| Aug 16, 2017
The Benefits of Aquatic Plants
Let's face the facts - no matter how good of quality a plastic plant may seem, it still looks plastic. Furthermore, plastic plants cannot perform
photosynthesis to help oxygenate the water and assist in neutralizing nitrogen waste.
What's more, if you place real plants in an aquarium before adding your fish, you can help condition the tank with their carbon cycle to make it a more stable environment for your fish! Real aquatic plants can reduce the occurrence of
new tank syndrome, which is the tendency for fish placed in a newly set up tank to have higher mortality rates.
Aquatic plants can provide
biological filtration by absorbing many types of tank waste such as excess food, ammonia, decaying materials, and nitrates. Plus, because plants compete with algae for nutrients in the water, they can help reduce the growth of pesky algae.
Plants also provide
shelter and
security for many species of fish and can even help more territorial fish establish their own turf more easily. It is a truly symbiotic relationship between fish and the aquatic plants they live with!
Keeping a planted aquarium can be rather rewarding, and not as difficult as it may seem. With the right lighting, nutrients, substrate/anchor, CO2 levels, temperature, and water quality, you can easily turn your tank into an aquatic landscape.
In fact, there are even several different decorative methods that bring an artistic touch to arranging plants in your aquarium. By arranging
root-sized to
tall stem-sized plants, you can create a beautifully sculpted aquatic garden with simple techniques such as the "
mountain" arrangement, the "
valley" arrangement, or even various "
sloping" shapes!
For the best looking natural garden landscape, try adding a
diverse variety of compatible species of plants. Not only are aquatic plants beautiful and bring even that much more life to a tank environment, they also give the gift of hours of relaxation! Your fish will thank you, too, since live plants improve overall water quality, bring diversity to their environment, and reduce their potential stress as well.
Stop by an Uncle Bill's near you to see what types of aquatic fauna we have to offer!