Lagarosiphon schweinfurthii

Lagarosiphon schweinfurthii is native to East Africa, particularly around Lake Victoria and the East African Rift lake system, where it grows in alkaline, hard, oxygen-rich water. It produces elongated stems bearing small, finely recurved leaves denser than the common L. major, and it is uniquely well-adapted to the high pH and carbonate hardness of rift lake aquariums where many other oxygenating plants struggle. It grows vigorously without CO2 under moderate light and provides excellent shelter and oxygenation in cichlid tanks housing East African species. It is more tolerant of warm water than L. major, making it usable in fully tropical setups as well.

Light: Medium (30–60 PAR); grows well under standard aquarium lighting. CO2: Not required; thrives in alkaline, CO2-low conditions ideal for rift lake setups. Fertilisation: Light water column feeder; dilute all-in-one liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks. Placement: Background of rift lake or hard-water community tanks; plant in dense bunches. Propagation: Stem tip cuttings of 10–15 cm; root readily in substrate.