nformation Guideline on Live Aquatic Plants to Be Used for Your First Freshwater Aquarium

Know thy freshwater aquarium plants...

Plants are one of the most essential need for a freshwater aquarium due to their ability to release life-giving oxygen as well as serve as food for herbivorous species of fish. It is therefore, vital to select appropriate species of aquarium plants for your freshwater aquarium.

Plants serve the purpose of providing a natural habitat and develop an organic aquarium. Habitat preferences of fishes vary as per their species. This makes it very important for the aquarist to know about the native habitat of their fish. The selection of freshwater aquarium plants should suit the species of fish that it houses.

Knowing the factors to be considered while selecting aquarium plants

Plants need sunlight to generate oxygen. Freshwater aquarium plants are submerged in fish tank within four walls and may not get enough sunlight. It is therefore essential to have appropriate lighting. Lighting as a substitute of sunlight helps in the photosynthesis process to supply nutrition to the plant and release oxygen and should therefore be in optimal proportion. Nevertheless, excessive or harmful lighting can accelerate the growth of algae in your tank causing more maintenance issues. A good equation to consider will be approximately 2 watts per gallon of water. Aquatic lighting is therefore a science in itself.

Layout or arrangement of plants in your freshwater aquarium too, is an important factor to be considered. Depending upon their individual species and rate of growth you could choose where you want to place them in your tank. A good strategy is to keep plants with slower growth rate at the front of the tank to allow maximum visibility without pruning. Thereafter, place the medium growth rate plants in the centre or middle succeeded by the rapidily growing plants at the back. This has to be done keeping in mind the different levels of water your aquarium fish would like to enjoy in their natural habitat.

Another important factor to be considered while selecting aquarium plants for your fish tank is the type of substrate they need for their own survival. Depending upon the species plants may need smaller or larger and rougher substrate for their roots to latch to. Few of them can even flourish in sand.

Cleanliness measures for a healthy aquarium

If you choose live plants you will want to consider the type of plant vs. the type of fish. Herbivores are expected to naturally graze on certain plants and could have uprooted a few during lunch which could be found as floating debris thereby polluting the tank water. An education from local pet store specialist could help you in selecting appropriate plant species to go in conjuntion with the type of fish for your aquarium.

So how do I start?

Simple...as a beginner start with plants that are easy to maintain.

Further to same before plantation, a thorough rinse could avoid any foreign organisms, insects and or animals from entering and contaminating aquarium environment. If avoided, this could result into a disease outbreak resulting into the death of livestock which is more valuable compared to the tank, filtration system and plants.

As you gain confidence and become more educated in knowing more species add or replace the plants in your tank with better ones. Keep on observing the changes in the behaviour of the inhabitants. At the end of the day all these efforts are to keep both fish and ourselves happy and relaxed.