Freshwater Plant Care

Live plants can add an aesthetically pleasing look to any freshwater fish tank. They are functional as well. Plants turn the carbon dioxide that is emitted by the fish into oxygen, which the fish again absorb. While plastic plants may look real and require less maintenance, live plants in a freshwater tank yield healthier and more vibrant-colored fish.

  1. Light

    • Your freshwater plants need sufficient light for about 12 hours a day. Allow about two to three watts per gallon of water. Usually one fluorescent bulb is sufficient, but sometimes two may be required, especially if you have a deeper and larger tank.

    Planting

    • Prune any yellow or brown leaves, as well as the dead roots (limp and dark), before placing them in your tank. Trim even healthy roots to about 1 inch. You should also prune the bottom leaves, which will help anchor the new plants. Also, they will not receive a lot of light and will probably not thrive anyway. Plant smaller plants in the front and larger ones in the back for visual effect. Do not let larger plants shade smaller plants or they will die.

    Pruning

    • Regularly remove any dead leaves from the plants. In addition, if stem plants grow so large that they block the light of smaller plants, prune them to size. You can use trimmings from stem plants to replant. They will form a new plant.

    Algae

    • You can also add a fertilizer or nutrient supplement to help plants. Look for an all-in-one fertilizer and add it according to the instructions on the label; do not add more than is recommended. The healthier your plants are, the less algae you will have in your aquarium.

      If you do experience algae in your aquarium, remove as much as you can when you do your regular maintenance. Algae eating fish, snails and shrimp can also help keep algae at bay.