Freshwater AQUARIUM PLANTS - Aquatic Botanical Biodiversity

Photo  by The Wandering Angel 

Aquatic plants do carry the other half of the marine ecosystem and are good additions to aquariums simply because they make the marine life equation complete. But there are good signs lately which indicate that these plants are now used for more than just equating the animal-plant balance in an aquatic community. If you are interested in purchasing freshwater aquarium plants for your aquarium, then you might find this information quite useful.

Floaters

Floaters are a common choice in aquariums because they add that style and elegance aside from the balance that they provide in the entire aquarium. Floaters, as the name suggests, thrive at the surface of the aquarium with their roots "floating" in the water, and are, by technical name, floating plants. One good example of a floater is the Fairy Moss.

Rhizomes

These plants are commonly described as having thick stems that stretch out inside the fish tank horizontally, with the leaves sprouting evenly at the stem. They are made to "run" over the substrate, much like how a normal plant grows on land. The Anubias and the African Fern are the commonly used rhizomes for aquariums. Aquarists start growing these plants by attaching them to the driftwood, and they spread along the substrate all by themselves.

Rosettes

These plants are characterized as looking like crowns, with roots that grow underneath them. These kinds of plants are very ornamental for a freshwater aquarium plant because they present a shortened stem axis that tends to spread over its leaves beautifully. The downside is that they tend to need a good amount of maintenance and care. Some good examples of Rosettes are the Amazon Sword and the Sagittaria.

Stems

They are called this way because of their general appearance, which basically looks like a stem that is firmly rooted in the substrate. The leaves that can come in paired and multiple varieties are found at the stem's nodes

Other Notable Aquatic Plants

The Java moss may well be considered as one of the most common aquatic plants. This is because it has a high tolerance rate for varying water pH levels, and can grow relatively fast, which makes it the ideal plant for beginners.

The Water Wisteria is a plant that can also grow quite quickly. It is a good plant to use in aquariums because aside from its aesthetic function as a plant, it also helps to keep the algae levels of the aquarium low. Be careful of the water nutrient sucking capability of this plant, though.

Cryptocoryne Becketti is a plant that can pose a challenge to the more experienced hobbyist. It is an amphibious plant, meaning it can grow well regardless if it is on land or underwater (but for its underwater survivability purposes, we shall still call this an aquatic plant). Like Rosettes, it's a very good ornamental plant, as it gives a dazzling array of different colors, but it only works for those who are able to raise it well.

Sandra Gaffney is a freshwater aquarium expert.   Article Directory: EzineArticles

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AQUARIUM PLANTS: One Of The Best Ornaments In An Aquarium

An aquatic garden with mostly Cryptocoryne species.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Everybody understands the reason why most plants can be seen in many aquariums. Healthy plants and their lush are beautiful to look at when they are in an aquarium. They also create a natural setting in the aquarium.

Most of the fishes feel secure, less stressed and safe whenever they have plants to hide in. Some species of fish do not survive in an aquarium without any plants.

Aquarium plants will not only give the fishes a helpful shelter and make your aquarium look attractive but they can maintain the quality of the water as well. Plants and fish both exist in the wild and they will surely match well in your aquarium.

The wastes discharged by the fish contain compounds that are useful for the plant’s nutrition. Therefore, the organic wastes can be contained in the plants instead of seeing them float in the water. The plants must be pruned regularly and the dead parts must be eliminated from the aquarium ASAP.

Not only that, the aquarium plants will also provide a shelter to many microorganisms which are useful for the ecology and environment of the aquarium. In addition, plants have also the capacity to inhibit the growth of ugly algae since algae and plants compete for similar nutrients.

Most species of fish will never reproduce in an aquarium without plants. This is because some species need plants for them to feel secure enough to reproduce, while other species need the leaves of the plants to place their eggs in. An abundantly planted aquarium will also enhance the survival growth of the fry especially if you want to increase the number of fry in a similar aquarium like with the adult fish.

