Live aquatic plants add various beneficial qualities to your home aquarium. For one, its vibrant green colors often create a beautiful and enchanting display for you and any guests to gaze at. Plants also help your aquarium’s ecosystem and fish develop and thrive. Along with producing oxygen, plants also absorb chemicals such as carbon monoxide, […]
Live aquatic plants add various beneficial qualities to your home aquarium. For one, its vibrant green colors often create a beautiful and enchanting display for you and any guests to gaze at. Plants also help your aquarium’s ecosystem and fish develop and thrive. Along with producing oxygen, plants also absorb chemicals such as carbon monoxide, which allows your aquarium to remain clean.
To help your aquatic plants survive, you must provide sufficient care that allows them to do their job. Follow our tips to give your aquatic plants the kind of care it needs to co-exist in your aquarium:
Before you can care for your aquatic plants, you will first need to choose the right species for your aquarium. The plants you choose must be able to survive underwater at all times.
Also, if you’re a beginner aquarium owner, you should start out with aquatic plants that are easy to care for. You can ask our pet counselors at any of our Petland stores for the best aquatic plant species for you!
Some beautiful yet easy-to-care aquatic plant species include the Sword Plant and Anubias. While pH level varies between species, the best pH level to keep your plants submerged in is anywhere between 7 to 7.2. Make sure your aquarium’s water is kept under these conditions. You will also need to check whether your fish can tolerate aquatic plants as some fish species love eating plants.
Aquatic plants need substrate (those little rocks that are used to cover the floor of an aquarium) so they can take root and grow. Most kinds of substrates are good for plants; we recommend covering your aquarium with at least 3 inches of laterite.
You can also keep your plants in small pots, but letting your plants grow in substrate allows for efficient root development.
All plants require photosynthesis to survive, aquatic ones included. Through photosynthesis, plants create the energy they need to grow and produce oxygen for their surrounding environment. It’s main ingredient? Light. If you do not provide the right lighting for your plants, they will likely not last very long in your aquarium.
We recommend providing your plants with fluorescent lighting for at least 10-12 hours a day. You will need to change the light bulbs annually as fluorescent lighting may fade in intensity.
Unfortunately, because plants require lots of light, it encourages the growth of algae. This aquatic plant species will try to steal your plant’s light and nutrients for its own needs. There are several ways you can get rid of algae, depending on its color and size of growth in your tank. Check out our blog, How to Control Algae Growth in Your Aquarium for our tips on eliminating this aquarium pest!
Like regular plants, aquatic plants will need good fertilizer to grow. For the best plant growth, you should add an iron-based fertilizer that’s also safe for the other aquatic critters in your tank. Slow-release fertilizers, for example, can help boost an aquarium plant’s growth significantly. Be sure to ask our pet counselors for the best types of fertilizers you can use for your aquatic plants and aquarium.
While it may require effort and patience, aquatic plants do add several benefits to your aquarium once they’ve settled in. Your fish and other aquarium critters will definitely appreciate the enhanced water quality and the captivating environment these plants will provide for them.
If you’re not sure how to care for your aquarium during a power outage, check out our blog, Dealing With An Aquarium During A Power Outage for the best aquarium care tips!
