How to Plant Aquatic Plants in Aquariums

Adding aquatic plants to your fresh water tank not only provides you with natural benefits, but it also gives you a chance to personalize your aquarium. Aquatic plants produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and help to break down waste material in the system.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquatic plants
  • Proper substrate (pea gravel, quartz gravel, colored gravel, sand, soil)
  • Medium to high lighting system (depending on type of plants)
  • Nutrient tablets
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Instructions

  1. Planting Your Aquatic Plants

    • 1

      Familiarize yourself with the different types of plants available and their needs. Make sure everything you are adding to your tank is compatible and will provide the maximum benefit for your tank and its inhabitants. Once you have an idea of the types of plants you would like to use, sketch an outline of how your tank will look. Thinking ahead of time will make the process of planting your plants a lot easier.

    • 2

      Choose the proper type of substrate. The key here is to ensure your plants will survive and stay healthy. Supplying a substrate that is rich in nutrients for your plants will help them stay healthy and add the maximum benefit to your tank. Talk to an expert at your local fish store. He should be able to provide you with the proper substrates to match your project.

    • 3

      Place the substrate into your tank, spreading it evenly. Let the substrate settle for about 10 minutes. Rinse your plants well, remove any rubber bands holding them together and cut off any dead leaves or roots. Check your plants for snails---it is common for snails to hitch hike on some plants.

    • 4

      Check the water temperature. The water should be as close to room temperature as possible. Adding plants into cold water will usually cause the plants to go into shock. Follow directions on the plants for proper planting. Leave room between plants, as this will allow them room to grow. Place nutrient tablets either next to or under the roots of your new plants. This will provide them with an instance source of nutrients and help to reduce the acclimation time of your plants.

    • 5

      Allow four to six weeks for your new plants to acclimate. During this time only add in other hardy plants. Once your aquarium is mature, add in other types of fragile plants. The most common types of aquatic plants are rosette plants, stem plants, ferns and mosses, bulbs and tubers and floating plants. Ask the expert at the local fish store what type of plants are compatible for your project needs.