However, we all know that plants rely too much on to light and photosynthesis. An aquarium with no plants will only need little. But if you are planning to have an abundant number of plants in your aquarium, you will be required to put new lights. A fluorescent light will be better for your planted aquarium, make sure that they are made especially for aquariums.

If you are a beginner, the plant species that will be suitable for you are the Java Moss and the Java Fern. These are strong plants that can survive in water hardness and pH values. They can even be placed in a brackish aquarium like the Molly aquarium.

Aquarium plants are very important to the survival of most fishes in the aquarium. It does not matter what aquarium plant you choose, the important thing is you know how to maintain your aquarium as naturally as the fishes and plants habitat.

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Artificial Freshwater AQUARIUM PLANTS

There is always a certain amount of joy and fun in putting decorations in your freshwater aquarium. In fact, adding artificial plants to your aquarium can cost a little less than the money you spend on maintaining your aquarium. As we all know, artificial plants are reasonably priced and they require very little care and maintenance once they are placed in the aquarium. The idea of placing them in your freshwater aquarium was introduced rather late. There was a time when artificial plants were looked upon as eyesores by many 'newbies' in the aquarium community.

Today, however, their appearance is very similar to real plants and you have to actually touch them to tell that they are made of plastic materials. In fact, the majority, if not all artificial plants used in freshwater aquariums, are made from silk allowing them to freely move in the water.

One of the greatest benefits of using artificial plants in aquariums is the fact that they shine in all their glory the moment you place them in your aquarium. This has a glorious effect that live plants can never provide since they need time to grow and blossom. As a rule, however, it is necessary that before you add artificial plants to your aquarium you must ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned and that they are free from any contaminants that can harm the fish. A little trick to make your the plants appear more realistic: soak them in warm water for thirty minutes. This is good for softening the fabric.

What's more, artificial plants do not require additional care and maintenance. They can stay as they are whether or not the aquarium is lighted. There are no problems when adding special nutrients and you can basically place them on any aquarium substrate. In fact, you can execute the most daring design when it comes to arranging them in the aquarium. By choosing your favorite artificial plants, you can easily place them anywhere you wish. If the time comes when you decide to remove them, you can easily do so without the worry of hurting the fish or damaging the tank.

In fact, you cannot kill your artificial freshwater aquarium plants, and so you do not have to worry about pruning or feeding them to them to make them grow. They will always be what they are-artificial plants. But if well chosen, they are not ordinary plants and though they are lifeless, they bring about the appearance of life to both the fish and spectators. Moneywise, they are way cheaper than live plants because you only need to purchase them once, and you can continue to enjoy their beauty for as long as you desire. They only cease giving life to your freshwater aquarium once you decide to throw them away.

Finally, artificial plants can significantly add life and beauty to your freshwater aquarium without causing any danger to the fish. Aside from the fact that they are very easy to care for, you do not need to monitor them very closely as they will never invite algae to grow on them. Maintenance is also inexpensive and cost-effective.

By Garry-Ian Macdonald - Article Source: Ezine Articles

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Transparent Leaves on AMAZON SWORDS

Echinodorus bleheri (Amazon sword plant, although other plants are
also known under this common name). The plant is cultivated for and used
in freshwater aquariums. The species is native to the Amazon Basin.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A common experience with Amazon Sword plants is that you will find them growing well, otherwise completely healthy, but with almost transparent leaves. Over time, the general health of the plant begins to degenerate.

This problem is caused by the chloroplasts in the leaves beginning to die, how badly the plant is affected depends on how advanced this has become. Unfortunately, there are a number of causes of this particular problem so it may be necessary to try a number of different approaches before a remedy can be found. If the plants in your tank are overall generally healthy, then do not worry too much, it is most likely that there will be no serious long-term damage you need to be concerned about. The most likely causes are a lack of soft, slightly acidic water, lighting conditions, and either an iron or potassium deficiency.

