Aquarium Co-Op Easy Green Review & Dosing Guide
Aquarium Co-Op Easy Green is one of the most popular all-in-one liquid fertilizers in the planted-tank hobby — and for good reason. It's simple, forgiving, and takes the guesswork out of feeding your plants. This review covers what Easy Green is, how to dose it, who it's best for, and how it fits into a healthy planted aquarium.
What Is Easy Green?
Easy Green is a comprehensive liquid fertilizer that delivers all the major nutrients aquarium plants need in one bottle: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) plus essential micronutrients and iron. Instead of mixing individual dry salts, you add a measured pump of liquid to the water column. That makes it ideal for column feeders — stem plants, floating plants, and epiphytes like Anubias and Java fern that absorb nutrients through their leaves. You can grab a bottle of Aquarium Co-Op Easy Green and browse our full range of live aquarium plants to pair with it.
Our Review: Why Easy Green Works
The biggest strength of Easy Green is how beginner-friendly it is. There's no scale, no mixing, and a wide safety margin, so it's hard to overdose at normal rates. The pump bottle makes dosing repeatable, and because it contains nitrogen, it's especially useful in low-stock or heavily planted tanks where plants would otherwise run short. If you're just getting started, our beginner planted aquarium guide pairs perfectly with it.
How to Dose Easy Green
The general guideline is one pump (roughly 1 mL) per 10 gallons, once or twice a week, dosed after a water change. Start conservatively and adjust based on what your plants tell you:
- Yellowing older leaves: often a nitrogen or potassium shortfall — dose a bit more.
- Algae creeping in: usually too much light or excess nutrients — dose less or improve flow.
- Healthy new growth: you've found your tank's sweet spot.
Always dose into a tank that has completed the nitrogen cycle so your plants and bacteria are ready to use the nutrients.
Easy Green Dosing Chart
Easy Green is dosed at roughly one pump (about 1 mL) per 10 gallons, once or twice a week after a water change. Use this chart as a starting point, then adjust based on how your plants respond:
| Tank Size | Weekly Starting Dose |
|---|---|
| 5 gallon | 1 pump (½ pump if lightly planted) |
| 10 gallon | 1 pump |
| 20 gallon | 2 pumps |
| 40 gallon | 4 pumps |
| 55 gallon | 5–6 pumps |
| 75 gallon | 7–8 pumps |
Heavily planted or high-light tanks can be dosed at the higher end or twice a week, while low-light, lightly planted tanks should start low to avoid feeding algae. These figures follow Aquarium Co-Op’s standard 1-pump-per-10-gallon guideline — always double-check the current label on your bottle, as formulas can change.
Easy Green vs. Root Tabs
Easy Green feeds the water column, but heavy root feeders like swords and crypts also pull nutrients through their roots. For those, pair Easy Green with a root fertilizer such as API Root Tabs, Seachem Flourish Tabs, or Aquarium Co-Op Easy Root Tabs pushed into the substrate near the base of the plant. Many planted-tank keepers use both: liquid ferts for the water column and root tabs in the gravel. Learn more about building the right base in our aquarium substrate guide. For a full breakdown of fertilizer types and dosing, see our aquarium plant fertilizer guide.
Do You Need CO2 With Easy Green?
No. Easy Green shines in low-tech, no-CO2 setups, which is exactly where most beginners start. If you stick to easy low-light plants, Easy Green plus moderate lighting is usually all you need. If you later want faster, denser growth, you can add pressurized carbon — see our planted aquarium CO2 systems guide for that next step.
Is Easy Green Safe for Shrimp and Fish?
Dosed at the recommended rate, Easy Green is safe for fish, snails, and most shrimp. Sensitive species like crystal shrimp prefer conservative dosing, so go light and watch your planted shrimp tank closely. Healthy plants actually help shrimp tanks by absorbing excess nitrogen, and they pair well with algae eaters to keep the tank balanced.
Best Plants for Easy Green
Because Easy Green is a water-column fertilizer, it shines with plants that absorb most of their nutrients through their leaves. These beginner-friendly favorites all respond well to regular Easy Green dosing:
- Java fern: a hardy, low-light rhizome plant that grows steadily with water-column feeding.
- Anubias: another tough rhizome plant that thrives on dissolved nutrients without demanding CO2.
- Bacopa: an easy stem plant that puts on noticeable growth with consistent dosing.
- Water wisteria: a fast grower that soaks up excess nutrients and helps outcompete algae.
- Rotala: a popular background stem plant that rewards steady fertilizing with lush, bushy growth.
For more easy options, see our easy aquarium plants for beginners guide, or browse our full live aquarium plants and beginner plant collections. If your plants are struggling, our guide on why aquarium plants melt can help you diagnose the cause.
Easy Green FAQ
Can you overdose Easy Green?
It is hard to harm fish at normal doses, but consistently overdosing can fuel algae. If you see algae creeping in, cut back your dose, improve flow, or review your lighting before adding more fertilizer.
How often should I dose Easy Green?
Once or twice a week is typical, usually right after a water change. Lightly planted, low-light tanks do well with once a week, while heavily planted or high-light tanks may benefit from twice.
Does Easy Green contain copper?
Easy Green contains a very small amount of copper as a trace micronutrient that plants need. At the recommended dose it is generally considered safe, but always confirm against the current label.
Can shrimp tanks use Easy Green?
Many shrimp keepers dose Easy Green at normal rates without issues, since the copper level is very low. To be cautious with sensitive shrimp, dose conservatively and observe your colony. See our best plants for shrimp tanks guide for shrimp-safe planting ideas.
Final Verdict
Easy Green earns its reputation: it's the simplest way to keep aquarium plants thriving without a chemistry degree. For beginners and busy hobbyists running planted community tanks, it's an easy recommendation. Browse our beginner aquarium plants and grab a bottle to get started.