Aquarium Plants
An aquarium is a self-contained enclosure for the fish in your home. It can be a dynamic, fascinating addition to your drawing hall or bedroom. The unique environment in the aquarium is similar to that of under-water world. Aquariums come in various shapes such as hexagonal, cuboid, L-shaped and bow-front. You can load your aquarium with different types of fish, plants, sea-weeds, sea-shells, pebbles and other attractive objects. Aquarium plants can make aquariums look very attractive.
Aquarium plants can create a natural under-water setting in the aquarium. Most fish tend to hide behind these plants, which can make them feel safe, secure and less stressed. Some species of fish cannot survive without the plants. Hence, addition of some plants to aquariums is very necessary. Plants can be said as very important parts of freshwater aquariums. You need to select the plants very carefully and take good care of them.
Aquarium plants not only offer beautiful appearance to the aquarium, but they are also good for fish as spawning nests. These plants also help to maintain the water quality. The waste discharged by the fish consist of certain compounds which are useful for plant’s nutrition. Thus, organic waste is consumed by the plants. These plants act as a shelter for several micro-organisms which are beneficial for the environment and ecology of the aquarium. In addition to all this, these plants are capable of inhibiting the growth of ugly algae. Plants are also required for reproduction of many species of fish. Some fish use plant leaves to place their eggs. Adequately planted aquariums can promote the survival growth of certain types of fish.
For beginners, plant species like Java Fern and Java Moss are more suitable. These strong plants can survive in waters that have fluctuation in pH values and hardiness. You can select from real or artificial aquarium plants. Real plants can absorb fish wastes and keep the water clean. They can also add extra oxygen to the water to reduce the growth of algae. However, it is possible that fish may eat or uproot the plants. Hence, you need to take extra care of your aquarium. Real plants require too much light for photosynthesis. Hence, you should provide fluorescent lights to your aquarium.
You can also add some artificial plants in mats to your aquarium. These mats look very natural and can offer a fascinating look to your aquarium. These are two types of artificial aquarium plants such as those made from plastic and those made from silk. The plants made from silk look more natural as they move within the water. You may add some algae eating fish such as red-tailed black sharks to prevent cleaning off your artificial plants. You can clean these artificial plants using the plant cleaning solution.
You need to add the trace elements such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron to the water which are essential for metabolic process of the plants. You should also keep a bottle of carbon dioxide fitted with a regulator as carbon dioxide is required for photosynthesis. Filtration system is necessary for aquarium plants as it can keep the water clean and also support photosynthesis.