One of the most important aspects of plant keeping, outside of maintenance needed to keep water chemistry balanced, is ensuring that plants have the correct level of lighting. It is particularly helpful if lighting used is in the red or blue spectrum, as it is this wavelength that is used for photosynthesis. Amazon Swords will need roughly 2 to 3 watts per gallon of light to grow properly, if you have a tank greater than 18 inches in depth you will need a little more to penetrate to the bottom. If your tap water is hard and alkaline, consider using distilled water for water changes. A decent fertilizer with Iron and Potassium as some of the macronutrients it provides should eliminate any deficiencies.

It is advisable to make sure that everything in your aquarium has very similar needs and the closer this is, the better! It is always important to strike this balance, particularly if things begin to go wrong with one or more aspects of the aquarium. This is the point where you may change lighting intensity, the balance of water chemistry and other factors of the aquarium. Providing that you have done your research beforehand, trying to treat problems with your Amazon Swords should go smoothly, just make sure to be vigilant on how the aquarium fares with changes in water chemistry, lighting, hardness, and acidity.

Keeping Amazon Swords can be very rewarding. If you begin to have this problem with them, once you have worked out what you believe has gone wrong or may be causing the issue, you are well on the way to treating them successfully.

With live aquarium plants, you can overcome all the problems of a non-planted aquarium. You can improve the quality of your aeration, filtration, food and algae control. You can improve the lives of your fish.

By Sean Norman - Article Source: EzineArticles

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ELODEA - An Excellent Oxygenator Plant For Your Pond

"Elodea canadensis2 ies" by Frank Vincentz Licensed via Wikimedia Commons.

Elodea is a genus of aquatic plant known to be a fine oxygenator for ponds and aquariums. Elodea in the Greek literally means marshy. Also known as waterweeds (American or Canadian) or water weed, Elodea is native to North America and is found in ponds and slow streams. The only place it is not found is in the extreme northern parts of the continent. It has also been introduced to many other parts of the world.

Some species of Elodea, introduced in England in 1841, clogged up canals and waterways. It is considered a problem plant in many areas of the world. However, in the United States, the Elodea is considered an excellent plant for use in ponds and aquariums.

Elodea is a slender plant that grows from 4 inches to 3 feet depending on the depth of the water. The American waterweed (Elodea Canadensis) lives entirely underwater except for delicate white pistillate flowers that bloom at the surface and float on the surface of the water. Staminate flowers rise to the surface and release their pollen. The fruit of the Elodea ripens below the surface. Elodea produces heavy buds in the Fall that fall off and drop to the bottom and then begin to grow in the Spring; relying little on seed production.

Geese, ducks, and swans like to eat Elodea plants so don't be surprised if growing it in your pond attracts some of these visitors. Elodea is also an excellent plant for the protection of fish fry. Gold fish will lay their eggs so that they attach to the stalks and the fry use the stalks for cover.

Elodea can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, PH levels, and growth mediums. Before introducing new plants, it might be wise to keep them in quarantine or run the plants through a plant dip/bath to rid them of unwanted snails or algae. If you want a hardy, low-maintenance oxygenator plant for your pond, the Elodea is an excellent choice.

By Bruce Ash - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Five Main Types of Freshwater AQUARIUM PLANTS

[WATER PLANTS] - Pogostemom Stellata - Nesaea Pedicellata - Staurogyne repens - Echinodorus Radicans - Cryptocoryne Undalatus Kasselman - Nomaphila Stricta Thay - Anubias Barteri var. Petitte - Anubias Minima - Bolbitis Heudelotii - Crinum Calamistratum - Cryptocoryne Beckettii 'petchii' - Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Tropica' - Alternanthera Reineckii 'Purple' (lilacina) - Echinodorus 'Ozelot' - Hemianthus Micranthemoides - Proserpinaca Paulustris 'Cuba' - Hemianthus Callitrichoides 'Cuba' - Cyperus Helferi - Vesicularia Dubyana - Hydrocotyle Sibthorpioides (maritima) - Hygrophila Pinnatifida - Microsorum Pteropus 'Narrow' - Microsorum Pteropus 'Petit' - Microsorum Pteropus - Microsorum Pteropus 'Windelov' [FISH] - Otocinclus Affinis - Crossocheilus Siamensis - Paracheirodon Axelrodi - Hyphessobrycon Amandae - Corydoras Aeneus (Albino) - Corydoras Aeneus (Red Fin) [SUBSTRATE] Dupla Substrate [FILTER] Eheim Classic 2260 [LIGHT] Arcadia OT2 Freshwater 1000mm 4x39w T5 [CO2] Dupla Armatur PRO, Dupla Magnetventil and GLA Atomic diffuser [COMMENTS] The tank was setup in a way that would bring back memories of my summer holidays in Portugal, Lisbon. There is a strong light from the left side that will enhance the reds of the Cryptocorynes, Proserpinaca and Alternanthera right underneath it. The layout and color gives the illusion that the sun is rising from between the plants, with the red hues being the sun itself.

