Crash Course On Buying Aquarium Plants And Keeping Them Healthy

In case you haven’t read previous articles on aquarium plants such as choosing suitable plants for your aquascape, nurturing a thriving plant community, and proper supplements to nourish your aquarium plants, here is a good starting place to help you keep your aquariums plant healthy.

Tips On Selecting The Various Aquarium Plants

The most important thing to consider when you are buying plants for your aquarium is the amount of lighting that you are able to provide.

Plants grow through photosynthesis. Light and carbon dioxide (CO2) are essential raw materials required for this process. Thus, it is important for them to get enough light in order to remain healthy. Some plants require plenty of light, while others thrive well with very little.

Java fern, hornwort, and various crypt species are some plants that grow well in a low-light environment and in regular substrates.

If you intend to use a lot of floating plants remember that these will block off the light supply needed by the other plants at the bottom of the tank, if any.

When you are buying plants, select healthy looking specimens. If you see bits of the plant or leaves floating on the water surface, do not pick these plants, as this is a sign that they are deteriorating in health.

Tips On Preparing And Planting Aquarium Plants

Some plants harbor pests or disease that can infect fish. Always sterilize plants before you add them to your aquarium, by soaking them in a light solution of potassium permanganate for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Before you begin the planting process, remove dead or damaged leaves. Should you find old leaves dying off after planting, do not worry; the plants will soon have a new growth of leaves.

Stem plants are usually sold in bunches. When you purchase these, remove any elastic bands that are holding them together. The plants will quickly take root under suitable conditions. If they tend to float out of the substrate in the beginning, anchor them by placing a few small stones around their base. Alternatively, leave them floating for about a week until they develop roots, after which you can secure them in the substrate.

Place rosette plants individually in the substrate, ensuring that their crowns remain above the substrate surface.

Tips On Growing Healthy Plants

Aquarium plants need an adequate supply of nutrients for healthy growth. The nutrients needed in large growth. The nutrients needed in large amounts are macronutrients, including calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur. Micronutrients like manganese, cobalt, zinc, and iron are needed in smaller amounts.

Aquarium water usually has a good supply of macronutrient. However, micronutrients may have to be added occasionally, and these are best place within the substrate.

Nitrate levels should be kept low through regular water changes; too much nitrate encourages the growth of algae, which will compete with the plants for nutrients.

As we have established earlier, CO2 is another important ingredient for healthy plant growth. CO2 level diminish when there is lots of water movement, so the type of filter used can affect the growing conditions of your aquarium plants. Generally, it not a good idea to use undergravel filters in planted aquariums. They emit oxygen into the substrate, and this is not very conducive for plant growth.

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