In Search of the Right Aquarium Plants

A cleverly decorated aquarium has the ability to enhance the attractiveness of any room in your home or office. Your choice of decorations doesn’t just depend on aesthetic values but also on its effect on your fish. Aquarium plants would be a good choice because not only do they add color to your aquarium, they also bring comfort to the fish by providing hiding spots for them.

There are two types of plants that you can put in an aquarium: real plants or the fake variety. Real plants will naturally require more care and maintenance than plastic plants. The process of choosing what real plant to put in is also be a lot more complicated than just choosing plastic ones.

Plastic plants are more durable and require very little maintenance. They only need the occasional cleaning with a brush. Plastic plants come in wonderful colors that are sometimes even more vibrant than real plants. Just remember to choose colors that will not stress your fish. Some fish will automatically adjust their color to blend in or to appear less conspicuous to avoid attracting predators.

There are also aquarium plants that are made of silk. They are a little more expensive but they appear more realistic and are easier to care for than other plastic plants. It is important to buy only silk plants that are designed for aquariums and not those found in craft stores that may contain chemicals that are harmful to your fish.

Fresh plants will give your aquarium a more realistic environment. However, like some of your fish, they survive only in specific pH levels or water temperatures. Determine first the needs of your fish, and then find the plant that will thrive in the same environment.

Besides being more realistic, there are additional benefits to using real plants. Some fish will only breed in a planted tank. Fresh plants also help in the nitrogen cycle by using nitrates, and add oxygen to the water. Live plants are eaten by many fish varieties, and for these herbivores, fresh plants are the most natural food source.

All these advantages are sometimes overshadowed by the extra effort you have to put in to take care of fresh plants. Fresh plants require light for photosynthesis, the same way that your ordinary garden plants do. The amount of light will depend on what type of plants you have. You also need to take care of the fertilizer needs of some of them. They do not grow on just your ordinary plant fertilizer but with special aquarium type of fertilizer. Do not attempt to put ordinary fertilizer on them for they might kill not just the plants but the fish as well.

Cleaning fresh aquarium plants is more difficult than cleaning fake ones because you’ll have to clean them where they are planted. Decaying plant matter means a lot of waste at the bottom of your tank, which can reduce water quality. Products like EcoBio-Block can help keep your water healthy by providing a continual source of beneficial bacteria that breaks down organic waste, such as decaying plants, into safer by-products. Prune dying parts of the plant just like you would prune your houseplants. Healthy live plants improve your aquarium habitat, but if not cared for properly, they can reduce your water quality. Only you decide whether fresh aquarium plants are worth the additional maintenance.

You may also like:

1. Introducing New Fish to an Established Aquarium
2. How to Start Your Own Aquarium
3. Tips in Selecting an Aquarium Tank
4. Choosing an Aquarium: The most Crucial Things that Should be Considered
5. Easy Ways to Clean and Maintain Your Fish Tank