Aquatic Plant Nutrition

Aquatic plants, just like other aquatic life, require proper nutrition in order to thrive. Aquatic plants' nutritional requirements are different from those of plants that grow on land, and this is what allows them to thrive in an underwater environment. When creating a planted aquarium or installing plants in a freshwater or marine aquarium, adequate nutrition is an important consideration.

  1. Function

    • The best way for aquatic plants to receive the nutrients that they need is through the substrate, which is whatever material the plants are rooted in. Other ways for plants to receive adequate nutrition include liquid nutrients and plant nutrient tablets, which are available commercially. The function of both the substrate in a planted aquarium and nutritive additives is to ensure that plants get the fertilizers and nutrients they need in order to thrive in an aquarium.

    Time Frame

    • The time frame for adequate plant nutrition will vary based on the number of plants in your tank and the type of substrate you use. If you are primarily relying on supplements like liquids or tablets, plan on supplementing the plants at least once a month to provide them with adequate nutrition. Less supplementation will be necessary if you have nutritive substrate in the aquarium, however, as plants will draw from the substrate to meet their nutritional needs most of the time.

    Substrate Nutrition

    • There are different schools of thought when it comes to providing plant nutrition through substrate. One suggestion is to combine pond soil with gravel, planting the aquarium plants firmly in this mixture. Cover the substrate with plastic mesh, then top it with silica sand. This keeps the soil and gravel substrate in place, and provides a substrate material for fish and other aquarium life to root around in without causing damage to the nutritive substrate.

    Liquid Fertilizer

    • Commercially available nutrition supplements are designed to target plants, promoting growth and plant health in the process. Different products offer their own guidelines for use, but most generally suggest that you add in one dosage every time you do a partial water change. Plant fertilizer products contain inorganic types of phosphates, iron and nitrates, which can promote the health of aquarium plants without impacting other life in the aquarium.

    Warning

    • If you have a planted aquarium and you introduce fish or invertebrate life into the tank, you must take care to choose species that are plant friendly. Many fish will eat, dig up or otherwise destroy plants, which will undo the hard work you put into keeping them healthy. Consult an aquarium specialist when choosing compatible life for a planted aquarium in order to ensure long and healthy lives for your plants.