Types of Aquarium Plants

Types

• Aquarium plants are classified by the niche they fill in the fish tank. Low-growing, carpet-style or ground cover plants include dwarf hairgrass, crystalwort and java moss. These types of aquatic plants are decorative as well as good at providing oxygen for fish and other aquarium inhabitants. They all spread to cover substrate, gravel, driftwood, rocks and other ornaments in the tank.

  Medium-sized plants that are great for accents or to fill in places for fish to hide include annubias, pennywort and java fern. Larger accent plants include Amazon and other swords.

  Oxygenating plants are vital for the health of your aquarium. Cabomba, ludwiga and milfoil all have small leaves on long, fast-growing stalks. They will fill out the back or sides of a fish tank quickly under different levels of light and fertilization.

Benefits

• Aquarium plants fill multiple niches in the home fish tank depending on their size, appearance and quality. Some are simply good for decoration and have moderate oxygenating properties. These specimen plants are usually placed near the front of the aquarium landscape.

  All aquarium plants will release some oxygen into the tank water. However, there are some varieties, usually fast growing with many small leaves on long stalks, that are ideal for oxygenating water. Oxygenated water is essential for healthy fish and other aquatic life.

  Still other benefits of live aquarium plants include food for herbivorous fish, protection and a sense of security for shy fish, and shielding from harsh light for those fish who do not enjoy such a bright environment.

Considerations

• When choosing aquarium plants to buy at the pet store or through an online site or catalog, you must consider tank size, temperature, water pH, carbon dioxide levels and lighting. Larger plants will, of course, need a larger tank or careful and frequent pruning. Smaller or more delicate plants may not do well in a tank with lots of water movement.

  Lighting for plants that require moderate to full light can follow a basic rule of 2 1/2 watts per gallon of aquarium water. However, you must take into consideration the shape of the tank. Deep tanks, such as corner hexagonal models, will require plants that do well in more filtered lighting.

  Some aquarists recommend addition of either under-substrate or liquid plant fertilizers added periodically to the planted aquarium. For all but the most difficult plants, fish waste and forgotten food can provide enough nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium for plant health.

Warning

• You must maintain aquarium plants properly or they will cease to be a benefit to the tank and start to cause problems. Overgrowth not only crowds fish, but it can clog filters or infringe upon tank heaters. Trim plants as needed. Always cut off dead leaves or stalks promptly. Aquarium plants rotting in the tank can cause health problems for other plants and fish.

  Before adding any purchased plants to your home aquarium, isolate them for a while and clean them thoroughly. Aquatic plants can carry fungus, bacteria or other fish diseases from the tanks in which they were raised or stored. They are also a common carrier of snail eggs, which, when placed in your tank, can quickly hatch and overrun it.

Misconceptions

• A common misconception when it comes to growing aquarium plants at home is that it requires specialty hardware and lots of time and expertise. There are many aquatic plants perfect for beginners who are tired of plastic or silk fakes.

  Some plants, such as many of the oxygenators, java moss and java fern, and cryptocorynes, are quite easy for beginners. You don't need any extra fertilization, expensive lighting or CO2 pumps for attractive, healthy plant growth.