), this makes them suitable for all kinds of biotope aquariums ranging from the acidic Amazon biotope to the basic Malawi biotope. Our recommendation is to put them in a tank with 7 Ph and a GH<10 to help them grow optimally.
With Anubias you can apply the rule “The less the better”, in general, they don’t like direct light (in nature they tend to grow under other plants’ shadows) as this will get them covered with algae and will cause young leaves to get pale. Our recommendation: place them in shadow areas or try to screen the light with floating plants.
Anubias are epiphyte plants and can be grown on surfaces such as wood and rocks. Planted aquarium soils are not required. They can be grown using an innert substrates like sand and gravel, as long as the rhizome is out of the substrate they will do just fine. REMBER TO PLACE THEM OUT OF THE SUBSTRATE! We recommend nutrient rich planted substrates for the fastest growth but they are not required.
Anubias plants can be put anywhere in the tank (tend to grow better in shadow areas, under strong light, they may develop algae spots on the leaves). They can be glued or tied with some string to woods or rocks. Most aquascapers use anubias to fill shaded areas of the scape that other plants would do poorly in. It is important to distinguish between the varieties as the dimensions differ considerably among them.
Anubias are slow-growing plants so they are really easy to maintain (1 new leaf every 10-15 days).
In order to trim Anubias you will need to identify the end part of a leaf and cut it at the rhizome. The rhizome will propagate itself creeping over the surface of the wood/rock and will gradually generate new leaves. In order to divide an Anubias into two plants, you need to cut a part of the rhizome with some leaves on it and place it wherever you like it.
Anubias are slow-growing and because of this, they are not really great at reducing pollutants (nitrite and nitrates) in the tank so its better to complement them with some fast-growing stem plants (as Limnophilla Sessiflora, Egeria Densa and others). The rigid leaf structures hold up well to larger fish species like cichlids. They are very hardy plants in general.
Anubias plants are really beautiful plants, perfect to decorate woods and rocks and give some life to your aquarium. Just remember (I can’t stress this enough) to put them out of the substrate and you will have a wonderful low demanding plant for your aquarium.