Caring for live aquatic plants comes with a learning curve. But once your planted aquarium begins thriving, you’ll often face a surprising question:

What do you do with all the extra plants?

Can you turn your trimmings into a side income?

The answer is yes  but your approach depends on how much time, money, and effort you’re willing to invest.

Some aquarists want a little “fun money” to offset hobby costs. Others want to build a serious plant-growing business competing with large farms.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• 3 levels of selling aquarium plants

• Detailed Anubias care guide

• Propagation methods

• Species breakdown (large to nano)

• Equipment recommendations

• Product suggestions from AquariumProductsIndia.com

Part 1: Selling Aquarium Plants – 3 Levels

🟢 Easy Mode: Selling to Local Fish Stores

If your tank is producing excess floating plants or stem trimmings, your local fish store is the easiest starting point.

The Reality

Stores prefer wholesalers because:

• Plants arrive pre-packaged

• They’re uniform in size

• They require less handling

If you bring a messy bucket of mixed trimmings, the store won’t want to process it.

How to Compete with Wholesalers

✔ Pre-package 4–5 stems
✔ Cut to 5–6 inches (12–15 cm)
✔ Remove algae
✔ Keep them rooted

Increase Value

Instead of loose bunches, place stems in rock wool pots spaced properly. This:

• Prevents rotting

• Encourages root growth

• Looks professional

Recommended Supplies

To grow healthy saleable plants, you’ll need:

• Aquarium LED Lights (Full Spectrum)

• Bio Media for Stable Water Parameters

• Internal Filters for Clean Water Flow

• All-in-One Fertilizer

👉 Shop Lighting:
https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/aquarium-lights

👉 shop filtration and biomedia:

https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/filter-media

👉 Shop Water Conditioners:
https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/water-conditioners

 Intermediate Mode: Selling Aquarium Plants Online

Platforms:

• AquaBid

• eBay

• Etsy

• Local classifieds

Your New Responsibilities

• High-quality photos

• Accurate descriptions

• Water parameters

• Shipping policy

• Live arrival guarantee

• Customer support

Differentiate Yourself

• Submersed-grown plants

• Snail-free (if true)

• Rooted plants

• No algae

• Clean trimming

Products That Help Maintain Quality

To ensure your plants arrive healthy:

✔ Strong filtration
✔ Stable temperature
✔ Balanced nutrients

Recommended:

👉 Shop Lighting:
https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/aquarium-lights

👉 shop filtration and biomedia:

https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/filter-media

👉 Shop Water Conditioners:
https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/water-conditioners

🔴 Expert Mode: Scaling Into a Plant Farm

Now you’re buying dedicated tanks purely for production.

What You’ll Need

1️⃣ Water Containers

Instead of expensive display tanks:

• Plastic tubs

• Grow-out tanks

• Shallow propagation trays

2️⃣ CO₂ Injection

For faster growth:

• Pressurized CO₂ systems

• Regulators

• Diffusers

3️⃣ Fertilizers

Slow growers like Anubias need long-term nutrient stability.

Product Essentials

✔ Aquarium LED Lighting
✔ Aquarium Air Pumps
✔ Bio Media
✔ Water Conditioners
✔ Submersible Pumps

👉 Browse All Essentials:
https://aquariumproductsindia.com

Part 2: Complete Anubias Care Guide

Anubias is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly aquarium plants.

Often jokingly called a “living plastic plant” because of its toughness.

🌍 Origin of Anubias

Native to West Africa, Anubias grow along shaded jungle streams and waterfalls.

They are epiphytes — meaning they:

• Attach to wood

• Attach to rocks

• Do NOT naturally grow buried deep in soil

  

How to Grow & Care for Anubias

✅ Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–30°C

• pH: 6–8

• GH: 4–30

• Light: Low to Medium

Clean water is critical because Anubias grows slowly and is prone to algae.

Recommended Products

👉 Shop Lighting:
https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/aquarium-lights

👉 shop filtration and biomedia:

https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/filter-media

👉 Shop Water Conditioners:
https://aquariumproductsindia.com/collections/water-conditioners

Clean water = algae-free Anubias.

💡 Lighting

Anubias prefers low to moderate light.

