How to Collect Wild Aquatic Plants for an Aquarium

Aquatic plants make a wonderful addition to any aquarium. They provide a natural food source to your fish, but also a shelter to the smaller aquatic life. These plants can be acquired in different ways---from purchasing them at your local fish store to harvesting them from the wild. There are many types of aquatic plants, some are more beneficial then others. It is important to know which type of plants you want to add before harvesting them from the wild.

Things You'll Need

  • Container
  • Bowl
  • Distilled water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Research the type of plant you would like to add. This is an important step in this process. Adding the wrong type of aquatic plant can result in heavy growth in your aquarium and cause the suffocating of your other animals.

    • 2

      Harvest your aquatic plants. This is done like any other type of plant or flower. Uproot the plant with the roots in tact. Once the plant is uprooted, gently rinse off loose debris that may be clinging to its root base. Place it in your holding container. The container should be filled with fresh water if you are harvesting fresh water plants and salt water if you are harvesting salt water plants.

    • 3

      Check your plants for any hitchhikers. It is common for wild aquatic plants to contain snails and other types of wild animals. Check your plants and remove any of these to make sure you do not introduce them into your aquarium. While some of these animals may be beneficial to your aquarium, some can be destructive by nature.

    • 4

      Fill your bowl or container with distilled water. Give your plants a good rinse. Remove any debris that maybe built up on the plants. This process will kill foreign bacteria and microscopic animals. You want to soak your plants for about three minutes to ensure proper sanitation.

    • 5

      Grab your plants by the base and gently place them into the substrate of your aquarium. Make sure the root base of the plants are covered. Make sure your plants are planted in an area were they will receive the optimal amount of light. Once all of your plants are planted in your aquarium you are done. If planting fresh water plants, make sure you fertilize them on a regular basis.