Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Plants
• Part 2 of 3: Setting up your aquarium
• Part 3 of 3: Caring for the Plants
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Freshwater aquarium plants will be a beautiful addition to your home and will benefit your aquarium fish. Living plants remove nitrates from the water, improving water quality and reducing algae growth. They also increase the content of dissolved oxygen in the water and serve as an interesting hiding place for fish. Growing aquarium plants is fun and easy; this hobby will surely please both you and your fish.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Plants

1. 1 Choose common, easy-to-grow freshwater aquarium plants. Different freshwater plants have different light requirements and some are difficult to grow.Fortunately, for beginners, there are unpretentious plants that will also allow you to create the look you need in your aquarium. Look for plants such as Echinodorus, Lileopsis, Elodea, and Anubias.
   • Amazonian Echinodorus and Java fern are good options for tall plants. The Amazonian Echinodorus grows quickly and easily, providing a good camouflage to the internal equipment of the aquarium (filter) if it is installed at the rear of the aquarium. The Javanese or Thai fern has long leaves that provide a good hiding place for fish.
   • Among medium-sized plants, dwarf anubias and subulate arrowhead are good choices. Dwarf Anubias has curving stems and rounded leaves. The subulate arrowhead has long and curved leaves. This plant grows well over solid aquarium decorations, such as large stone figures.
2. 2 Use mosses to decorate the bottom and foreground of your aquarium. Easy-to-grow freshwater mosses include Javanese moss, fire-fighting fontinalis and hygrophila variegated. Mosses are low-growing plants, so they can be planted in the foreground in the aquarium, and they will not interfere with the view of the rest of the plants. Mosses also help keep your aquarium clean. They grow fast enough so you don't have to wait long to see the results of these plants.
   • Mosses thrive best in medium to bright light.
   • Often fish feed on moss. However, you still need to feed your fish. Keep in mind that not all fish eat moss.
   • Another good foreground plant in an aquarium is the micrantemum. This luxurious, leafy plant grows as fast as moss, but looks more like a shrub. It develops best in bright light.
3. 3 Buy mature plants if you want to complete the look of your aquarium right away. Mature plants are more expensive, but they allow you to immediately achieve the desired result. Choose plants that are already sprouting and have white roots.
   • Examine the plants for snails, crustaceans, and algae.
   • You can purchase aquarium plants at a pet store or a specialty aquatic supply store. They can also be ordered online.
   • Try to get a reputation as a plant seller to make sure they are selling clean and healthy plants.
4. 4 Grow plants from young shoots on your own if you are looking for an inexpensive aquarium decoration option. Although you will have to wait longer for the plants to fully develop, young shoots will cost you less. To grow plants on your own, shoots cut from adult plants will need to be purchased at a pet store or ordered via the Internet. If the plant is rooting from a twig, find the bottom node with leaves on its stem and remove the leaves from it. Bury the exposed end of the stem in the soil so that it takes root.
   • Perhaps an aquarist you know will be able to share with you the shoots of plants.
5. 5 Create an interesting look in your aquarium using plants of various sizes. Layered plants will make your aquarium more attractive. Background plants should be larger, while medium plants should be placed in the middle or on the sides. The foreground can be decorated with a creeping plant such as moss or micrantemum.
   • The sizes of aquarium plants vary from very small (2.5–5 cm in height) to very large, filling the entire aquarium.
   • For an even more interesting look, add decorations, rocks and driftwood to the aquarium. They will also be a good foundation for anchoring plants that don't need planting.

Part 2 of 3: Setting up your aquarium

1. 1 Purchase and install aquarium lights to promote plant growth. As with normal plants, aquarium plants need light to live. It is required for photosynthesis, which provides plants with energy and nutrients. Check the lighting needs of your plants, as these vary from species to species. Full spectrum fluorescent lamp and LED lamp are excellent choices for your aquarium. Plants may also receive some light from nearby windows.
   • Some plants require very powerful backlighting, so be sure to gather all the information before making your final backlight choice.
   • If you are just starting out with aquarium plants, try to use less than 2.5 watts of fluorescent light per 4 liters of water, provided that you are not using a carbon dioxide system.
2. 2 Quarantine new plants and process them before placing them in your aquarium. New plants can be infested with pests such as snails or crustaceans, which can upset the healthy balance of your aquarium. Snails and small crustaceans breed quickly, so they can flood your aquarium if there are no fish feeding on them. They can also introduce bacteria and diseases into your aquarium. Quarantine will allow you to detect pests before they enter the aquarium. You can also treat the plants with chlorine solution.
   • To use chlorine, mix 1 part White (or other bleach) with 19 parts water. Submerge the plants in the solution for 2-3 minutes, depending on their sensitivity. Then rinse them thoroughly with fresh water before placing them in dechlorinated aquarium water.
   • Submerge purchased plants in salted water to prevent snails from emerging. Add 1 cup of aquarium or table salt to 4 liters of water. Submerge the plants in the solution for 15–20 seconds, keeping the roots above the water. Then be sure to rinse them with fresh water before placing them in the aquarium.
   • After a week of quarantine, plant new plants in the aquarium.
3. 3 Use a gravel-top substrate suitable for plants in the aquarium. The substrate is poured to the very bottom of the aquarium. When growing plants, it must be nutritious, so the cost of such a substrate will be slightly higher. Growing soil will usually cloud your aquarium if disturbed, but this can be prevented by placing gravel on top of it.
   • Fertilized, nutrient-rich aquarium soil comes in a wide variety of colors.
   • A substrate based on clay or laterite will also be a good nutritious and slightly cheaper soil for plants. Nevertheless, the mud from such a soil in the aquarium settles a little longer.
   • Aqua Soil is rich in nutrients for plant growth, but it lowers the pH of the water down to 7. Although this soil is optimal for plants, it can harm your fish. Be sure to check the pH requirements of your fish before purchasing such a substrate.
   • By itself, gravel does not provide any nutrients to the plants.
4. 4 Dig in the plants that need to be planted in the soil so that they can receive the nutrients. Some plants need to be planted in a substrate in order for them to receive nutrients. Place the roots of these plants in the substrate, but do not go too deep so as not to burrow in the root point of growth, which usually looks like a green bulge just above the roots. Deepening the growth point can lead to the death of the entire plant.
   • Do not plant plants on top of each other.
5. 5 Attach plants in need of anchoring to rocks or driftwood so that they can grow. Some plants, such as mosses, Javanese fern and dwarf anubias, prefer to grow on rocks or driftwood. Once fixed, they will grow directly on a stone or driftwood.Gently tie the line of your choice, and then hook it to a stone or snag. Tie the fishing line and lower the stone (driftwood) with the plant into the aquarium.
   • Driftwood and lava are great for anchoring plants.
6. 6 Allow the aquarium to stabilize for a week, and then plant the fish in it. Wait a week after planting plants in the tank before introducing fish into it. If you already have fish, keep them temporarily in another aquarium. Otherwise, it will be better to wait until the aquarium stabilizes and only then buy fish.
   • Fish waste will feed the aquarium plants.
   • Refrain from the desire to immediately plant fish in the aquarium. The aquarium takes time to start the nitrogen cycle, in which the water parameters stabilize and become safe for fish. Very few fish species can survive in imbalanced water.