Photo: Wikimedia

Yes, you can actually grow live plants in your freshwater aquarium! In fact, it's better to landscape your aquarium with live plants. For one, they offer nutrients to your fish. They also offer hiding places, especially for babies, "fry", as they are called. And they make the aquarium healthier, often adding more oxygen and cleaning the water of toxins. So even if you prefer plastic plants, you might want to give live plants a try. They're more interesting and aren't hard at all to grow.

The general rule of thumb is to landscape your aquarium with plants that would probably be native to your fish's original environment. Even if your fish have never actually been in his native habitat, this is true. The following is a quick course in some of the live plant trade secrets of successful aquarists that you'll need to know to accessorize your freshwater aquarium. There are several main types of aquarium plants that have been found to be successful in tanks. Each group has different planting methods that will be best for them to grow healthily.

• Bulbs
• Floating plants
• Rhizomes
• Stem plants
• Other types of freshwater plants

I'll go over a few of these types here. 

Bulbs will usually grow rather large plants and will not be for all aquariums. You'll probably want to grow them in larger tanks. There are more and more bulb-type plants appearing on the market today. You can find some at your local fish store, but be sure to check the internet for a wider variety. And live plants, in general, are not very expensive. To plant bulbs, you'll need to leave the top half of the bulb exposed, the bottom half will be buried in the substrate. Usually, bulbs will grow more little bulbs and form groups, which can later be separated and spread around your aquarium.

Floating plants are really wonderful and require zero care. They just float on the surface of the tank, and in the water, too. Fish love to hide in them and eat in them, and you don't have to plant them. A lot of floaters will resemble ferns or even moss. Great to have around for the "fry" (baby fish) and for your other shy fish. If you're wanting to make your tank a little dimmer, if it seems too bright, floating plants might be a good answer because they'll filter the light and also keep your aquarium cooler.

Rhizomes are similar to bulbs, but the bulb-like root area needs to be planted totally under the substrate. The leaves will grow above the rhizome. These plants are also easy to grow. I've just gone over a couple of types of live aquarium plants here. These are easy to keep, and require almost no care, and will add a more "live" environment for your fish to live in, and they'll be happier and healthier.

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FANWORT - Bacomba aquatica

FANWORT - Bacomba aquatica - Photo: Wikimedia

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How to AQUASCAPE - Dutch Style

A 58g aquascape by (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aquascaping allows you to create a visually impressive aquarium and there a range of different aquascaping styles to choose from for you to create this effect. The style you choose should be based on your personal preference and how confident you are keeping plants generally.

A Dutch style aquascape is a lush arrangement of plants, often containing a diverse arrangement of leaf colors, sizes, and textures. This can be compared to how terrestrial plants are shown in a flower garden and is immediately striking to the beholder. This style attempts to emphasize plants situated at different heights and on different terraces in the tank. When a strong contrast is used, such as prominent red leaves with green, this can be exceptionally striking. Particularly, this style of aquascape may be useful to consider if you are keeping an aquarium where 80% or more of the bottom of the tank will be covered with plants.

Aquascaping like this was developed in the Netherlands in the 1930s, where it became popular elsewhere in the world rapidly, particularly with the growth of commercially available freshwater equipment. Straight rows of plants are commonly called "Dutch streets" and there is a wide range of plant types which can be used in them and the planted aquarium generally. The most commonly used plants are groupings which can be neatly trimmed, plants that have contrasting leaf colorations and also plants which have a feathery foliage. Members of the Hygrophila family are common in Dutch aquariums.

