Planting In Your Aquarium The Right Way

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. The benefits of having plants in a tank is undeniable and with a little interior design, creates a gorgeous little inner world that allows your fish an ideal environment to live and play.

Beginners generally tend to shy away from planting in their aquariums but it really is not as difficult as one might think. All it takes is a little patience, some creativity and a pinch of know-how and you're on your way to a perfect fish tank.

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. Aquatic plants come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as planted and floating types. Create your design on paper first, then go out to the nearest fish shop to buy your plants. A good idea is to also seek the advice of the shop owner on what would be ideal plants for the set up you plan to create.

The most important element in a planted aquarium is substrate. Your plants will never survive on a base that is made up of just gravel and sand. It is the nutrients in the substrate that will enable to plants to grow healthily. Usually the substrate is placed as a layer beneath the gravel or sand and as the plant roots bore down, it will consume the nutrients. 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. Photosynthesis is a necessary function performed by plants and it needs a source of light. If your fish tank is placed near a window or door that has a natural light source, that's great but if it doesn't, you will have to provide the plants with an alternate light source to fulfill its needs.

A final consideration is the type of filter you are using. Undergravel filters are not the right kind to use because the plant roots will eventually clog the gravel and prevent proper filtration. 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 you do this, discard any leaves that are brown or decayed which might contaminate the aquarium later. When adding the plants, it is always a good idea to add them at one go. 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. All you need to do is make a depression with your finger or a pencil in the substrate. Then plant the roots into the hole you created and cover it back up again nice and tight. 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.

by: Tim Kessler

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