Anubias Nana Next To Anubias Bertari – Anubias Nana Next To Anubias Barteri – A Guide To Creating Stunning

Written ByHoward Parker

Ever look at your aquarium and feel like something is… missing? You have healthy fish and some nice plants, but the whole scene feels a bit flat, lacking that professional, layered look you see online. It’s a common hurdle for aquarists, and it can be frustrating when you’re not sure how to create that sense of depth and visual interest.

I’m here to let you in on a little secret: one of the simplest and most effective ways to transform your tank is by pairing two of the hardiest plants in the hobby. I promise that by the end of this guide, you’ll understand exactly how placing anubias nana next to anubias barteri can create breathtaking contrast and dimension with minimal effort.

We’ll dive deep into what makes this combination so special, provide a step-by-step planting guide, share professional aquascaping tips, and troubleshoot common issues. Get ready to unlock a new level of beauty in your underwater world!

Why This Anubias Pairing is a Game-Changer for Your Tank

You might be thinking, “They’re both Anubias, how different can they be?” That’s the magic of this pairing! They share the same bulletproof care requirements but offer wonderfully different aesthetics. This creates a harmonious yet dynamic look in any aquarium.

One of the biggest benefits of anubias nana next to anubias barteri is the immediate visual contrast. The Nana is short and bushy with small, rounded leaves, while the Barteri is taller with larger, more spade-shaped leaves. Placing them together instantly creates layers and a sense of scale, making your tank look bigger and more complex.

Best of all, they are both incredibly forgiving. They don’t demand high light, CO2 injections, or a nutrient-rich substrate. For anyone just starting out or simply wanting a low-maintenance setup, this duo is a dream come true. You get a high-impact aquascape without the high-maintenance headache.

Meet Your Anubias: A Tale of Two Cousins

Before we start planting, let’s get properly acquainted with our two green heroes. Understanding their individual characteristics is the key to using them effectively in your aquascape.

Anubias Nana: The Compact Powerhouse

Think of Anubias nana as the dependable foreground and midground workhorse. It’s one of the most popular plants in the hobby for a reason.

  • Size: Typically stays small and compact, growing 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall.
  • Leaves: Features beautiful, deep green, round-to-oval shaped leaves that are thick and waxy.
  • Growth: It’s a slow grower, which means less trimming for you! This also makes it susceptible to algae if lighting is too intense.
  • Placement: Perfect for tucking into crevices in driftwood, placing on smaller rocks, or creating a bushy foreground accent.

Anubias Barteri: The Gentle Giant

Anubias barteri (the standard variety) brings height and elegance to the equation. It provides a wonderful backdrop for its smaller cousin.

  • Size: Can reach heights of 10-18 inches (25-45 cm), making it a true midground or background plant.
  • Leaves: The leaves are larger, more elongated, and often a slightly lighter shade of green than the Nana. Their spade-like shape provides a lovely contrast.
  • Growth: Like all Anubias, its growth is slow and steady.
  • Placement: Ideal for attaching to the base of large pieces of driftwood or anchoring behind rocks to soften hard lines and add a lush, vertical element.

Your Step-by-Step Guide: How to Plant Anubias Nana Next to Anubias Barteri

Alright, let’s get our hands wet! This is the fun part. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have your Anubias perfectly placed and poised for success. This is the ultimate how to anubias nana next to anubias barteri method.

  1. Prepare Your Plants: Gently remove your new Anubias from their pots and discard the rock wool. Rinse the roots and leaves under lukewarm tap water to remove any debris. This is also a good time to inspect for any damaged leaves and trim them off at the base.

  2. Respect the Rhizome: This is the most important rule of Anubias care. The rhizome is the thick, horizontal stem from which the leaves and roots grow. You must never, ever bury the rhizome in your substrate. Doing so will cause it to rot, killing the entire plant. This is non-negotiable!

  3. Choose Your Anchor: Since you can’t plant them in the substrate, Anubias need to be attached to something. Porous lava rock, spiderwood, dragon stone, or any type of aquarium-safe driftwood are all excellent choices. The tiny roots will eventually grip onto the surface and anchor the plant themselves.

  4. Attach the Plants: You have two main options here, both of which work great.

    • Super Glue Gel: Use a tiny dab of aquarium-safe cyanoacrylate super glue gel (like Loctite Gel Control). Pat the rhizome and the anchor spot dry, apply the glue, and press them together for 30 seconds. It’s fast, easy, and cures underwater.
    • Fishing Line or Cotton Thread: You can also tie the rhizome to the hardscape. Use fishing line for a permanent, invisible hold, or black cotton thread which will dissolve over a few months, by which time the plant will have attached itself.

  5. Strategic Placement: Now, place your anchored Anubias in the tank. Think about creating visual flow. Place the larger Barteri towards the back or middle, and nestle the smaller Nana in front of it or slightly to the side to create that beautiful, layered effect.

