Aquarium Plants Survival

More than purely decorative, aquarium plants help maintain the water balance in a fish tank and provide a natural, secure sanctuary for the inhabitants.

How well your plants grow depend on an intricate balance of factors such as light, carbon dioxide, and nutrients. How do you get balance right?

How To Make Your Aquarium Plants Thrive

Lighting for Aquarium Plants: Important for photosynthesis, light should be intense enough to keep plants alive, and be in the right spectrum to be properly absorbed.

Keep the lights on for 10 to 12 hours a day. Buy a timer: plants thrive better under a constant light cycle.

If the light is dim, you can’t make up for it by leaving it on longer. If the plants need more light, install another fixture and increase the intensity.

Generally, the deeper the tank, the more intense the light should be. Use about 1.5-three watts per gallon of water for a 12-inch deep tank.

Opt for full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs. They are ideal, being closest to the sun’s spectrum, alternatively, “plant lights” are all right too, as they enhance the fish’s colors well.

Avoid incandescent lights that generate too much heat and not enough light, as well as standard cool-white tubes that slow plant growth.

Carbon Dioxide: Even if you get the lights right, without enough carbon dioxide, plants cannot photosynthesize.

Fish respiration produces carbon dioxide, though it’s usually not enough for lush foliage. For plants to really flourish, a carbon dioxide level of 15-20ppm is required.

Though not entirely necessary, some serious aquatic plant enthusiasts inject carbon dioxide into the tank to boost plant systems. Be careful you don’t overdo it: too much carbon dioxide can kill your plants. Consult your fish dealer on this option.

Nutrients and Trace elements: Plants need trace elements and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, which can be found in fish food, waste, and tap water. Changing 20 per cent of the water every two weeks helps replenish trace elements.

For optimal growth, consider adding a trace element fertilizer, such as iron and potassium fertilizers, available in pellet or liquid form.

Signs that your plants lack fertilizer show up in yellow, sickly, and transparent leaves. Growth is almost zero or slow and stunted, and old leaves die off unusually quickly.

Substrate: If the substrate grains are too small, sand gets compacted, and plants’ roots may not get a good enough grip. Overly large grains collect rotting detritus.

Some people recommend 2-3mm gravel or 1-2mm coarse sand. You can supplement the bottom one-third of the gravel with fertilizer and soil.

Try to match the substrate with different plants or roots. Big plants require deep gravel while grasses do fine with an inch or less.

Still unsure? A uniform 1-3 inches of gravel all round the tank is a safe bet, and should keep the plants rooted.

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