New To Freshwater Aquarium Plants?

Here you will learn a few pointers about why you need freshwater aquarium plants and about keeping them alive while growing them successfully.


There is a need for plants in most aquariums. If you think of an aquarium without any plants it's like picturing your home without any furniture! You can sure live in it but it not very appealing nor comfortable or efficient. Freshwater aquarium plants help display your fish, shelter them and make them feel secure. Shelter is provided for baby fishes, shy fishes, weak fishes and female fish that are birthing. They may also be a good source of food for vegetarian fish. They help to keep green water at a minimum due to the competition for nutrients between them and the algae.


Live plants also aide in eliminating some of the carbon dioxide and wastes that build up in the tank, as they absorb them. Surface area is increased for some things to grow including tiny worms, algae, protozoa and rotifers, which then provides fresh food for the fish in your aquarium. Plants do not only look attractive, they have many more important jobs.


It is very helpful to prune your plants, remove any dying or dead leaves and leaves with holes in them. This keeps them very strong and healthy.Your plants can use lots of energy trying to repair these leaves, when to no avail. So help them out so they can grow fresh, new leaves instead.


Potting your plants before placing them in your aquarium can help you out a great deal. You can use pretty much anything as a container such as pots in your yard, caps, yogurt containers and much more. When choosing plastic, make sure it will be safe for your plants.


First you need to get a bucket and add some fresh pure potting soil and some water. Hillview potting soil is very good for this cause. Once you have mixed the two together you can fill your potting container two-thirds full. Create a hole in the center and place the roots of your plants inside, cover sides carefully.


Add gravel to the surface and you may want to soak it in some water before adding it to your aquarium. Using the potting soil will help your plant thrive and soon enough it will be sprouting wonderfully.





Important Facts About Fresh Water Aquarium Plants


A important topic that many people outlook is adding nutrients to keep your fresh water aquarium plants healthy. There are a few nutrients that are needed in large amounts, which are all macronutrients includes: calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. In smaller amounts, which are micronutrients, they need: manganese, cobalt, zinc and iron.


Macronutrients do not usually need to be worried about as they are usually in great supply in the aquarium water.





Micronutrients may need to placed into the water sometimes, and do best if placed in the substrate.





Make sure you keep your nitrate levels low because if there are too many it will aid in the growth of algae. If you change twenty percent of the water about once every two weeks this will help out the supply of macronutrients. Only supply more macronutrients if the levels are too low to detect for a long time. A lot of plants save nutrients and use them later.





3 Facts To Help Your Plants Breathe


Air stones and/or air pumps may lessen levels of C02 through some chemical reaction. Low C02 levels can kill your aquarium plants.


Plants usually give off oxygen in amounts great enough for your aquarium, in which cases you do not need other sources of oxygen.


C02 levels also diminish with lots of water movement, so make sure you choose a filter that is best for your fresh water aquarium plants.


Under gravel filters are usually not good for planted aquariums. They are hard to clean and UGF'S give oxygen to the substrate, making many nutrients not available for plants.


Make sure your fish and plants are compatible temperature wise, plants cannot usually flourish above eighty degrees.

About The Author:
Wilber Murty is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - http://www.articleclick.com