Part 3 of 3: Caring for the Plants

1. 1 Trim plants that are outgrowing the tank so they don't start to rot. Most aquarium plants grow rapidly and therefore require pruning. If the plant outgrows the size of the aquarium, the part protruding from the water may die off. Use sharp scissors to carefully cut off excess plant length.
   • Alternatively, you can use slow growing plants in the aquarium.
2. 2 Weekly change the water in the aquariumto maintain a healthy balance. Plants do not need to change their water as often as fish, but regular changes will keep your aquarium healthy. First, scrape off any overgrown algae from the aquarium glass. Then use a siphon to drain 10-15% of the water, paying particular attention to collecting debris from the gravel and around the aquarium decorations. Replace the removed volume of water with fresh dechlorinated water.
   • When using a siphon, do not lower it directly into the ground, or you may accidentally destroy your plants. Try to keep the siphon above the ground.
   • Shrimp and catfish feed on algae, so they can make a good addition to your tank, depending on what kind of fish you already have.
   • Above is the procedure for a partial water change. Some people prefer to completely clean the aquarium every few months, but this can throw off the balance in the tank. It is best to use a filter and do regular partial water changes.
3. 3 Add fertilizers to the water to accelerate plant growth and maintain their immunity. By itself, a freshwater aquarium does not need fertilization, especially if there are fish that fertilize the plants with their waste. Fertilizers, however, promote plant growth and can be beneficial. Listed below are several ways to fertilize aquarium plants.
   • Fluorite can be added directly to the soil. It serves as a source of iron and other plant nutrients.
   • Tablets for long-term root fertilization of aquarium plants are buried in the substrate. They feed the plants for 2-3 months.
   • If you prefer to use liquid fertilizers, you can add them to your aquarium 1-2 times a week. Liquid fertilizers are good for plants that do not have roots, such as those that are anchored to rocks.
   • The CO2 supply system can additionally supply the plants with carbon dioxide, which they will convert into oxygen. If you have a brightly lit aquarium, it is a good idea to install such a system, as light speeds up photosynthesis, which allows plants to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen faster.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Doug Ludemann

   
   
   Professional Aquarist Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, a professional aquarium maintenance company based in Minneapolis. He has been working in the field of aquaristics and fish care for over 20 years. Received a BA in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.Previously worked as a professional aquarist at the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

   Doug Ludemann
   Professional aquarist

   When installing a CO2 supply system for plants, the CO2 content of the water must be monitored. Try controlling alkalinity (the ability of water to neutralize acids) and lowering the pH to a specific level with a CO2 injection system. This will help you figure out exactly what concentration of carbon dioxide you need to maintain in your aquarium.

   
   
4. 4 Do not allow plants that are not completely submerged in water to dry out. If the plants begin to dry out, they will die. To keep them healthy, keep them in containers filled with fresh water. This is a great option for when you want to separately grow additional plants for your tank (or several).
   • Simply storing plants in a container of water can be used indefinitely with clean water and proper lighting. Plants with roots during long-term storage require planting in the ground. When storing plants, change the water to them weekly.

Tips

• Start small and plant your aquarium gradually.
• If you have a problem with algae, you can plant a glass shrimp in the aquarium to eat the algae. This freshwater shrimp gets along well with neon tetra and guppy.
• Choose plants that are compatible with your fish, as some fish tend to eat and spoil them.

Warnings

• Do not dispose of aquarium plants in local waters or drains. Many of them do not belong to the local ecosystem and can harm native plants. Instead, dry the plants you don't need and throw them in the trash.
• If you keep crayfish, be aware that they will dig up and eat aquarium plants.

What do you need

• Aquarium
• Plant-friendly substrate (silt, sand, clay)
• Gravel (optional)
• Filtration system
• Freshwater aquarium plants
• Full spectrum illumination
• Freshwater aquarium fish
• Dechlorinated water
• Aquarium or edible salt
• Fish net
• Algae scraper
• Aquarium siphon