Bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana and Bacopa monnieri) is a hardy, medium-growth stem plant with rounded, fleshy leaves that tolerates a wide range of water, grows in low to medium light without CO2, and is easy to propagate from cuttings, which makes it a reliable background or midground plant for Indian aquariums. Under bright light the new tops take on a coppery bronze colour. Bacopa is forgiving of mistakes with fertilizer and temperature, though it grows slowly in dim light. This guide covers care, light, fertilizer, planting and trimming, the difference between the two common species, how to fix melting and algae, and which fish suit it.
Quick answer: Plant bacopa cuttings 3-4 cm into the substrate with the lower leaves removed, give it medium light for 7-8 hours and keep water at about 20-28 C. Add a little liquid fertilizer weekly and a root tab every two to three months. Trim the tops every few weeks to keep the plant bushy; it can melt for the first one to two weeks after planting, which is normal.
Bacopa at a glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific names | Bacopa caroliniana (giant bacopa) and Bacopa monnieri (water hyssop or brahmi) |
| Origin | Wetlands and slow waters of the Americas (caroliniana) and tropical Asia including India (monnieri) |
| Plant type | Stem plant; grows in water or emersed |
| Light | Low to medium; bronze tops under bright light |
| CO2 | Not needed; faster growth with it |
| Temperature | About 20-28 C; copes with brief warm spells |
| Water | Soft to hard water, pH roughly 6 to 8 |
| Growth speed | Medium; faster in strong light with nutrients |
| Height | 20-40 cm for giant bacopa; monnieri is smaller and creeping |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Fish eat it? | Goldfish and some cichlids may nibble; the leaves are fleshy and bitter |
Why bacopa suits Indian aquariums
Bacopa monnieri grows wild in wet places across India, and both species cope with Indian tap water, wide temperature ranges and ordinary lights. The fleshy leaves are tougher than those of many stem plants, so bacopa often survives in tanks with fish that damage softer plants. It also works in low-tech tanks with no CO2, and it responds well to trimming. Compare it with other stem plants in our Ludwigia, Rotala and Cabomba guide, water wisteria guide and fastest growing aquarium plants article.
Bacopa caroliniana and Bacopa monnieri compared
| Feature | Giant bacopa (B. caroliniana) | Water hyssop or brahmi (B. monnieri) |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf shape | Rounded to oval, fleshy, in opposite pairs | Small, rounded, spoon-like leaves |
| Size | Tall, 20-40 cm | Smaller and creeping, 10-20 cm |
| Growth | Medium, upright | Medium to fast, spreads along the surface |
| Best placement | Background and midground | Foreground to midground, cover on rocks |
| Colour | Green with bronze tops in strong light | Bright green |
| Notes | Most common aquarium bacopa | Also grown for herbal use; buy aquarium-grown plants for tanks |
Plants sold in India as brahmi for herbal use are grown for other purposes and may carry pesticides. Buy bacopa for your tank from an aquatic plant seller, and never eat or use aquarium plants as herbal medicine.
Light and CO2
Medium light for 7-8 hours suits bacopa. In low light it grows slowly and stays green; in stronger light the tops turn bronze and growth becomes bushier. See our planted aquarium lighting guide and how many hours to run an aquarium light. Good lights include the Neo Helios Nano S3 Pro+ (₹1,250) for nano and small tanks and the Sobo AL-380 (15.5W) (₹1,230) for 1-2 foot tanks. Bacopa does not need CO2; see our low-tech planted tank guide.
Planted tank lights by tank size (Fish Bazaar range)
Pick the row that matches your tank length, then choose by plant level: the cheaper full-spectrum lights suit low to medium light plants such as Anubias, Java fern and Cryptocoryne, while the Chihiros WRGB II Pro and B Series are built for red plants, carpets and CO2 tanks. Tank length is the longest side of the glass. Prices are in rupees as listed on Fish Bazaar on 9 October 2026 and can change, so check the product page for the current price and stock.
