How To Nurture A Thriving Plant Community In Your Aquarium

If you have spent considerable amount of time and money acquiring the right plants for your aquarium and fish, naturally you want to prolong their lifespan. Although it doesn’t require profound aquarium plant knowledge but knowing and practicing the dos and don’ts help lower the “death rate” to its minimum.

5 Steps to A Thriving Plant Community

1. Choosing Substrate

Use a substrate that is not too large or too small (grain size). Generally, grains of 3mm to 5mm are recommended. This allows the plants’ roots to move through the substrate and provide sufficient support for them to spread runners, or take root and grow upwards.

The substrate should also be deep enough (about three to four inches) to provide adequate space for growth.

2. Inserting Plants

If the plant comes in a container and rockwool, remove these before inserting the plant into the substrate. The rockwool is used to grow the plants and protect its roots during shipment, but it may contain hydroponics solutions which can lead to algae problems.

3. Aiding Plant Growth

You can use organic materials like laterite to encourage plant growth. Laterite is an iron-rich substrate additive which nourishes the roots.

Nutrients like phosphate and iron are essential for healthy plant growth. Unfortunately, they promote algae growth too. Retaining these nutrients in the substrate helps limit their availability to algae. Carrying out regular water changes will also help prevent algae from flourishing in nutrient-rich water. This will enable you to grow healthy plants without facing serious algae problems.

Add laterite to a gravel substrate by setting down a thin layer of gravel first, followed by a layer of laterite and then another layer of gravel on top. Next, add the water. Do this slowly, pouring the water over a clean plate, to avoid disturbing the substrate or stirring up the laterite and allowing it to cloud the water.

4. Plant Growth Patterns

Stem plants are usually planted in groups of five to eight. Before inserting a stem plant, trim it will scissors or knife at an angle just above one of the healthy green nodes on the stem.

Leave as much of the plant intact as possible. Insert the plant securely and leave enough space between plants to allow light to reach the leave in the lower part of the plant.

It’s best to place stem plants—which grow tall rather quickly—at the rear and sides of the aquarium. Plant them at least two inches from the side and back of the tank. This allows room for the leaves to spread out. Instead of being jammed against the tank wall, and provides corridors for the fish to navigate around.

In the mid-ground, use medium-sized bushy plants (which require lower light levels) as space fillers. You can also have them “sit” under some of the stem plants and provide a focal point to the aquarscape, either on their own or with driftwood and rocks. Try to arrange these plants in such a way that they lend depth to the whole composition. Leave enough space between plants to allow for future growth.

In the foreground, use smaller species of plants to cover the substrate.

5. Trimming Plants

To trim a stem plant, cut approximately six inches off the top, just above one of the nodes. You can add the cutting to the substrate, or replace the old plant with it.

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