Buzz
Aquatic plants add beauty to your home and provide numerous benefits for the fish in your aquarium. These plants remove nitrates from the water, improve water quality, and inhibit the growth of algae. They also increase oxygen levels in the tank and offer a comfortable hiding place for fish. Growing aquatic plants in your aquarium is a fun and easy hobby that can bring joy to both you and your fish.
Steps
Choose the Right Aquatic Plants
Select popular, easy-to-grow aquatic plants. Freshwater plants have varying light requirements and can sometimes be challenging to maintain. Fortunately, there are beginner-friendly options that will create the beauty you desire in your aquarium. Look for plants labeled as Echinoderms, Lilaeopsis, Anarchies, or Anubis.
- Tall plants like the Amazon Sword and Java Fern are excellent choices. The Amazon Sword is easy to grow and spreads quickly, helping to hide filters and cords in the tank if they are visible from the back. The Java Fern, with its long, flowing leaves, provides great hiding spots for fish.
- For medium-sized plants, consider Anubias Nana and Dwarf Sagittaria. Anubias Nana has curved stems and round leaves, while Dwarf Sagittaria features long, green leaves with curved blades and thrives around hard decorations like stone statues.
Decorate the bottom and front of the aquarium using moss. Freshwater mosses like Java Moss, Willow Moss, and Water Wisteria are easy to cultivate. Mosses are low-growing plants, making them ideal for the foreground of your tank without overshadowing other plants. They also grow relatively quickly, so you’ll see results in no time.
- Moss thrives best under moderate to strong lighting.
- Moss can also serve as food for fish, though you’ll still need to provide additional fish food, as not all fish species consume moss.
- Another excellent option for the tank’s bottom and foreground is Dwarf Baby Tears. This lush-leaved plant grows as rapidly as moss but has a bushier appearance. Dwarf Baby Tears performs best under strong lighting.
Purchase mature plants if you want an instant, fully-developed aquascape. While mature plants are more expensive, they are the quickest way to achieve the desired look. Opt for plants with visible shoots and white roots.
- Inspect plants carefully before buying to ensure they are free of snails, shrimp, and algae.
- Aquatic plants are available at pet stores or aquarium design shops. You can also find them online.
- Research the seller beforehand to ensure they have a reputation for providing clean and healthy plants.
Propagate aquatic plants from cuttings to save money. Although it will take longer to see the results, this method is cost-effective. To grow aquatic plants from cuttings, obtain stems from existing plants, which are commonly sold at aquarium design stores or online. Identify the lowest node on the stem and remove the leaves below it. Plant the stem into the substrate to allow roots to develop.
- You can also ask for cuttings from friends who own aquariums.
Incorporate plants of varying sizes to create a visually appealing landscape. Layering plants at different heights enhances the attractiveness of your aquarium. Use larger plants for the background, medium-sized plants for the midground along the tank walls, and low-growing plants like moss or Dwarf Baby Tears for the foreground.
- Aquatic plants can range from small varieties measuring 2.5-5 cm to larger ones that dominate the tank.
- Add small statues, rocks, and driftwood to bring life to your aquarium. These elements also serve as excellent anchors for plants that don’t need to be rooted in the substrate.
Setting up an aquarium
Purchase and install lighting to facilitate plant growth. Like other plants, aquatic plants require light to thrive. Light is essential for photosynthesis, which generates energy and nutrients for the plants. You should check the lighting requirements for each plant species, as they vary. Full-spectrum fluorescent lights and LED aquarium lights are excellent options. Aquatic plants can also benefit from natural light from nearby windows.
- Many plants demand high light levels, so research is crucial before making a selection.
- Start with a fluorescent light rated at 2.5 W per 4 liters of water, unless you have a carbon dioxide system installed.
Quarantine and treat new plants before adding them to the aquarium. New plants can carry pests like snails or shrimp, which may threaten the tank's ecosystem. Snails and shrimp can multiply rapidly and overrun the tank unless you have fish that prey on them. Additionally, newly purchased plants might introduce bacteria or pathogens. Quarantining helps detect pests before they infiltrate the tank. You can also treat plants with a bleach solution.
- For bleach treatment, mix 1 part bleach with 19 parts water. Depending on the plant's sensitivity, soak it for 2-3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly in dechlorinated water before adding it to the tank.
- To prevent snail infestations, dip plants in a saltwater solution after purchase. Mix 1 cup (240 ml) of aquarium salt or kosher salt into 4 liters of water. Soak the plant for 15-20 seconds, keeping the roots above water. Rinse the plant thoroughly before placing it in the tank.
- After a week of quarantine, the plant can be added to the aquarium.
Line the tank bottom with plant-friendly substrate and cover it with gravel. Substrate is the material used to cover the tank floor. For planting, you’ll need a nutrient-rich substrate, which may be slightly more expensive initially. Good plant substrates can cloud the water when disturbed, but this can be prevented by adding a thin layer of gravel on top.