| Tank length | Light | Power | Best for | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano, about 20 cm | Sobo AL-180 COB | 8W | Easy low-light plants: Anubias nana, mosses, Bucephalandra, small Crypts | ₹890 |
| Nano, about 20 cm | BluePet N6 Neo+ | 6W | Easy low-light nano plants; full spectrum | ₹550 |
| Nano, about 20 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 20) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech planted tanks; tunable colour | ₹4,900 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Neo Helios Flat Nano S3 Plus | 13W | Low to medium light: Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Java fern, easy stems | ₹1,050 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Neo Helios Flat Nano S3 Pro+ (10000K) | 13W | Low to medium light; cooler 10000K full spectrum | ₹1,250 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Blue Pet Flat Nano S3 WRGB | 10W | Easy low-light nano plants; WRGB colour | ₹850 |
| Nano and small tanks (about 20-40 cm) | Blue Pet Flat Nano S4 WRGB | 16W | Low to medium light; more penetration than the S3 | ₹1,010 |
| 30-40 cm (about 1 to 1.5 ft) | RS Electrical RS-S13 clip-on | 12W | Low to medium light; clip-on for rimless tanks | ₹860 |
| 30-40 cm (about 1 to 1.5 ft) | RS Electrical RS-L13 clip-on (10000K) | 12W | Small planted tanks; clip-on, full-spectrum beads | ₹850 |
| 30 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 30) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹5,900 |
| 30 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (30) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹22,000 |
| 30 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (30) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹11,600 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 40-50 cm (about 1.5 ft) | Sobo AL-380 COB | 15.5W | Low to medium light: Anubias, Crypts, Java fern, easy stems | ₹1,230 |
| 45 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 45) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹6,500 |
| 45 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (45) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹26,000 |
| 45 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (45) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹12,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 50-60 cm (about 2 ft) | Sobo AL-480 COB | 21W | Low to medium light; add CO2 and dosing for carpets and red plants | ₹1,500 |
| 50-60 cm (about 2 ft) | Neo-Helios XP-300 (up to about 2-2.5 ft) | 16W | Small to medium planted tanks; many medium-light plants | ₹3,450 |
| 60 cm | Chihiros B Series (B 60) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹7,200 |
| 60 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (60) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹31,999 |
| 60 cm | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (60) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹15,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 80 cm (about 2.5 ft) | Chihiros B Series (B 80) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹9,800 |
| 80 cm (about 2.5 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (80) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹37,999 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Neo-Helios XP-600 (3 ft and up) | 32W | Medium to large planted tanks, including more demanding plants | ₹5,050 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Chihiros B Series (B 90) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹10,700 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (90) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹41,999 |
| 90 cm (3 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (90) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹20,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Neo-Helios XP-1200 (4 ft and up) | 64W | Medium to large planted tanks, including more demanding plants | ₹5,850 |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Chihiros B Series (B 120) | White + RGB, app control | Medium to high-tech; red plants | ₹11,500 |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Pro (120) | 4-in-1 WRGB, app control | High-tech tanks with demanding plants | ₹52,999 |
| 120 cm (4 ft) | Chihiros WRGB II Slim (120) | WRGB, app control | Planted and high-tech; use CO2 and dosing for demanding plants | ₹24,000 (sold out at time of writing) |
| Specialist Chihiros (tank size not stated on the product page) | Chihiros A II 801 | White LED, app control | Densely planted freshwater tanks; acrylic stand, no metal legs | ₹11,500 (sold out at time of writing) |
| Specialist Chihiros (tank size not stated on the product page) | Chihiros RGB Vivid II Mini | RGB, app control | The most demanding plants; mount or pendant versions | ₹27,400 pendant, 28,800 mount (sold out at time of writing) |
Chihiros sizes (30, 45, 60, 80, 90, 120) match the tank length in cm. Wattage alone does not decide plant growth, so match the light to your plants and add CO2 and fertilizer only if you want demanding species. Not sure which light fits your tank? See the full aquarium light range or message us with your tank size.
Water and temperature
Bacopa grows in soft or hard water and a pH from about 6 to 8, so most Indian tap water is suitable. The comfortable range is roughly 20-28 C; it tolerates short warm spells but slows down and may shed lower leaves when water stays above about 30 C, so shade the tank and keep air moving across the surface in summer. Use a conditioner such as Sunken Garden Anti Chlorine (₹290) on water changes and keep changes modest, because large swings in temperature or hardness often trigger melting. Our water conditioner guide explains the dose.
Fertilizer and root tabs
Bacopa feeds through both leaves and roots. A weekly dose of an all-in-one such as Sunken Garden Green (₹490) and a root tab such as Sunken Garden Root Tabs (₹290) every two to three months suit most tanks. Pale new leaves, small leaves or holes usually point to a nutrient shortage; see the aquarium plant fertilizer guide, how to dose aquarium fertilizer and nutrient deficiency in aquarium plants.
How to plant bacopa
- Rinse the plant and quarantine it; see how to dip and quarantine new plants.
- Separate the bunch into single stems and remove any bands or weights.
- Trim the base and strip the lowest pair of leaves.
- Push each stem 3-4 cm into the substrate and space stems 2-3 cm apart.
- Add a root tab nearby and keep a steady light cycle.
- Leave it for two weeks; remove melting leaves as new growth starts.
See how to plant aquarium plants for other methods and plant holders, pots, weights and glue for tools.
Trimming and propagating bacopa
Bacopa grows upwards and then bends along the surface. Trim a stem about 10 cm from the top and replant the top; the old stem will form side shoots, which makes the plant bushier. Every cutting with two nodes can be planted or floated and will form roots in one to two weeks. Bacopa grown above water, with the tops out of the tank, can also flower with small white or pale blue flowers. See how to propagate aquarium plants for methods and how to grow aquarium plants faster for tips to speed growth.
Growing bacopa emersed
Bacopa is one of the plants that is happy both under and above water. If a stem grows past the surface, the leaves above water become smaller and tougher and may produce small flowers. Some keepers use this on purpose: they plant bacopa in a corner of a tank with an open top, or in a paludarium or planted bowl, and let the tops grow out of the water. Emersed growth is faster because the leaves take carbon dioxide from the air. If you later trim these tops and replant them underwater, expect the old leaves to melt and new submerged leaves to replace them. See our water plants to grow at home guide for easy ways to grow bacopa in bowls and containers.
