Placing plants in fish tanks is becoming ever popular these days so much to a point where there are people now who prefer to indulge in aqua-culture while not having any fish in their aquarium. No one can deny how beneficial it is to have plants in a fish tank and with a little effort can create a beautiful world within that provides your aquatic life a perfect place to frolic and roam.
Beginners generally tend to shy away from planting in their aquariums but it really is not as difficult as one might think. What you need is some patience, a streak of creativity and a proper guide and you’re bound to create a nice little inner world.
The first thing to do before you even think of buying your plants is to work out a general design of what the end product should look like. Fish tank plants come in various sizes and shapes, and can also be categorized as floating or planted. Work out on paper what you want your tank to be and then head over to the nearest fish store. It would be a good idea to let the store owner know what type of fishes you plan to keep in the tank as well to get his advice on the best plant options.
Substrate is an important part of a planted fish tank. You can’t just have gravel or sand in your tank and expect the plants to live. Substrate provides the plants with important nutrients which will enable them to grow healthily. The substrate is generally placed beneath the gravel and will provide the nutrients once the roots of the plants bore down into them. Some of the most important nutrients that plants will be able to obtain from the substrate are carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous and iron while there are also other lesser elements as well that increases their health.
Next consideration is lighting. Plants perform photosynthesis and this requires a light source. If your aquarium is located beside a window or door which has a natural source of light, that is perfect but if it doesn’t than you will need to fix proper lighting to provide it with the light it needs.
A final consideration is the type of filter you are using. Undergravel filters are definitely out as the roots of the plants will eventually clog up the gravel and reduce the filtration capabilities. Also, try not to get a filter that creates too much water movement as well.
With all that aside, it’s now time to plant them. Firstly, inspect the plant leaves carefully for snails and rinse them off. While doing this, also cut off any brown or decaying leaves or they will decay and contaminate the tank. When placing the plants, it is best to plant them all at once. This is where the complete design comes in handy. Placing the plants all at one go allows the aquarium water to achieve a balance which is something that happens each time you place in new plants.
Planting is easy. Just use your finger or a pencil and create a depression in the substrate. Then place the roots carefully in the depression and cover it back with a slight press to anchor the plant to the floor. If you have purchased plants that stubbornly refuse to stay down, you can add small lead weight which you can also get from the same fish store.
For more information and help on fish tank plants, visit Fish Tank Filters at http://fish-tank-filters.org and enjoy the excellent discounts that you can receive from That Fish Place online store.
