I also grow my own plants. The main focus is the Enchinodorus radicans broadleaf. Also known as the amazone sword plant broadleaf. By the way, the name "broadleaf" does not implicate the width of the leaf by any means. It's just a herbicide term to divide this plant from other grasslike vegetation.

This Enchinodirus radicans is originated from South-America where it's considered a swamp plant. There are two groups of Enchinodorus plants. The real aquatic ones and the swampy ones. The Enchinodorus radicans belongs to the Alismataceae family. This plant is also partially an epiphyte.

To keep this plant well in an aquarium, is to put it in bright light or half shadow. Temperature rates of 18 till 30°C are great rates for the plant to develop into a strong plant.  Becoz' of the height this plant is able to reach, I do prefer to keep these plants in open tanks. It's just great to watch such a plant grow out of the water. When the plant is doing well, it will develop a stem which grows out of the water as well. On this stem on several places flowers will occur. After the flowers have bloomed, new young plants sprouts are developing. They just grow in the air and they are being fed by the stem and by epiphytical influences.

And if the plants overgrow then it must be thinned and or trimmed... you can reuse the the trimmed parts as well.

Below: Water mint will grow above the water surface. That's a great thing to see... Especially, when there's no lid on the tank.

But you can also use a number of plants in an aquaponic situation. Like overhere in this open paludarium. I've used a normal mint plants that's put in wet soil. The soil is wet because it's in the water of the paludarium. Some rocks seperates the soil from the water where fish swim in. Through the rocks, the water contacts the soil.

And the mint releases a very nice smell in the fishroom

But also outdoors I use several kinds of plants. They're mostly pond plants. And I love all members of the Myriophyllum family. They're fast growers (especially if you offer sufficient daylight) and good hiding spots. And they do give enough shadow to fish that like to shelter to have a break  from the heat of the sun. A lot of people don't know that even fish can have a sunburn.

Below: Myriophyllum brasiliensis.

All members of the Myriophyllum family can also be kept indoors (sufficient daylight is a must).

Above: Myriophyllum crispata growing out of an open fishtank on the windowsill.

If we discuss plants in fishtanks or ponds, we won't skip the socalled oxygen plants. It's not particular that only these plants give oxygen. For all plants do. But the fact that they release oxygen directly into the water. Therefore, we call them oxygen plants. But again, all aquatic plants and non-aquatics do the same thing.

Oxygen plants live completely under water. This means that they absorb all their nutrients directly from the water. This applies also to the CO2 that these plants need. Oxygen plants hardly form roots. The absorption of  nutrients takes place through the leaves. Because these plants don't need to form roots and woody skeletons, they are able to grow fast under the right conditions.

One of the best known oxygen plants is waterweed (Elodea) and also known as pondweed. The picture below shows waterweed.

Above & below: European (common) frogbit which gives tiny white flowers. frogbit multiplies itself fairly quickly via suckers at the roots. The leaves feel thick.

Small floaters with a good root system like the ones shown above and below,  will provide good hiding spots for fry to shelter. These plants do reproduce pretty fast as well.