The most important aspects of keeping plants successfully when you are keeping different species is to understand their individual needs and ensure they are similar. If you are keeping two different species of plants which need extremely different water conditions, one or both of them will grow sick and in the worst case scenario, will die. Try to ensure that the plants you wish to keep grow successfully with a similar composition of nutrients, lighting, water hardness, heating, and PH. It may take time to do the research on the individual species, especially in this style of aquascape where many kinds are used, but it is worth it for the long term.

t may be advisable to have a good amount of experience keeping quite a few different kinds of species before trying to create a Dutch aquascape. You may end up wanting to use a wide variety of plants to create the desired effects.

With live aquarium plants, you can overcome all the problems of a non-planted aquarium. You can improve the quality of your aeration, filtration, food and algae control. You can improve the lives of your fish.

Find out how live aquarium plants can help you, help them.

Sean Norman  an environmental science student and freelance writer with a deep love of ecology. - Article Source: EzineArticles

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WATERHYSSOP - Bacopa monnieri

WATERHYSSOP - Bacopa monnieri - Photo: Wikimedia

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AMAZON SWORD PLANT - Echinodorus amazonicus

Amazon Sword - Echinodorus

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AQUARIUM PLANTS And LIGHTNING Mini-guide

Aquarium plants are as important to aquariums as water is to fish. Aquarium plants add more life to aquarium and make it to look beautiful while completing the aquarium community structure. 

The most important thing to bear in mind with plants is to form an attractive background, leaving ample space so the fish can swim undisturbed and be seen. The tall, grassy type is best planted at intervals in rows, while the feathery ones look better when they are bunched into small clumps, which makes them to appear like branching bushes. 

Aquarium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When planting rooted plants, hold the tips of the bunch of roots between the thumb and second finger and rest them on the sand. Now with the first finger push the upper part of the roots (where they join the stem) about 2cm into the sand. Without moving this finger scrape with the thumb and second finger some sand over any uncovered portion of the root. 

When putting in rootless plants in bunches, the method explained above is repeated, but this time the lower ends of the stems are placed together and treated exactly as if they were roots. 

It is important that the water surface should be right up to the lower edge of the top angle iron of the tank, so that looking from the front the water surface can not be seen and the viewer gets the impression that there is no water in the aquarium. If the level is allowed to fall below the top angle iron the tank looks like a container holding water. 

Aquarium Lighting is also important for aquarium plants 

This depends greatly on whether you intend to successfully grow plants or not. Lack of light causes colorful fish to fade and clanch-reds to pink, green to white. The two main methods of lighting aquarium are by the INCADESCENT and FLOURESCENT. 

The total amount of light required is a matter of trial and error. Too much light will turn the water green; too little will stunt plant growth. 

The lighting can be natural or artificial or a combination of both. The best position is near a north facing window. This should provide the ideal amount of indirect lights which an be supplemented by artificial light. 

The lighting should be housed in wood constructed stylishly with the furniture and placed above the tank. if there is no natural day light, the lights should be left on for approximately eight hours per day. 

If the water turns green, you cut down on the light. 

The best light for showing off an aquarium comes from behind.

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Red Nesaea - Ammania gracillis

Red Nesaea - Ammania gracillis

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Choosing the Right SUBSTRATE For Your Aquarium

The effects of choosing a bad substrate are not as obvious as bad Co2, lighting or heating choices for your plants, but the long-term effects can be devastating. Changing a substrate in an established aquarium is one of the hardest procedures you can undertake.

