"Enhancing Your Aquarium with Ornamental Plants"
Introduction:
Including live plants in an aquarium does more than just improve aesthetics – it provides shelter, and food for vegetarian fish, and helps prevent green water. Plants also absorb carbon dioxide and waste products, contribute oxygen to the water, and promote the growth of algae, small worms, rotifers, and protozoa, providing live food for the fish.
Benefits of adding ornamental plants to an aquarium
"Explore the benefits of integrating ornamental plants into your aquarium, from enhancing water quality and oxygenation to providing shelter and a natural aesthetic for your aquatic pets."
Lighting:
Lighting is critical if you want your plants to grow successfully. They require 12-14 hours of light each day, similar to natural conditions. Opinions vary on how much light live plants need, but generally, 3-5 watts per gallon works well. Compact fluorescent bulbs and standard 20, 50-watt halogen bulbs both do the job right, so experiment with different types of lighting to find what works best for your plants.
Nutrient Requirements:
Plants also require the correct nutrients to stay healthy and green. In a well-planned aquarium, keeping the plants fed isn't a difficult task. Nutrients to feed the plants come from the fish in the tank - you can add more if needed. Fertilization is simple too since plants can naturally use fish waste as fertilizer. You can add commercial fertilizer when you change the water, but it's usually better to follow the “less is more” philosophy when it comes to fertilizing your plants. Too much fertilizer can cause problems with algae in the tank, and you can always add more if needed.
Water Conditions:
The majority of aquatic plants thrive in water temperatures between 72°F and 78°F. The pH of the water is also important – a pH of 6.8 to 7.8 is ideal.
Managing Snails:
Snails are another common component that helps the overall health of the aquatic environment. Snails clean plants of food and small algae as they crawl over leaves and foliage. However, some snails can cause problems. Ramshorn, pond, and other species eat the leaves instead of cleaning them, which can cause undesirable damage. Fortunately, it's quite easy to remove troublesome snails. Simply place lettuce leaves at the top of the aquarium to attract the snails – remove everything with a net once all the snails have gathered on the lettuce pieces.
Plant Preparation and Maintenance:
Before placing new plants in your aquarium, wash them thoroughly in warm water to remove any insects you do not want invading the aquarium. Healthy plants have strong roots and firm leaves, so this is what you should look for when purchasing aquatic plants. Avoid plants that give off an unusual smell, especially bulbs, as this is a sign that the plant isn't healthy and may not grow properly once placed in your tank.
Younger plants generally adapt better to transplantation, so keep this in mind as well. Although the plants you buy will require a period to adjust and may lose some leaves, do not be alarmed. This is completely normal. To promote healthy new growth, simply remove dead leaves as they appear, being careful not to damage the roots.
Conclusion:
Aquatic plants make a beautiful addition to any aquarium and help to keep the fish comfortable, healthy, and happy. By providing the right conditions and care, you can enjoy the many benefits that live plants bring to your aquarium.
