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To
add that special effect and enhance the natural setting within
your aquarium, try using live plants instead of fake plastic
plants. The use of live plants will not only add a pleasing visual
appeal, but will also help maintain your tank. By adding oxygen to
the water, the use of live plants helps keep your aquarium
balanced and will aid in fish health.
The most important factor in growing and maintaining healthy
aquarium plants is the lighting used. For a well planted aquarium,
it is suggested to use 2-3 watts per gallon of water. The use of
fluorescent bulbs is practical and adds a nice lighting effect.
Take caution when deciding to use florescent lights if your tank
has a depth of 20" or more. The low growing plants, or plants
with multiple leave levels will suffer from a lack of light as the
florescent rays will not provide enough light.
Once you have figured out what type of lighting you will use, you
must turn your attention to the hardness of the water. The
majority of aquarium plants will thrive in water that has a
hardness between 4-12 dH, and between the range of 6.5-7.2 for pH.
Plants need clean and clear water to survive best in, so proper
cleaning and maintenance should be performed on the aquarium. Most
plants will not survive if there is too much debris or waste in
the water, so keeping up with cleaning is essential.
Once your plants are established in a clean, well lighted tank,
you must care for them by making sure they receive the nutrients
required for healthy growth. Plants need both macro- and micro
nutrients. Macro nutrients are usually found naturally in tap
water and in the fish themselves. These nutrients include
nitrates, sulfates and phosphates. Macro nutrients should never
need to be added to the water of the tank. They exist on their
own. Micro nutrients are needed in very small amounts. Copper,
iron and zinc are among the micro nutrients live plants will need
to survive in the aquarium.
Generally, the water and the fish in the tank will provide the
nutrients and fertilizers needed for plant growth. It is rare that
any supplements will need to be added. One important factor in
having healthy plant life is your filtration system. Stay away
from under gravel filters because they produce a steady flow of
bubbles that disturb the surface. The filter plate on under gravel
filters also limit's the composition of the gravel in which the
plants are rooted. All other kinds of filtration systems will work
well. The only things to be concerned about are if your filter
causes too much disruption to the water surface. When this
happens, carbon dioxide is lost and plants will suffer. Also make
sure the filter creates a current that keeps nutrients moving
throughout the tank.
By having a good chemical balance in the aquarium and having an
efficient filtering system, you will be sure to have healthy live
plant growth. These plants will add to the beauty of the tank and
will also keep your fish relaxed because it will be a natural
setting for them. If you are considering adding plants for
decoration within the aquarium, consider the great benefits of
using live plants.
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Care of Live Aquarium Plants
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