Freshwater Aquarium Plants - Different Types of Freshwater Aquarium Plants



Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009

by Brian Wong

By using different types of freshwater aquarium plants, you can create an aquarium that is unique from anyone else's. The multi benefits of plants give a safer, hardier living space for any fish you want to have and they help protect both the tank and the fish. There are a lot of classes of plants and each class contains many plants. Prior to making a selection, you will need to research the classes and discover which plants will thrive best for you. Some of the more popular plants are listed below.

One plant for aquariums that is hardy for all types of aquariums is the Hornwort. This rootless plant will grow easily for even a beginning hobbyist. Because it is rootless, unless it's fastened down by gravel, it will float in the water. The leaves of this provide a nice, thick hiding place for the times when fish feel threatened. Two reasons this plant grows well are because it withstands pests and most fish don't like the taste of the plant.

Ferns are a plant that some aquarium hobbyists prefer to use when decorating the tank with live plants. The fern family contains a wide choice of plants and people often mistakenly refer to all ferns in this family under one word. They call it ‘fern' and believe that word encompasses all ferns, but not all the ferns are the same just as all roses are not the same type rose. The Malayan Aqua Fern is a fast growing, relatively large fern well suited for life under water. The only condition the hobbyist should be on the lookout for is a regular schedule of making sure this fern has clean, well balanced water and fertilization.
 
Popular among hobbyists at all levels is the Amazon Sword. The plant's name comes from the Amazon River where it's originally from, but it's now easily found in many states. This is a fairly easy plant to keep in an aquarium but it does need a lot of light. As time passes, this plant will grow to be big and the leaves will make the plant appear bushy. Too many of these in a tank can make the aquarium look overcrowded and messy. Some species of fish do enjoy eating the Amazon Sword so check the dining habits of your fish before buying this one. This plant is also susceptible to algae.

Flowering plants, like the Water Lily or the Water Hyacinth, look very lovely under water when they bloom, but the Hyacinth tends to be greedy about light and can block other plants from getting enough. It is considered an invasive plant and can quickly take over an aquarium. This is a plant that's best used by hobbyists with plenty of experience.
 
Brian Wong is a freshwater fish enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby. His newest book, "The Ultimate Guides To Freshwater Aquariums" teaches aquarists everything they need to know about starting and maintaining a thriving freshwater aquarium. For more great information freshwater aquarium plants, visit http://www.freshwateraquariumguides.com
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