240 litres aquarium with different fishes, plants and a big root. Species = Fishes: Pterophyllum scalare, Trichogaster leeri, Paracheirodon axelrodi, Macropodus opercularis, Ancistrus sp.. Aquatic plants: Echinodorus, Anubias barteri var. nana, Hygrophyla difformis, Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv, Micranthemum micranthemoides, Vallisneria sp, Echinodorus tenellus, etc.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Substrate is a source of nutrients for your plants and secondly serves to hold whichever plants you would like to keep in place. At the very least you will want to choose a substrate which is rich in the macronutrients that your aquarium will need. A deficiency of macronutrients results in many unwanted physical effects in your plants, ranging from discolouration and dis figuration, to browning and death. Needless to say, it is important that your plants have all the nutrients that they require. Although it is possible to supplement some of them via fertilizers, this can introduce water chemistry issues of its own.

When choosing a substrate, try to establish what macronutrients that it contains. It is helpful to make sure that your chosen substrate is intended for your kind of aquarium. If you were to choose a substrate that was designed for salt water aquarium use, you run the risk of releasing unwanted slats or minerals into the water. In the case of crushed coral, this may raise the pH of the water to an unwanted level and the potential knock-on affects of this can be deadly.

One of the best ways to work out what would be good for your aquarium is by locating the hobbyists themselves. Forums are often priceless in helping you find exactly the right combination of materials to make your own substrate. You will also find recommendations for commercially available substrate for your aquarium, be it tropical, freshwater, marine or salt. It is always worth taking forum recommendations with a pinch of salt, unless a full overview of all the macronutrients and general use of the substrate is given. Some examples of good major brands of substrates would be Fluorite, Eco Complete and ADA Aquasoil. Before you buy anything, read the manufacturers packaging carefully.

When choosing your substrate, try to provide a substrate of three to eight millimetres per grain. Too much is as bad as too little; with too little the roots will be suffocated and with too much, there is not enough contact with the roots. You will need to do your research, with the kind of aquarium you keep in mind to find the best thing for your plants and fish.

With live aquarium plants you can overcome all the problems of a non-planted aquarium. You can improve the quality of your aeration, filtration, food and algae control. You can improve the lives of your fish.

Find out how live aquarium plants can help you, help them.

By Sean Norman Sean Norman is an environmental science student and freelance writer with a deep love of ecology. Article Source: EzineArticles

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http://bit.ly/1NDdqN0

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AQUARIUM PLANT: Importance and how to plant them in aquarium.

Cabomba aquatica 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aquarium plant is very important to aquarium as water is to fish. It add more life to aquarium and make it to looks beautiful while completing aquarium community structure. The main object to bear in mind when planting is to form an attractive background, leaving ample space in from where the fishes can swim undisturbed and be seen. The tall, grassy type is best planted at intervals in rows, while the feathery ones look better when they are bunched into small clumps, which makes them to appear like branching bushes.

When planting rooted plants, hold the tips of the bunch of roots between the thumb and second finger and rest them on the sand. Now with the first finger push the upper part of the roots (where they join the stem) about 2cm into the sand. Without moving this finger scrape with the thumb and second finger some sand over any uncovered portion of the root.

When putting in rootless plants in bunches, the method explained above is repeated, but this time the lower ends of the stems are placed together and treated exactly as if they were roots.

It is important that the water surface should be right up to the lower edge of the top angle iron of the tank, so that looking from the front the water surface can not be seen and the viewer gets the impression that there is no water in the aquarium. If the level is allowed to fall below the top angle iron the tank looks like a container holding water.

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CRYPTOCORYNE affinis

Cryptocoryne affinis

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Aquarium Plants - Different Types of Live AQUARIUM PLANTS

Most of the people love to have aquarium at homes. Aquarium comes in one of the best interior additions that you can add to interior decor of your home. Aquarium increases the beauty of your home and attracts the attention of everyone passing around. There are many people who find it hard to keep the aquarium plants in their aquariums. If you are also one of them and need some help about different types of live plants, then you come across the right article. In this article, you will read about some of the different types of plants, which are given below.

Aquarium Plants

There are many different types of live aquarium plants available in the market these days. You must know that these plants are also very useful and advantageous for the life of your aquarium. Most of the people use these live plants to give it a natural look. These live plants can be growing by using bulbs in aquariums. Some of the hard and rough type of aquarium plants takes a lot of time to grow, but when they grow completely they looks very beautiful and increases the beauty of your aquarium. These plants are the best if you use them in small ponds.

