Aquarium Plants for Beginners

The choice between artificial or living aquatic plants is simple once you've learned the basics. Both provide shelter, but only genuine plants oxygenate the water and act as a food source. The major benefit of artificial ones is that the tank will be easier to clean. Create an undersea world of your own to enjoy.

  1. The Marine Environment

    • An aquarium is a miniature ecosystem that duplicates the natural marine environment. The interaction of life within is a delicate balance. Design a simple plan for your aquarium that divides the area into three parts. Provide a background, center and foreground with room for open swimming and shelter. Floating plants can be added on the surface.

    Benefits

    • The major benefit of utilizing real plants is their oxygenating power. Plant life emits waste products that fish eat, especially bottom feeders. Aquarium plants can assist in keeping algae at bay by absorbing nutrients that they thrive on. They also absorb carbon dioxide breathed out by the fish, completing the air circulation cycle. Artificial plants add no oxygen or food source and do not effect the water or the fish, but they are easier to maintain. Both kinds of plants provide hiding places for fish and lower stress in the population.

    Selection

    • An aquarium plant specialist or an Internet aquatic plant guide can educate the beginner. Plants are available for fresh or saltwater tanks and need to match the pH levels of the water. Many fish do well in a broad range of pH, from 6.5 to 8.0, but some species require a tighter range of values. Select live plants according to the needs of the fish. Ferns, mosses, rosettes and stemmed plants are the major groupings. Experiment with different types to see which ones thrive.

    Filtration

    • All fish tanks need a substrate material as its flooring. Under-gravel filters are suitable for artificial plants but interfere with the root formation of living ones. The substrate acts like soil where the plants root, obtain nutrients and reproduce. Purchase a specialized granular material from 1 to 3 mm in size that is recommended for living plants by the manufacturer or pet outlet associate.

    Lighting

    • Maintain a standard of lighting that promotes the life cycle of plants and fish. Provide natural-spectrum, fluorescent, 2- to 3-watt tubes in the hood. Small tank hoods will accommodate one tube, but larger hoods will require two. Turn off the lights for 8 to 10 hours each day for rest and inactivity. Regulate the time by your schedule so the lights are on when you intend to view the tank the most. An inexpensive light timer can be connected for convenience.

    Heating

    • Both fish and plants need warmth to prosper. Plants do well within the 73- to 81-degree range. Heat is provided by the lights and the tank̵7;s heating device. Maintain a steady temperature to reduce stress. In a new tank setup, bring the water to room temperature before planting.

    Maintenance

    • Aquarium plant fertilizer comes in solid, tablet or liquid form. Choose one for the type of plants and fish acquired and follow manufacturer̵7;s instructions. Remove dead leaves and plants promptly. Artificial plants need no regular care. If algae clings to them, rinse them under hot water. Never use soap products when cleaning a tank or its accessories.