Aquarium Plants

Aquarium plants are living plants that are kept in aquariums or fish tanks. They provide many benefits for fish and other aquatic animals, including oxygen production, natural filtration, and hiding places.

Aquarium plants support the idea of a sensational scheme of having fish and their natural habitat.  These plants provide an ever-changing view of plants’ growth stage and later on at the time of pruning.  Whereas an aquarium with artificial plants and decorations will have a static setting most of the time.

The decision to set up an aquarium with live plants requires much consideration as well as budget.  Mainly it provides a lot of benefits but with live plants, the aquarium now requires care of fish and live plants as well.  You may have to spare more time to keep on maintaining this setting.

Aquarium with Live Plants and Fish

The Advantages of Live Plants in an Aquarium

• Live plants in an aquarium fulfills the desire of having a natural and stable environment for fish and amusement and delight for the pet owners.
• These plants act as natural filters in the fish tanks. In order to grow, plants in the aquarium require nitrogen and phosphates.  These are abundantly available for plants in any water tank with fish.  A low nitrate environment is helpful for healthy fish therefore, it’s a win-win situation for healthy fish and plants.
• Algae is one of the major concerns for some fish owners. Whereas this is controlled by either cleaning water, or algae regularly.  Adequate plantations in the aquarium may reduce the chance of having algae substantially.
• Plants in an aquarium make sure that an ecosystem is established in the fish tanks. Plants take care of filtration and fish provide nitrogen and phosphate for the plants. Once it is established then you may have to look after the food and observe changes in water and control light.
• Some of the fish require plants or leaves for spawning. It is not possible to provide this effect with artificial plants or decorations.
  

  Beautiful Aquarium Plants

Arrangements of Plants in an Aquarium

The arrangement of plants in an aquarium is similar to landscaping a garden.  Careful planning is required to structure a wishful aquarium with plants.  You may consider the size, specie, color, and foliage of plants and fish under consideration.  Some of the steps required to plant an aquarium are:

1. Clean the aquarium
2. Next step is Laying gravel
3. Thereafter, add some rocks above the gravel
4. Then fill some water in the aquarium
5. Slope substrate towards the back of the aquarium
6. Place tall plants in the back, short plants in front, and small plants to cover the substrate.
7. Either plant in groups or choose complementing plants.
   

   Plants in Aquarium

Process of Growing Plants in Aquarium

The process of planting live plants in an aquarium is not as simple as landscaping plants in a garden.  Although as far as space is concerned, the aquarium is small but more careful planning is required to achieve the best results. The main considerations are as follows:

• Adequate light is required for plants. It may be less for some or more for others but it is a necessity for plant growth
• Plants need the right substrate in the right quantity and in the right mix. This should be carefully selected and applied accordingly.
• Use the right filtration at the time of plantation.
• Fertilization is also required for plant growth. Choose either liquid or tablet form but avoid too much fertilization as it may provide adverse effects on the aquarium plants.
  

  Fish with plants in Aquarium

Top Ten Aquarium Plants to Consider

1. Java Fern: This is easy to keep plant and does not require the substrate to grow.  You may attach it with rock or wood and it is all set to take up its place in the aquarium.
2. Java Moss: It is an easy-to-grow plant and enough light makes it grow thick and form a carpet-like layer. It is helpful for some fish species to spawn.
3. Crypt: These are suitable for low-lighting aquariums. The size and color of these plants make them candidates for front-end growth in any aquarium.
4. Indian Fern: These are grown as floating plants. It is a very popular plant for any tropical aquarium.
5. Amazon Sword Plant: These are mostly used as midground plants in an aquarium.  Amazon sword plants are readily available from fish retailers and are easy to grow.
6. Water Wisteria: This plant is suitable where the consideration is to fill the space of aquariums. This is a hardy plant and useful either midground or in the background of any aquarium.
7. Marimo Moss Balls: These are considered to be the easiest to keep plants for beginners’ aquariums.  This is one of the primary choices for goldfish tanks as these are inexpensive.
8. Anubias: These do not require much light and consider easy to grow.  Another factor for the likeness is that their roots do not require the substrate to grow.
9. Vallisneria: This is another popular and easy-to-grow species of aquarium plant. It is best to grow in sand.
10. Hornwort: This is a good-looking plant for any aquarium.  This is a stem plant and falls in the category of easy to grow the category.
    

    Live Marine Plants

Caring Plants in Aquarium

Caring for live plants involves providing them with the right conditions to thrive and grow. Here are some general tips for caring for plants in aquarium:

• Lighting: Most live plants require some form of lighting. Make sure your aquarium has the appropriate lighting for the plants you have. Some plants require more light than others, so it’s important to do your research and choose plants that are compatible with your lighting system.
• Nutrients: Plants in aquarium need nutrients to grow. You can provide nutrients through fish waste, fertilizers, or specialized plant supplements. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can cause algae growth.
• Water quality: It’s important to maintain good water quality in your aquarium. This includes keeping the water pH at the appropriate level for your plants, and monitoring levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Regular water changes are also important for maintaining good water quality.
• Pruning: Some plants in aquarium can grow very quickly, so it’s important to prune them regularly to prevent them from overtaking the tank. Pruning also helps to encourage new growth.
• Substrate: Some plants require a special substrate to grow in. Make sure you choose the right substrate for your plants, and replace it when needed.
• CO2: Some plants require additional CO2 to grow. You can add CO2 to your aquarium through specialized systems or by using CO2 tablets.

By following these tips and providing your plants with the right care, you can create a healthy and beautiful environment for your fish and plants to thrive in.

Diseases in Aquarium Plants

Aquarium plants, like all living organisms, are susceptible to diseases. Some common diseases of plants in aquarium include:

• Bacterial Infections: These can cause black spots or holes on the leaves of the plant. Bacterial infections can be caused by poor water quality or contaminated equipment.
• Fungal Infections: These can cause a white, cotton-like growth on the leaves of the plant. Fungal infections can be caused by poor water quality or contaminated equipment.
• Algae Overgrowth: Algae can overgrow on plants in aquarium, making them appear green or brown. Algae overgrowth can be caused by too much light or excess nutrients in the water.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: Plants need a variety of nutrients to grow. If a plant is deficient in a particular nutrient, it may exhibit symptoms such as yellowing leaves or stunted growth.
• Environmental Stress: Plants can be stressed by changes in water temperature or pH, or by exposure to toxins such as copper or chlorine.

To prevent diseases in plants, it’s important to maintain good water quality and provide the right conditions for the plants to grow. This includes providing appropriate lighting, adding fertilizer or CO2 as needed, and keeping the water pH at the appropriate level for the plants. If you notice signs of disease in your plants in aquarium, it’s important to take action quickly to prevent the spread of the disease to other plants in the tank. This may involve removing infected plants or treating the water with medication.