Too much light:

• Causes Green Spot Algae (GSA)

• Encourages Black Beard Algae (BBA)

Place them in shaded areas.

Recommended:
👉 AquariumProductsIndia LED Lights

🌿 CO₂ & Fertilizer

Do you NEED CO₂?

No.

Does CO₂ improve growth?

Absolutely.

Even without CO₂, Anubias survives well. But with proper nutrients, growth becomes:

• Faster

• More robust

• More algae resistant

Signs of Deficiency

• Yellow older leaves

• Pale new growth

• Chlorosis

Use balanced fertilizers from AquariumProductsIndia’s water care range.

How to Plant Anubias

✔ On Rocks or Driftwood

Use:

• Super glue (gel type)

• Cotton thread

• Zip ties

DO NOT bury the rhizome.

✔ In Substrate

If planting:

• Keep rhizome above substrate line

• Only roots buried

Propagating Anubias

Propagation is simple:

1. Wait until rhizome grows long

2. Cut into segments

3. Ensure each segment has 2–3 leaves

Healthy rhizomes:

• Nana → 2–3 cm segments

• Barteri → 4–5 cm segments

Each segment becomes a new plant.

Popular Anubias Varieties

Large Varieties

• Anubias gigantea

• Anubias afzelii

• Anubias heterophylla

Medium Varieties

• Anubias barteri

• Anubias coffeefolia

• Anubias congensis

Small / Nano Varieties

• Anubias nana ‘Petite’

• Anubias nana ‘Pangolino’

• Anubias ‘Chilli’

Variegated:

• Anubias ‘Pinto’

• Anubias White Petite

Key Success Factors

✔ Clean water
✔ Stable parameters
✔ Moderate light
✔ Avoid burying rhizome
✔ Avoid strong direct flow
✔ Long-term nutrient support

Common Problems & Solutions

❌ Black Beard Algae (BBA)

Cause: Too much direct flow
Solution: Move plant away from outlet

❌ Yellow Leaves

Cause: Nutrient deficiency
Solution: Add balanced fertilizer

❌ Rhizome Rot

Cause: Buried rhizome
Solution: Keep rhizome exposed

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Anubias good for beginners?

Yes. Anubias is one of the easiest aquarium plants to grow because it tolerates:

• Low light

• No CO₂

• Wide pH range

• Irregular fertilization

It grows slowly, which means fewer trimming demands and lower maintenance.

2. Why are my Anubias leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves usually indicate:

• Nutrient deficiency (especially nitrogen or iron)

• Old leaves naturally dying

• Poor water quality

Solution:

• Add balanced liquid fertilizer

• Improve filtration

• Perform regular water changes

3. Can I plant Anubias in substrate?

Yes, but never bury the rhizome.

Only the roots should be in substrate. The thick horizontal stem (rhizome) must stay exposed or it will rot.

4. Does Anubias need CO₂?

No, but CO₂ improves:

• Growth speed

• Leaf size

• Overall plant health

It thrives without CO₂, making it ideal for low-tech tanks.

5. Why is algae growing on my Anubias?

Anubias grows slowly. This makes it vulnerable to algae when:

• Lighting is too strong

• Tank has excess nutrients

• Water flow is poor

Reduce light to 6–8 hours/day and maintain stable parameters.

6. How long does Anubias take to grow?

It is a slow grower.

• New leaf: Every 3–6 weeks (low tech)

• Faster with CO₂ and fertilizer

Patience is key.

7. How do I propagate Anubias?

Simply:

1. Wait for a long rhizome

2. Cut into sections

3. Ensure each section has 2–3 leaves

Each piece becomes a new plant.

8. Is selling Anubias profitable?

Yes — if you:

• Maintain consistent stock

• Grow healthy algae-free plants

• Package professionally

• Sell rooted plants instead of trimmings

Scaling properly increases margins significantly.

9. Why is my Anubias melting?

“Melting” usually happens due to:

• Sudden parameter change

• Shipping stress

• Drastic lighting change

Stable water fixes most issues.

10. What is the best light for Anubias?

Low to medium full-spectrum LED lighting.

Too much intensity causes algae buildup.