An Easy Guide on How You Make your Plants
Shine
|
Aquarium plants are quite
essential when it comes to maintaining a healthy eco-system within an aquarium’s
environment.
They serve a number of purposes that range from purifying
the water and increasing oxygen levels to simply beautifying the aquarium on a purely visual
level.
However, fish prefer plants in their home and to ensure
that these plants remain hale and hearty, it is important for us to follow a few important
pointers.
So here is a list of things to do or take care of, when
dealing with plants within the aquarium:
1. Buy Healthy Plants: To begin with, buy
aquarium plants
that look green and healthy. Even if the fish in the plant’s tank look
sick, do not buy the plants. If possible, soak your plants in Potassium Permanganate for
10 – 15 minutes before introducing them into your tank. This sterilizes them in a
way.
|
|
|
2. Regular Water Changes: This is essential to plant survival and every week,
around 20 percent of the water in the tank needs to be replaced with de-chlorinated water at the appropriate
temperature. Fertilizer, to aid plant growth, may be added to the water if required.
3. Fertilizers: Aquarium plants, like terrestrial plants, require nutrients. This can be provided to them through
fertilizers that are rich in iron and potassium. Available as pellets or liquid, these fertilizers can be simply
dropped or poured into the tank. It is essential to maintain the quantity, manner of application and schedule as
recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Appropriate Lighting: This is one of the most essential factors for healthy plant growth. It is recommended
that, for a well-stocked aquarium (in terms of plants), the
light’s wattage must be around 2 – 3 watts per gallon of water in the tank.
5. Hardness & Cleanliness of Water: Most aquarium plants tend to love water between 4 – 12 dH and between 6.5 –
7.2 ph levels. The water needs to be clean and clear of debris and so, regular cleaning is absolutely
essential.
Air freshening plants are essential even to the air you breath in your home.
6. Healthy Filtration Systems: The type of filter you use may determine how
healthy your plants will be. Gravel filters tend to disturb the surface with their steady bubble-flow and hence
should be avoided as much as possible. Their filter plate also limits the level of the gravel layer where these
plants can be rooted. Disturbance in the surface of the water results in the loss of carbon dioxide and these will
lead to unhealthy plants. Most other filters tend to work well as long as the surface water is stable.
7. Introduce Carbon Dioxide: This is something that some aquarium enthusiasts are known to do – introduce carbon
dioxide artificially into the tank. This is primarily done by the fermentation of sugar and baking yeast, placed in
an airtight bottle with water, connected to the tank by an air-tube.
8. Plants need Nutrients: Most macro nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium can be received from
within the tank itself, from tap water or the fish. The micro nutrients, i.e. Iron, Boron, Zinc and Nickel are
needed in extremely small quantities and can be added separately. The amount, method of administration and schedule
needs to be carefully followed as prescribed by the manufacturer.
9. Regular Checks: Maintain a regular check on aquarium plants as they may require trimming or pruning. It is
always a good idea to spread them by separating any new growth. This allows more plants to grow. It is essential to
keep a check on the population of snails and other such plant devouring creatures, if they are present in the
tank.
Plants are an important part of the eco-system, whether inside the aquarium
or outside. They always give back a lot to the aquarium and help keep it healthy. They are always a smart and
interesting accessory to buy for any aquarium.
|