You should also keep in mind the species of fishes that you have in your aquarium, while choosing the live aquarium plants. Some of the live plants have floating ability and that looks very natural and attractive. These floating plants are great for such fishes that want to hide for their safety. The common type of these plants is called rhizomes, which are very popular and the most demanding aquarium plant. These live plants have thick leaves and stem on the top as well as on bottom. These plants are also called as runner plant as they have ability to float on the surface.

Another very famous aquarium plants is known as rosette. This type of plant looks like crown because it has lots of roots below as well as on the top. These plants often have beautiful flowers that look very beautiful when they move in aquarium. Another type of aquarium plant is water wisteria, which has the ability to grow faster than other plants.  Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Care of Live AQUARIUM PLANTS

To add that special effect and enhance the natural setting within your aquarium, try using live plants instead of fake plastic plants. The use of live plants will not only add a pleasing visual appeal, but will also help maintain your tank. By adding oxygen to the water, the use of live plants helps keep your aquarium balanced and will aid in fish health.

240 litres aquarium with different Aquatic plants: Echinodorus, Anubias barteri var. nana, Hygrophyla difformis, Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv, Micranthemum micranthemoides, Vallisneria sp, Echinodorus tenellus, etc.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The most important factor in growing and maintaining healthy aquarium plants is the lighting used. For a well planted aquarium, it is suggested to use 2-3 watts per gallon of water. The use of fluorescent bulbs is practical and adds a nice lighting effect. Take caution when deciding to use florescent lights if your tank has a depth of 20" or more. The low growing plants, or plants with multiple leave levels will suffer from a lack of light as the florescent rays will not provide enough light.

Once you have figured out what type of lighting you will use, you must turn your attention to the hardness of the water. The majority of aquarium plants will thrive in water that has a hardness between 4-12 dH, and between the range of 6.5-7.2 for pH. Plants need clean and clear water to survive best in, so proper cleaning and maintenance should be performed on the aquarium. Most plants will not survive if there is too much debris or waste in the water, so keeping up with cleaning is essential.

Once your plants are established in a clean, well lighted tank, you must care for them by making sure they receive the nutrients required for healthy growth. Plants need both macro- and micro nutrients. Macro nutrients are usually found naturally in tap water and in the fish themselves. These nutrients include nitrates, sulfates and phosphates. Macro nutrients should never need to be added to the water of the tank. They exist on their own. Micro nutrients are needed in very small amounts. Copper, iron and zinc are among the micro nutrients live plants will need to survive in the aquarium.

Generally, the water and the fish in the tank will provide the nutrients and fertilizers needed for plant growth. It is rare that any supplements will need to be added. One important factor in having healthy plant life is your filtration system. Stay away from under gravel filters because they produce a steady flow of bubbles that disturb the surface. The filter plate on under gravel filters also limit's the composition of the gravel in which the plants are rooted. All other kinds of filtration systems will work well. The only things to be concerned about are if your filter causes too much disruption to the water surface. When this happens, carbon dioxide is lost and plants will suffer. Also make sure the filter creates a current that keeps nutrients moving throughout the tank.

By having a good chemical balance in the aquarium and having an efficient filtering system, you will be sure to have healthy live plant growth. These plants will add to the beauty of the tank and will also keep your fish relaxed because it will be a natural setting for them. If you are considering adding plants for decoration within the aquarium, consider the great benefits of using live plants.

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How to Care for LIVE AQUARIUM PLANTS

Plants play an important role in aquarium life. They help to absorb nitrites that are toxic to the fish.  In fact there are some plant only aquariums.  There are many different varieties of aquatic plants.  Tubers are a type of plant that needs to be anchored by the root to the bottom of the tank.  They may be tied or simply buried underneath the substrate in the bottom of the aquarium.  There are also floating plants.  As their name suggests they simply float in the tank they do not need to be anchored and will not usually require fertilizer. The only regular care required is to make sure that water droplets are not regularly deposited on the leaves, as this will cause decay.