Using bacopa in your layout
Plant giant bacopa in groups of five to eight stems at the back or on the sides, and use smaller Bacopa monnieri at the front or on rocks. The coppery tops contrast well with green plants, and a bushy clump gives shy fish and fry cover. Leave a few centimetres between clumps and the glass for branching, and keep slower plants such as Anubias and Cryptocoryne in front so that they are not shaded.
Common bacopa problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves melt after planting | Emersed plant adapting to underwater life | Keep conditions steady; new underwater growth follows |
| Leggy stems with wide gaps | Low light | Increase light a little and trim the tops |
| Pale new leaves | Low iron or other nutrients | Add all-in-one fertilizer and a root tab |
| Algae on the leaves | Strong light and low nutrients | Reduce light or add nutrients; trim affected leaves |
| Holes in leaves | Potassium shortage or snails | Dose a micronutrient supplement; check for snails |
| Stems float up | Planted too shallow | Replant 3-4 cm deep or use a plant weight |
| Slow growth | Low light or very cool water | Raise light slightly and check temperature |
See why aquarium plants melt or turn brown and yellow and does fertilizer cause algae.
Which fish and tanks suit bacopa
Bacopa suits community tanks, livebearer tanks, shrimp tanks and many cichlid and goldfish tanks, because its fleshy leaves are less appealing to fish than soft leaves. See goldfish care and cichlid care. Bettas rest on the broad leaves; see aquarium plants for betta fish. For a wider list, read best fish for a planted aquarium.
Choosing healthy bacopa stems
Look for stems with firm, evenly coloured leaves and short gaps between the leaf pairs, which show that the plant grew in good light. Avoid bunches with black, slimy or translucent leaves, and avoid plants that smell musty. Unpack the plants as soon as they arrive, rinse them in conditioned water and plant them the same day, because bacopa suffers when it sits in plastic for long. Buy a few more stems than you need, because some lower leaves are likely to melt while the plant adapts.
Buying bacopa in India
Bacopa is sold as bunches, potted plants and tissue-culture cups. Choose firm green stems with no black or slimy patches and quarantine them for a week; see where to buy live aquarium plants in India. At the time of writing, Fish Bazaar does not list live bacopa on the store; we stock the lights, fertilizers and root tabs shown above, and you can message us on WhatsApp for help planning your tank.
हिंदी में संक्षेप: बकोपा (ब्राह्मी जैसा पौधा) एक मज़बूत स्टेम पौधा है जो कम से मध्यम रोशनी में चलता है और CO2 नहीं माँगता। डंठल को 3-4 सेमी मिट्टी में लगाएँ, नीचे के पत्ते हटाएँ और रोज़ 7-8 घंटे रोशनी दें। हफ़्ते में थोड़ी तरल खाद और 2-3 महीने में रूट टैब दें। हर कुछ हफ़्ते में ऊपर से काटें तो झाड़ीदार बनता है। टैंक के लिए पौधा एक्वेरियम विक्रेता से ही लें, और इसे दवा के रूप में न खाएँ।
Frequently asked questions
Is bacopa easy to grow in an aquarium?
Yes. It tolerates a wide range of water, grows in low to medium light without CO2 and is easy to propagate from cuttings.
Is bacopa the same as brahmi?
Bacopa monnieri is known in India as brahmi and is also an aquarium plant. For your tank, buy aquarium-grown plants and do not eat or use them as herbal medicine.
How do you plant bacopa?
Separate the stems, strip the lowest pair of leaves and push each stem 3-4 cm into the substrate. Add a root tab nearby.
How much light does bacopa need?
Medium light for 7-8 hours a day. Stronger light gives bronze tops and bushier growth, but needs more nutrients.
Why is my bacopa melting?
Bacopa is often grown above water, so the old leaves melt as it adapts to being submerged. Keep conditions steady and new growth will appear.
Does bacopa need CO2?
No. It grows well without CO2, although CO2 speeds it up.
How do you trim bacopa?
Cut stems about 10 cm from the top and replant the tops. The old stems will branch below the cut.
Why is my bacopa growing slowly?
Common causes are low light, cool water or low nutrients. Raise the light slightly and add fertilizer and a root tab.
Can goldfish and cichlids live with bacopa?
Bacopa is tougher than many stem plants, so it often survives with these fish, but they may nibble or uproot it.
How do you propagate bacopa?
Cut a stem with at least two nodes and plant or float it. Roots form in one to two weeks.
Related plant guides
- Aquarium plants for fish tanks: the complete India guide
- Ludwigia, Rotala and Cabomba stem plants
- Water wisteria guide
- Fastest growing aquarium plants
- How to grow aquarium plants faster
- How to propagate aquarium plants
- How to plant aquarium plants
Planning a planted tank with bacopa and unsure about lighting or fertilizer? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 91523 30102 and we will help.
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