Freshwater Aquarium Plant Care

The addition of live aquarium plants to a tropical fish tank helps fish-keepers create a far more natural environment for their freshwater fish. Live plants add valuable oxygen to the water column while helping to absorb dangerous chemicals such as ammonia and nitrite. Caring for freshwater aquarium plants requires careful preparation if the tank is to be properly managed, but with some basic outlines in mind, your aquarium can be converted into a little slice of tropical paradise in no time.

  1. Substrate

    • Plain aquarium gravel does not make the best choice for the planted tank. Substrates rich in iron and other trace minerals are best, such as commercially available plant substrates designed for use in the home aquarium. Unfortunately, these are often expensive, so creating your own substrate blend may be a better option. A thin layer of laterite (just enough to coat the floor of the tank) or other aquarium fertilizer can be added, and topped with a blend of aquarium gravel and sand. Varying the sizes of the substrate granules ensures that plant roots can gain adequate hold without having the root system smothered by fine particles, which tend to compact over time.

    Lighting

    • There are numerous types and intensities of lighting available for the planted tank, and the types of plants you select will directly correlate with the lighting you choose. Low-light varieties such as mosses and anubias will become smothered by algae in a high-light tank, while high-light plants like many swords will wither in low-light conditions. Lower light setups are more forgiving, and do not always require the addition of carbon dioxide to properly maintain plant health.

    Carbon Dioxide

    • Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a byproduct of fish waste, and is a critical ingredient in photosynthesis. While low-tech aquariums can provide the proper balance of CO2 for your plants simply through the fish that are kept, higher-demand plants may require the addition of supplemental CO2 through liquid form or a CO2 canister plumbed into the tank. This type of setup can be expensive and complicated, but may be necessary to care for more exotic plant specimens.

    Fertilizer

    • Aquarium plants, by nature of the small body of water they are kept in, will eventually require added fertilizer for optimal care. Trace elements, especially, will be quickly drained from the substrate and water column, and should be added back in the form of liquid fertilizer or root tabs which are tucked into the substrate. These additives are commonly available in specialty pet stores, and are generally added monthly, depending on the requirements of your plants.

    Water Quality

    • It is important to maintain proper water quality for aquatic plant care, as with all aspects of fish keeping. Infrequent water changes can lead to increased algae growth, pH crashes and ammonia spikes, which can be extremely detrimental to both plants and fish. Maintaining a regular water change schedule and checking the tank's pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings daily is the best means of ensuring healthy, vibrant aquarium plants.