Thinking about getting your First Tropical Fish Tank?
If you need some help to get into the fish keeping hobby, we are here to help you as much as we can. There are lots of articles in our knowledge, that you might find interesting. We also have a FREE Beginners Guide to Setting up a fish tank.
Aquarium Plants
Explore our collection of high quality aquarium plants, ranging from hardy species for beginners to specialist varieties for advanced aquascaping.
Why Choose Byrkley Aquatics
Discover why you should choose us as your number one aquatic supplies provider.
40 Years of Family-Run Expertise
When you shop with us, you are supported by a family-run business with four decades of hands-on fish-keeping experience.
Unrivalled Health & Biosecurity
We maintain over 70 dedicated tropical stock aquariums, each featuring its own independent filtration system.
Strict Five-Day Quarantine
All our fish are sourced from premium, trusted suppliers and undergo a mandatory minimum five-day quarantine before they are made available for sale.
Pristine Tank Maintenance
Our aquariums are subject to a relentless cleaning and maintenance schedule, with regular, documented water quality checks and professional-grade filtration.
Peak Physical Conditioning
A superior diet is the foundation of livestock health. We feed our fish a diverse rotation of high-quality dry, live, and frozen foods, ensuring they are in peak physical condition.
Professional Guidance & Support
Success in the hobby comes down to the right advice. From choosing the perfect tank mates to detailed species-specific care, our experts will guide you through every stage of your journey with bespoke, honest recommendations.
CO2 Art Products
As a global leader in German-engineered aquarium systems, CO2Art provides the reliable tools and expertise needed to bring your underwater world to life.
Come and visit us and the fish in store!
While we ship our professional hardware and plants nationwide, we have made the conscious decision not to sell fish through our online store. Aquatic livestock are highly sensitive to the stress of transit, temperature fluctuations, and handling delays. To ensure the highest standards of fish welfare, we believe the safest way to acquire new inhabitants is to select them in-person from our quarantined stock. You can find out more about our store below.
Aquarium Essentials
If you are looking to have your first aquarium, here are the essential collections needed to set you up.
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STORE PICK UP ONLY
STORE PICK UP ONLY
STORE PICK UP ONLY
Tropical & Pond Specialists
We maintain over 70 individually filtered tropical aquariums, specialising in premium Betta fish, vibrant Guppies, and home-bred shrimp. From late February through September, our focus expands to our water gardening section, stocking a healthy range of Pond fish including Koi, Shubunkins, and Orfe, alongside a comprehensive selection of aquatic plants.
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Tropical Fish Hub
We house the largest selection of tropical fish in the Burton-on-Trent area, across over 90 individually filtered aquariums. Every tank runs on its own system, so we can isolate health issues, prevent cross-contamination between varieties, and tailor the water, softening it or adjusting pH, to suit whatever we're keeping in that tank.
Beginner Aquarium Plants
From the team at Byrkley Aquatics & Aquascaping, Burton on Trent — nearly 40 years of helping fishkeepers get it right.
There are plenty of plant guides online. Most of them give you a list of eight species, tell you they're easy, and leave you to it. What they don't tell you is why your stem plants went leggy after a fortnight, why your fish are nibbling the leaves, or why you ended up with more algae than you started with.
This guide is different. It's built on the conversations we have every day in our shop — the questions people ask, the mistakes they come back with, and the moments when a tank truly comes alive. Whether you're adding a few plants to an existing tank or planning your first proper aquascape, we want to help you get it right first time.
Before You Buy a Single Plant
The first thing we do when someone asks us about plants isn't point them towards a shelf. We ask questions.
What sort of tank do you have — tropical or coldwater? What size is it? How long has it been running? Have you kept plants before? What are you hoping to achieve — a few easy plants to brighten things up, or a full planted aquascape? And perhaps most importantly: how much maintenance are you happy to do?
That last question matters more than people expect. Some plants need trimming every couple of weeks to look their best. Others will sit happily on a piece of driftwood for years and ask almost nothing of you. Knowing which camp you're in before you buy anything will save you a great deal of frustration.
