| Plants play an important role in aquarium | | | | |
| life. They help to absorb nitrites that are | | | | Live plants may be kept in aquariums alone or |
| toxic to the fish. In fact there are some | | | | with fish. The plants may even be used as a |
| plant only aquariums. There are many | | | | food source for some species of omnivorous |
| different varieties of aquatic plants. | | | | fish. At the very least, they will provide |
| Tubers are a type of plant that needs to be | | | | shelter and a feeling of refuge for the fish. |
| anchored by the root to the bottom of the | | | | All plants require some form of light in |
| tank. They may be tied or simply buried | | | | order to thrive through photosynthesis. |
| underneath the substrate in the bottom of the | | | | Check the specifics on the types of plants |
| aquarium. There are also floating plants. | | | | with your local retailer. Some plants will |
| As their name suggests they simply float in | | | | thrive on the waste put out by the fish in |
| the tank they do not need to be anchored and | | | | the aquarium, while others will require |
| will not usually require fertilizer. The only | | | | regular fertilization. Again check with your |
| regular care required is to make sure that | | | | supplier for compatibility and feeding |
| water droplets are not regularly deposited on | | | | requirements. When purchasing plants, make |
| the leaves, as this will cause decay. | | | | sure that they are true aquatic plants. Live |
| | | | plants should be pruned weekly. Dead or |
| Water lettuce and Lily pads are examples of | | | | broken leaves should be removed daily. |
| floating plants. Rooted plants, like tubers | | | | |
| need to be anchored to the bottom of the | | | | A live plant aquarium will require the same |
| tank. It is suggested that the roots be tied | | | | basic equipment needed for an aquarium |
| to pieces of rock or wood. These species | | | | containing fish. The basics are as follows. |
| usually grow to be fairly tall and will add | | | | You will need a tank, some sort of filtration |
| length to an aquarium. When planting these, | | | | system, lighting and some basic cleaning |
| remember to allow plenty of room for growth. | | | | tools. The plants are fairly easy to care |
| The roots will grow outwards and require | | | | for, but you do have to keep up with your |
| additional space. Another type of aquatic | | | | regular maintenance. Synthetic plants may be |
| plant is known as cuttings. These plants may | | | | a good alternative to live plants, if you are |
| be transplanted from other thriving plants, | | | | not willing to make the investment in live |
| without have to root them. Cuttings should | | | | plants. Faux plants have come a long way in |
| be planted individually. They will grow | | | | recent years. So much so, that your fish may |
| vertically and sprout shoots at the joints of | | | | not even notice the difference. Whether you |
| the leaves. When these shoots grow to be a | | | | choose live or synthetic plants, they will |
| couple of inches, it is time to cut them and | | | | add interest and life to any aquarium. |
| plant them individually. | | | | |