Freshwater Aquarium Plants - How To Choose The Right Aquarium Plants



Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009

by

When you decide that you are going to use live plants, you will want to learn how to choose the right aquarium plants. Taking home the wrong plants or ordering the wrong ones online can be a frustrating experience. With a little guidance, you can discover which plants are perfect for both your fish and the aquarium.

Before you pick out your plants, you need to know the basics of caring for plants that will survive in water. The first basic is lighting. Not all plants require the same amount or type of lighting. If you have one plant that requires a lot of light and another that needs only a little, subjecting the one that needs less to too much light can kill it. So make sure the lighting requirements are similar among all the plants you choose.

Know what the plants need for food. Even plants in a watery home need to be fertilized. Fertilizer for aquatic plants isn't hard to find, but take the time to read the ingredients before you purchase. Some ingredients foster the growth of algae and you don't want a green, scummy looking tank. If the bottle lists nitrates or phosphates in the label, avoid those.

When placing the plants in the gravel, never cover leaves with gravel because that will promote decay. Watch your plants on a daily basis and promptly remove any dead leaves. Removing the debris helps the plant to grow bigger and healthier and keeps the tank cleaner and looking its best.

The best aquarium plants to pick should meet two requirements. They should work with your aquarium to make it a pleasure for you without a lot of time commitment instead of creating so much work you dread the aquarium. The plants should also provide shelter for the fish without taking over the aquarium. Plants that grow too fast and take up so much space that the tank looks overcrowded will have to be taken out and you'll end up having to start over.

Don't make the mistake of buying plants just because you like the color or you think the plant will be an attractive decoration. Though it's great to have colorful plants that decorate aquariums, the plants should also be chosen to serve a purpose-that of keeping your fish healthy and to give them shelter.  The way to get the best plants for your aquarium is to look at your fish. Consider where they came from originally and what the plants are in their native environment. If the fish you've chosen are used to ferns, then you should buy plenty of ferns. Not all fish have the same needs in plants, which is why the plant should be tailored to fit the fish.
 
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 on freshwater aquarium plants, visit http://www.freshwateraquariumguides.com
This Article has been viewed 100 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.