Budget is also worth thinking about honestly — not because we're judging what you spend, but because the wrong plant for the wrong setup is money wasted. A cheap bunch of stem plants that dies in a fortnight isn't a bargain. A slightly pricier Anubias that thrives for years with minimal care is genuinely good value.
Why Real Plants Make Such a Difference
Live plants aren't decoration with roots. They're actively working in your tank.
They compete with algae by consuming the same nutrients from the water. They oxygenate the water. They provide shelter, hiding spots, and enrichment for your fish. And they create the kind of natural, layered environment that fish — particularly smaller species — feel genuinely safe in.
Once you've experienced a properly planted tank, it's very hard to go back.
The Algae Myth — Let's Clear This Up
We hear it regularly: "I don't want plants because they'll cause algae."
This is the wrong way round. Plants don't cause algae — they help prevent it. Algae is caused by an imbalance in your tank: too much light, excess nutrients, poor water quality, or a combination of all three. Healthy, well-chosen plants actively compete with algae by consuming those same nutrients. A well-planted tank is generally a lower-algae tank. If you're already dealing with an algae problem, our guide on causes of algae and how to get it under control is a good place to start.
Understanding Plant Types — This Changes Everything
Before we get to specific recommendations, it's worth understanding the two broad groups of aquarium plants, because they have very different requirements.
Epiphytes are plants that draw nutrients from the water column rather than through their roots. Anubias, Java Fern, and Bucephalandra are all epiphytes. The easiest way to keep them is attached to wood, rock, or décor — this gives you flexibility to reposition them and means you don't need to worry about substrate at all. That said, they will grow in substrate provided the rhizome isn't buried too deeply. We have Anubias growing beautifully along the substrate in one of our own displays. Epiphytes tend to be slow-growing, low-maintenance, and very forgiving. They do well in lower light and will grow without CO2, though like most plants they'll do better with it. The important thing to understand is that epiphytes are slow growers — they don't consume nutrients quickly. If there's an imbalance of nutrients alongside CO2 in the tank, algae can take hold before the plants have chance to use those nutrients up. So while CO2 isn't harmful, it needs to be balanced correctly. For anyone who wants beautiful plants with minimal fuss, epiphytes are the place to start.
Rooting plants draw nutrients through their root systems and need to be planted in the substrate. Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria, Echinodorus (Amazon Sword), and Hygrophila all fall into this category. They generally benefit from a nutritious substrate or root tabs, and grow more vigorously with decent lighting.
Our Honest Take on CO2
You'll see a lot of debate about CO2 online. Here's the straightforward version.
For the epiphytes we recommend to most beginners — Anubias, Java Fern, Bucephalandra — CO2 will help them grow better, just as it does with most plants. However, because epiphytes are slow-growing, they don't consume nutrients quickly. If CO2 and nutrients are out of balance in the tank, algae can take hold before the plants have a chance to use those nutrients up. It's not that CO2 is bad for epiphytes — it's that it needs to be introduced as part of a balanced setup, not just added in isolation.
For rooting plants like Vallisneria, Cryptocoryne, and Echinodorus, CO2 isn't essential but will improve growth and colour. Good lighting and root fertiliser will often get you a long way without it.
For stem plants and more demanding species, CO2 makes a noticeable difference. But even here, you have options before committing to a full pressurised system. Liquid carbon is a good starting point — it's more useful for keeping algae in check than as a true fertiliser, but it does help. And if you have a smaller tank and want to try CO2 without a big outlay, disposable CO2 kits cost under £15 and will last 30 to 60 days depending on use. They make a real difference to plants like Monte Carlo that struggle without it.
The honest truth about plants is this: to get the very best from them, you need the right balance of light, water quality, and nutrients. The best equipment can be expensive, but there are options at every budget, and you can still create something genuinely beautiful with modest outlay — if you choose the right plants for what you have.
Substrate and Planting — Getting the Foundation Right
Learn the essentials of setting up and maintaining a thriving tropical aquarium. From water chemistry to fish compatibility, we'll guide you through every step of your aquatic journey.