Aquascaping Magic: Design Tips and Best Practices

Simply placing the plants together is great, but applying a few design principles can elevate your tank from nice to breathtaking. This anubias nana next to anubias barteri guide wouldn’t be complete without some pro aquascaping tips.

Creating Depth and Perspective

Use the size difference to your advantage. By placing the larger Anubias barteri behind the smaller Anubias nana, you trick the eye into seeing more depth. This is a classic aquascaping technique called “forced perspective,” and it makes your aquarium look much larger and more immersive.

Playing with Texture and Light

Notice how your aquarium light hits the different leaf shapes. The broad, smooth surfaces of the Barteri leaves will reflect light differently than the dense, clustered, and rounded leaves of the Nana. This interplay of light and shadow adds a subtle complexity that is incredibly pleasing to the eye.

Ideal Tank Mates

The tough, waxy leaves of Anubias make them resistant to most fish. They are perfect for tanks with community fish like tetras, rasboras, guppies, and corydoras. They’re also fantastic for shrimp and snail tanks, as these invertebrates will helpfully graze on any algae that might grow on the leaves. Just be sure to avoid notorious plant-eaters like larger plecos, silver dollars, or goldfish.

Avoiding Pitfalls: Common Problems with Anubias Nana Next to Anubias Barteri

Even the toughest plants can run into issues. Don’t worry—most are easy to fix! Here are some common problems with anubias nana next to anubias barteri and their simple solutions.

The Dreaded Algae

Because Anubias grow so slowly, their leaves are prime real estate for algae, especially Black Beard Algae or Green Spot Algae. This is usually a sign of an imbalance in your tank.

  • Solution: Reduce your lighting period to 6-8 hours per day. Ensure your nutrient levels aren’t too high (a sign of overfeeding or infrequent water changes). Introduce an algae-eating crew like Amano shrimp or nerite snails. They love to clean Anubias leaves!

Rhizome Rot

We’ve said it before, but it’s the number one killer of this plant. If you notice the rhizome is soft, brown, and mushy, you’ve got rot.

  • Solution: If you catch it early, you can sometimes save the plant. Take it out of the tank and use a sharp, sterile blade to cut away all the mushy parts until you see healthy, firm tissue. Let it air dry for a few minutes before re-attaching it to a new spot on your hardscape, ensuring it’s fully exposed to the water column.

Yellowing Leaves (Chlorosis)

If your leaves are turning yellow, it’s often a sign of a nutrient deficiency. While Anubias are light feeders, they still need some essential micronutrients.

  • Solution: A good, comprehensive liquid fertilizer dosed once or twice a week is usually all they need. Look for one that contains iron and potassium, as these are common deficiencies. Don’t overdo it—a little goes a long way for these slow-growing plants.

The Eco-Conscious Aquarist: Sustainable Anubias Care

One of the best things about Anubias is how easy they are to propagate. This is the heart of a sustainable anubias nana next to anubias barteri setup. Instead of buying new plants, you can create them yourself!

Once your plant’s rhizome is long enough (at least 3-4 inches), you can safely divide it. Simply take the plant out of the water and use a clean razor blade to cut the rhizome into sections. Make sure each new section has at least 3-4 healthy leaves. That’s it! You can now attach these new, smaller plants elsewhere in your tank or share them with a friend.

This practice is incredibly rewarding and is a cornerstone of being an eco-friendly anubias nana next to anubias barteri keeper. You reduce waste, save money, and participate in the wonderful cycle of growth right in your own home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Anubias Nana and Anubias Barteri

Can I plant Anubias directly in the substrate?

No. This is the most critical rule. The rhizome (the thick horizontal stem) must be kept above the substrate, attached to rock or wood. Burying it will cause it to rot and kill the plant.

How fast do these Anubias varieties grow?

Extremely slowly! You might only see one new leaf every month or so. This is perfectly normal. Their slow growth is what makes them so low-maintenance and a great choice for beginners.

Do Anubias Nana and Barteri need CO2 or strong lighting?

Absolutely not. They thrive in low-to-moderate light and do not require any CO2 injection. In fact, placing them under very high light will just encourage algae to grow on their leaves. They are the ultimate low-tech aquarium plants.

What’s the best way to attach them to driftwood?

Both super glue gel and fishing line/thread work wonderfully. Super glue gel is faster and easier for most people. Tying with thread is a more traditional method that also works perfectly well. It’s a matter of personal preference!

Go Forth and Create Your Green Masterpiece!

You now have all the knowledge you need to confidently and successfully use anubias nana next to anubias barteri. You understand their unique characteristics, how to plant them correctly, and how to combine them to create a visually stunning and natural-looking aquascape.

This simple pairing is one of the most rewarding projects for any aquarist. It’s forgiving, beautiful, and teaches the fundamental principles of aquascaping—contrast, scale, and texture.

So go ahead, grab a few plants, and start creating. Remember the golden rule—don’t bury that rhizome—and you’ll enjoy these incredible plants for years to come. Happy scaping!

Howard Parker
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