- Seachem Flourite contains all necessary nutrients and comes in various colors.
- Clay and laterite are excellent for adding nutrients and may be more cost-effective, though they take longer to stabilize in the tank.
- Aqua Soil is rich in nutrients but lowers the water’s pH to around 7. While ideal for plants, it may harm fish, so check your fish’s pH requirements before choosing this substrate.
- Gravel alone does not provide nutrients for plants.
Plant species that need to anchor in the substrate to absorb nutrients. Some plants require their roots to be embedded in the substrate to draw essential nutrients. Place the roots just below the substrate surface, but avoid burying the rhizome, the thick green stem above the roots. Burying the rhizome can kill the plant.
- Ensure plants are not planted too close to each other.
Tie remaining plants to rocks or driftwood to allow them to root. Some plants, like moss, Java fern, or Anubias Nana, prefer growing on rocks or wood. These plants will eventually root onto the surface. Gently wrap fishing line around the plant, then loop it around the rock or wood. Secure the line and place the rock or wood with the plant into the tank.
- Driftwood and lava rock are excellent choices for anchoring plants.
Introduce fish only after the tank has stabilized for a week. Allow a week post the setup of your aquatic garden before adding fish. If fish have already been purchased, they can be temporarily housed elsewhere, but it's advisable to wait until the aquarium is fully prepared before acquiring them.
- Fish waste serves as a natural fertilizer for the plants.
- Resist the urge to add fish prematurely. The aquarium must undergo a process known as “cycling”, to ensure the water environment is stable and safe for the fish. Few fish can survive before the water conditions stabilize.
Maintaining aquatic plants
Prune plants that grow beyond the tank to prevent decay. Most aquatic plants grow rapidly, necessitating regular pruning. If plants extend beyond the tank, the external parts will die. Use sharp scissors to carefully trim the excess growth.
- An alternative is to opt for slow-growing plant species.
Clean the water weekly to maintain a healthy aquarium environment. Unlike fish, aquatic plants do not require frequent water changes, but periodic water replacement helps sustain a healthy ecosystem. Start by scraping algae off the tank walls. Use a siphon to remove 10-15% of the water, paying special attention to the gravel and areas around fixed decorations. Replace the removed water with clean, dechlorinated water.
- When using a siphon, avoid placing it directly on the plant substrate to prevent accidental damage to the plants. Position the siphon above the substrate layer.
- Shrimp and catfish consume algae, making them excellent additions to the tank, depending on the other species present.
- This process is also known as a water change. Some prefer a complete water change every few months, but this can disrupt the tank's ecosystem. Using a water filter and maintaining cleanliness is preferable.
Supplement with fertilizers to promote vigorous and healthy plant growth. Aquatic plants generally do not require fertilizers, especially with fish in the tank, as their waste can nourish the plants. However, fertilizers can enhance plant growth and may be worth the extra effort. There are several methods to fertilize aquatic plants:
- Add fluorite directly to the substrate to supply iron and nutrients to the plants.
- Root tabs are placed near the plant roots and buried beneath the substrate. They continuously provide nutrients for 2-3 months.
- If preferring liquid fertilizers, add them to the tank once or twice a week. Liquid fertilizers are suitable for plants not rooted in the substrate, such as those attached to rocks.
- CO2 injectors supply additional CO2 for plants to absorb and convert into oxygen. In tanks with strong lighting, additional CO2 is beneficial as light accelerates photosynthesis, meaning plants convert CO2 to oxygen more rapidly.
Avoid letting plants that are not fully submerged dry out. Plants will die if they dry out. To keep them healthy, store them in a bucket of clean water. This is a good option if you plan to add more plants to your aquarium.
- You can store aquatic plants in a bucket for a long time if you provide clean water and adequate light. Plants that need to root in the substrate must remain submerged if you want to store them long-term. Change the water weekly when storing plants.
Advice
- Start by planting a few and gradually add more.
- If you have algae issues, you can add ghost shrimp to the tank to eat the algae. These freshwater shrimp usually coexist peacefully with tetras and guppies.
- Choose aquatic plants that are compatible with your fish, as some fish may eat or damage the plants.
Warning
- Do not dispose of aquatic plants in rivers, lakes, or toilets. Many aquatic plants are non-native and can harm local ecosystems. Instead, let them dry out and throw them in the trash.
- If you keep ornamental shrimp, note that they may uproot and eat aquatic plants.
What You Need
- Aquarium tank
- Substrate suitable for plants – silt, sand, clay
- Gravel (optional)
- Water filtration system
- Freshwater aquatic plants
- Full-spectrum lighting
- Freshwater fish
- Dechlorinated water
- Aquarium salt or kosher salt
- Fish net
- Algae scraper
- Siphon tube