Water lettuce in a home aquarium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Water lettuce and Lily pads are examples of floating plants.  Rooted plants, like tubers need to be anchored to the bottom of the tank.  It is suggested that the roots be tied to pieces of rock or wood.  These species usually grow to be fairly tall and will add length to an aquarium.  When planting these, remember to allow plenty of room for growth. The roots will grow outwards and require additional space.   Another type of aquatic plant is known as cuttings.  These plants may be transplanted from other thriving plants, without have to root them.  Cuttings should be planted individually.  They will grow vertically and sprout shoots at the joints of the leaves.  When these shoots grow to be a couple of inches, it is time to cut them and plant them individually.  

Live plants may be kept in aquariums alone or with fish.  The plants may even be used as a food source for some species of omnivorous fish.  At the very least, they will provide shelter and a feeling of refuge for the fish. All plants require some form of light in order to thrive through photosynthesis.  Check the specifics on the types of plants with your local retailer.  Some plants will thrive on the waste put out by the fish in the aquarium, while others will require regular fertilization.  Again check with your supplier for compatibility and feeding requirements.  When purchasing plants, make sure that they are true aquatic plants.  Live plants should be pruned weekly. Dead or broken leaves should be removed daily.

A live plant aquarium will require the same basic equipment needed for an aquarium containing fish.  The basics are as follows.  You will need a tank, some sort of filtration system, lighting and some basic cleaning tools.  The plants are fairly easy to care for, but you do have to keep up with your regular maintenance.  Synthetic plants may be a good alternative to live plants, if you are not willing to make the investment in live plants.  Faux plants have come a long way in recent years.  So much so, that your fish may not even notice the difference. Whether you choose live or synthetic plants, they will add interest and life to any aquarium.

Why Grow CRYPTOCORYNE Wendtii?

Cryptocoryne Wendtii is one of many species of aquatic plant which belongs to the Cryptocoryne family. The Wendtii species if favoured by many aquarists because it is relatively easy to keep and can grow in a range of conditions. Cryptocoryne Wendtii is an ideal plant for someone who is new to growing aquarium plants and does not wish to try their hand at anything harder. It originated in Sri Lanka but has now spread to parts of America, notably Florida and is generally popular in planted tanks. They are hardy plants and do well under a range of lighting conditions.

Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green'  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Under high light it has been reported that Cryptocoryne Wendtii will become more compact, spreading horizontally over the substrate. The other noticeable affect from a higher level of light, is an increase in growth speed as well as a change in colour. In these conditions, some red varieties may turn also purple.

It is very easy to keep Cryptocoryne Wendtii because it is not a very demanding aquatic plant. A noticeable characteristic is that under stress, such as large changes in water conditions, most if not all of the leaves will fall off. This condition is commonly referred to as "Crypt Melt". If this does occur in the aquarium, do not panic, in a couple of weeks most of the foliage should have regrown. It is rare that Cryptocoryne plants will die from the affects of Crypt Melt, although it is not impossible. It is important to try and maintain balanced water chemistry in so far as possible.

If you are a beginner to keeping aquatic plants, or you would just like to introduce a low demand and easily kept plant to your current aquarium, Cryptocoryne Wendtii is a good choice. There is not too much risk of it over-running the aquarium, though as with all easily grown aquarium plants, some thought should be given to this possibility. As with all aquatic plants that you could grow, they offer a range of benefits to your fish. Biological filtration, aeration, protection, additional food and algae control are all reasons to grow.

There are some good alternatives to Cryptocoryne Wendtii, such as Java Moss, Java Fern and Anubias Barteri. For a beginner all four could compete for space in your aquarium and they would all equally be worth the space.

With live aquarium plants you can overcome all the problems of a non-planted aquarium. You can improve the quality of your aeration, filtration, food and algae control. You can improve the lives of your fish.

Find out how live aquarium plants can help you, help them.

By Sean Norman Sean Norman is an environmental science student and freelance writer with a deep love of ecology. Article Source: EzineArticles

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