How to Arrange Plants in a Freshwater Tank

Freshwater aquarium tanks are a great addition to any home or office setting. They add a tranquil mood to any room and are fascinating to watch. While most people focus on obtaining interesting fish for their freshwater tanks, the plants used in the tanks can be just as interesting. When arranged properly, the plants create a beautiful decorative background for the aquarium, as well as a place for fish to hide in.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquatic plants
  • Freshwater aquarium tank
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stand in front of the freshwater tank and visually divide the bottom of the tank into three spaces: the foreground, middle ground and background.

    • 2

      Place tall growing plants into the background section of the aquarium so that they do not obstruct the view. Read up on all of the plants that are chosen so that you will know how tall the plants will be when fully grown.

    • 3

      Plant short, bushy plants in the middle ground of the aquarium floor. These plants, which grow out rather than up, provide a place for fish to hide while leaving open space for them to swim in. Select plants with different appearances to add depth to the freshwater tank. For example, placing spiky plants in the middle ground contrasts nicely with the taller plants.

    • 4

      Insert low-growing single plants into the foreground of the tank. These plants should not be bushy and should not grow very tall. Ideally, these plants should have a single stem. An alternative to the single stem plant is a layer of mossy soil on top of the gravel.

    • 5

      Add floating plants to the surface of the water. Floating plants can really add an interesting quality to the tank. Do not add more than three of these plants as they tend to be rapid growers.

    • 6

      Stand back and look at the overall arrangement of the freshwater tank. If there are noticeably large gaps between plants, fill them in with additional plants.