Green Cabomba

A Cabomba plant is becoming a popular freshwater aquarium plant for hobbyists. Cabomba plants are almost always available in stores, and may also be sold under the names Green Cabomba, Carolina Fanwort, Brazilian Fanwort, or simply Fanwort. Cabomba plants can be green or reddish-purple, with Green Cabomba plants being the more popular and more readily available. A Purple Cabomba, sometimes called a Red Cabomba, is somewhat more rare. Purple Cabomba and Red Cabomba plants can also be sold as Purple Fanwort and Red Fanwort. Under the right tank conditions, a Cabomba plant can make an excellent background plant.

Green Cabomba care can be pretty tricky. Red and Purple Cabomba care can be trickier still. So Cabomba plants may not be the best choice for beginners. This is especially true if hobbyists are trying to keep it in low light, low tech tanks.

Even under the best conditions, some hobbyists still have a difficult time growing Cabomba plants.

In low light, low tech tanks a Cabomba plant can look good for a couple of days, but the plants often start to break apart and die. The lighting requirements for Green Cabomba plants are beyond standard lighting hoods used by many new hobbyists for their freshwater community tanks. And the lighting requirements for Red Cabomba and Purple Cabomba are more stringent than for the green. The solution for the lighting requirements is not as simple as providing more low lighting for longer hours. Cabomba plants require more watts of light per gallon for longer hours.

In addition to lighting requirements, a Cabomba plant may need liquid fertilizer or root tabs to provide supplements of iron and other necessary minerals. And although not necessary, a Cabomba plant would benefit from CO2 supplements. All these issues combined make Cabomba care more challenging than some of the other starter plants available like Anacharis.

Another thing to think about related to Cabomba care is which species of fish this plant should be kept with. Because it is delicate, it is not the best choice for cichlids, goldfish or other roughens. Also some types of Apple Snails may be interested in eating it.

Water Parameters: Another Cabomba care issue has to do with aquarium water. A Cabomba plant likes clean tanks with clear gently moving water. If aquarium water moves too quickly, the plant might get jostled around and uprooted.

Aquarium pH: 6.8 – 7.5. Some hobbyists suggest lower is also acceptable.
Water Temperature: Tropical fish range, 72 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lighting: Medium to High
Tank Size: Small to Large