| It is not hard to understand why plants are | | | | keeping the water quality up. The plants will also |
| present in so many aquariums. Lush and healthy | | | | provide a home for a wide range of micro |
| plants are stunning to look at and will create a | | | | organisms that are beneficial for the ecosystem in |
| much more natural environment in the aquarium. | | | | the aquarium. Plants are also capable of inhibiting |
| Most fish species feel safer and less stressed | | | | ugly algae growth since plants and algae compete |
| when they have plants to hide among, and many | | | | over the same nutrients. |
| species will never thrive in an unplanted aquarium. | | | | Many fish species will never spawn in an unplanted |
| If your fish species inhabit densely grown waters | | | | aquarium. Some species need the plants to feel |
| in the wild, they will feel very insecure in a plant | | | | safe enough to spawn, while others need leaves |
| without any vegetation. A lot of fish species are | | | | to attach their eggs on. A densely planted |
| however rock dwellers and can get the same | | | | aquarium will also increase the fry survival growth |
| sense of security from caves and rocky | | | | if you wish to raise fry in the same aquarium as |
| formations in the aquarium. If your fish disturb the | | | | adult fish, since the fry will hide among the plants. |
| plants and damage them by nibbling of the leaves | | | | Busy plants with a lot of smaller leaves are ideal |
| or digging up the roots, caves and wood can be a | | | | for this purpose. It should however be noted that |
| better solution than plants. If uprooting is the main | | | | there are other ways to provide fry with good |
| problem, you can choose plants that float and do | | | | shelters. Newly hatched fry can for instance hide |
| not require any anchorage in the substrate. If | | | | among larger marbles on the bottom of the |
| your fish are vigorous plant eaters, artificial plants | | | | aquarium. Caves, roots, stones and artificial |
| can be used instead of live plants. It can also be | | | | aquarium decoration will also give the fry hiding |
| possible to find a few live plant species that your | | | | places where they can stay out of harms way. |
| fish do not like the taste of. If your fish only | | | | A plant relies on photosynthesis and light is |
| nibble on the plants, you can choose strong and | | | | therefore essential to it. A fish only aquarium |
| fast growing live plants that can tolerate some | | | | requires little light, but if you wish to keep a |
| snacking. | | | | densely planted aquarium you might be forced to |
| Plants will not only provide your fish with valuable | | | | install new lights. Fluorescent light is better than |
| shelters and make your aquarium look beautiful; | | | | the standard incandescent light in planted |
| they will also help you to keep the water quality | | | | aquarium. Some plant species are very demanding |
| up. Fish and plants coexist in the wild and will | | | | in require even stronger light than the fluorescent, |
| complement each other well in the aquarium. The | | | | but these species are not recommended for |
| waste products released by fish will contain | | | | beginners. Fluorescent lights are more expensive |
| compounds that the plants can use as nutrition. | | | | than incandescent lights, but fluorescent lights will |
| Organic waste will therefore be contained within | | | | on the other hand burn cooler and use less |
| the plant instead of floating around in the water | | | | electricity. Java Fern and Java Moss are two |
| where it can harm the fish. You should however | | | | examples of suitable beginner species. They are |
| keep in mind that these compounds will not | | | | tough plants that can survive in a wide range of |
| "disappear", they will just be confined within the | | | | pH-values and water hardiness. They can even be |
| plant. If you allow dead and decaying plant | | | | kept in a slightly brackish aquarium, such as a |
| material to stay in the aquarium, the organic | | | | Molly aquarium. |
| compounds will be released again and begin to | | | | Unlike many other aquatic plants, Java Fern should |
| pollute the water. Plants must therefore be | | | | not be planted in the substrate in the aquarium. |
| regularly pruned and unhealthy parts must be | | | | Java Fern should instead be attached to rock, |
| removed from the water as soon as possible. In | | | | wood or aquarium decorations where it will form |
| return for the organic compounds that they | | | | roots. Once your have purchased your first Java |
| receive from the fish, the plants will produce | | | | Fern or Java Moss, the plants will propagate |
| oxygen which is essential to the fish. The plants | | | | themselves. New plants will develop on the old |
| will also use dissolved carbon dioxide and thereby | | | | plants, and eventually break off. You can attach |
| lower the levels of carbon dioxide in the aquarium. | | | | these tiny plants to some type of decoration in |
| The direct exchange between fish and plants is | | | | the aquarium and wait for them to grow large. |
| important, but it is not the only thing that help | | | | |