Fast growing aquarium plants
Especially in order to curb excess nutrients, it is worthwhile to rely on fast-growing aquatic plants. Especially those that are quite uncomplicated in care and forgive the one or other faux pas if necessary, are particularly well suited for this. Another advantage of rapid growth is that the plants can be trimmed in a timely manner, so that the groups of plants once planted can be condensed and expanded in no time at all. Stem plants can be easily propagated by head cuttings, which in turn are planted in the substrate. In this way, the run-in phase and thus potentially occurring algae phases can not only be somewhat mitigated, but the aquarium is also nicely planted afterwards.
Dense groups of plants not only serve as a refuge for fish and other aquarium inhabitants, they are also able to remove the majority of nutrients before algae develops as a result. As the main oxygen providers in the aquarium, they also have an important role to play.
Let's take a look at a few plants:
Brazilian pennywort - Hydrocotyle leucocephala
For medium background, low light, CO2 not required, soft to medium hard water
Brazilian Mosswort - Mayaca fluviatilis
For background or marginal areas, but also suitable as a floating plant. Tolerates very soft to medium hard water. CO2 not required.
Wide Amazon Plant - Echinodorus bleheri
For mid-background, tolerates all water hardness, CO2 not required.
Dense-leaved Rotala - Rotala macrandra
For background and border, tolerates very soft to medium hard water, CO2 not required, but adds color.
Fine Milfoil - Myriophyllum propinum
For background and border areas, but also suitable as a floating plant. Tolerates soft to hard water, CO2 not required.
Madagascar true water ear - Aponogeton ulvaceus
Tuber for the background, tolerates very soft to hard water, CO2 recommended.
River Buttercup - Ranunculus inundatus
For background in nano, marginal and middle ground in larger aquariums. Tolerates very soft to medium hard water, CO2 recommended.
Grass-like sword plant - Echinodorus tenellus
For foreground to middle in larger tanks, mid-rim background in nano tanks, tolerates very soft to medium hard water, CO2 not required.
Guyanese Water Lily - Hygrophila costata
For background and border areas, tolerates very soft to medium hard water, CO2 not required.
Indian Rotala - Rotala indica
For background and margins, tolerates very soft to medium hard water, CO2 not required but recommended for leaf color.
Indian water friend - Hygrophila polysperma
For medium background and margins. Tolerates very soft to hard water. Suitable for cold water. CO2 not required.
Indian starwort - Pogostemon erectus
For mid-ground to background, tolerates soft to hard water, CO2 not required but recommended for leaf color.
Japanese pennywort - Hydrocotyle tripartia
For foreground-middle ground in nano aquarium, tolerates low light, for soft to medium hard water, CO2 recommended.
Giant water friend - Hygrophila corymbosa
For middle to background and edge, tolerates very soft to hard water, CO2 not required.
Small Ambulia - Limnophila sessiliflora
For background, requires medium to high light, O2 not required, tolerates soft to hard water.
Mato Grosso water milfoil - Myriophyllum mattogrossense
For background and border area, requires medium to high lighting, tolerates very soft to hard water. CO2 not necessary.
Star ludwigia - Ludwigia glandulosa
Suitable for mid to background and border areas, medium to high lighting, tolerates soft to medium hard water.
Ruby red ludwigia - Ludwigia repens
Suitable for medium to background and marginal areas, light requirements medium to high, CO2 not required.
Broad-leaved star plant - Pogostemon stellatus
For background, needs very good lighting, tolerates soft to hard water, CO2 not required for leaf color but recommended.
Christmas moss - Vesicularia montagnei
Suitable for all areas, tolerates soft to hard water, CO2 not required.
Dark red parrot leaf - Alternanthera reineckii red
For mid and background, needs good lighting, tolerates very soft to medium hard water, CO2 recommended for good leaf color.
By all means, there are quite a few other plants that would be suitable for initial planting. Also with some Mosses or Floating plants can be used to keep excess nutrients in check. These two in particular can be plucked or weeded in no time at all and are therefore easy to handle.