Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm setting up a new 20 gallon tank and wanna know if Anubias or Java Moss is better for low light. Heard both are easy but which one grows faster and needs less maintenance?

Anubias is slower growing but more structured, Java Moss spreads quickly but can get messy. For a 20 gallon, Anubias might be better if you want defined shapes. Java Moss is great for coverage but needs trimming often. What's your lighting setup?

Java Moss is like the couch potato of plants, it'll grow anywhere but won't win any beauty contests. Anubias has those nice broad leaves, but yeah, it's slow. If you're impatient, go with the moss.

I've got both in my 10 gallon. The Java Moss took over in like a month, but my Anubias is still tiny. If you wanna chill and not mess with trimming, Anubias is the way.

Java Moss attaches easily to driftwood and rocks, Anubias needs to be tied or glued. Both are low light tolerant, but Java Moss is more versatile for aquascaping.

Anubias is less likely to trap debris, which can be a problem with Java Moss in tanks with high bioload. Have you considered your fish stock?

Thanks for the tips, guys. I've got a basic LED light, nothing fancy, and just a couple of guppies. Sounds like Java Moss might be too much work.

dorvil9 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 04, 2025 12:03 am Thanks for the tips, guys. I've got a basic LED light, nothing fancy, and just a couple of guppies. Sounds like Java Moss might be too much work.

With guppies, Anubias is a solid choice. The leaves provide good cover for fry if you end up with any.

Yeah, guppies love hiding in Anubias leaves. Java Moss is like a jungle gym for them, but you'll be fishing out clumps of it every other week.

My guppies bred like crazy in Java Moss, but it's a pain to clean. Anubias stays tidy, just don't bury the rhizome or it'll rot.