Adding live plants to an aquarium does more than just improve aesthetics - plants provide shelter, food for vegetarian fish, and prevent green water. Plants also soak up carbon dioxide, waste products, contribute oxygen to the water, and promote the growth of algae, tiny worms, rotifers, and protozoa, providing live food for the fish.
Good lighting is essential for good growth of the plants. They require about 12-14 hours of light each day. Opinions vary concerning how much light live plants need, but generally 3-5 watts per gallon works well. Par 20, 50-watt halogen bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs work quite well, so choose the one that best works for your aquarium.
Your plants will also need certain nutrients to stay healthy. Everything works together in a well-planned aquarium, so keeping the plants fed isn't a difficult prospect. The fish itself provides the nutrients, and you rarely need to add more. Fertilization is easy as well because plants are able to naturally use fish waste as fertilizer. A commercial fertilizer can also be added, but it is rarely necessary. A level of fertilizer that's too high will cause too much algae in the tank.
And should you worry about water temperature? The average temperature for aquatic plants to thrive is between 72f and 78f. You should try to maintain a Ph level of 6.8 to 7.8.
Snails are another natural component that help the overall health of the aquatic environment. They eat food and algae from plants. Not all snails are good, however. Ramshorn, pond, and other species eat the leaves instead of clean them, and can cause unwanted damage. Luckily, it's quite easy to remove troublesome snails.Removing bad snails is easy. Attract them with lettuce pieces and once they have come to the lettuce, remove the whole thing with a net.
Before placing new plants in your aquarium, rinse them thoroughly in warm water to remove any insects you don't want invading the aquarium. Strong roots and firm leaves are the signs of a healthy plant. Avoid plants that give off a strange smell, especially bulbs, as this is an indication that the plant is not healthy and may not grow properly once placed in your tank.
And, try to buy younger plants that can adjust easily. Although the plants you buy will need a period of time to adjust, and may lose some leaves, don't be alarmed. That's very common and normal. Simply remove the dead leaves without damaging the roots.
Live plants give a special touch to the aquarium, and they keep your fish happy and healthy.
Good lighting is essential for good growth of the plants. They require about 12-14 hours of light each day. Opinions vary concerning how much light live plants need, but generally 3-5 watts per gallon works well. Par 20, 50-watt halogen bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs work quite well, so choose the one that best works for your aquarium.
Your plants will also need certain nutrients to stay healthy. Everything works together in a well-planned aquarium, so keeping the plants fed isn't a difficult prospect. The fish itself provides the nutrients, and you rarely need to add more. Fertilization is easy as well because plants are able to naturally use fish waste as fertilizer. A commercial fertilizer can also be added, but it is rarely necessary. A level of fertilizer that's too high will cause too much algae in the tank.
And should you worry about water temperature? The average temperature for aquatic plants to thrive is between 72f and 78f. You should try to maintain a Ph level of 6.8 to 7.8.
Snails are another natural component that help the overall health of the aquatic environment. They eat food and algae from plants. Not all snails are good, however. Ramshorn, pond, and other species eat the leaves instead of clean them, and can cause unwanted damage. Luckily, it's quite easy to remove troublesome snails.Removing bad snails is easy. Attract them with lettuce pieces and once they have come to the lettuce, remove the whole thing with a net.
Before placing new plants in your aquarium, rinse them thoroughly in warm water to remove any insects you don't want invading the aquarium. Strong roots and firm leaves are the signs of a healthy plant. Avoid plants that give off a strange smell, especially bulbs, as this is an indication that the plant is not healthy and may not grow properly once placed in your tank.
And, try to buy younger plants that can adjust easily. Although the plants you buy will need a period of time to adjust, and may lose some leaves, don't be alarmed. That's very common and normal. Simply remove the dead leaves without damaging the roots.
Live plants give a special touch to the aquarium, and they keep your fish happy and healthy.
About the Author:
Our litters of English bulldogs for sale are wrinkly with a massive nose rope and overdone. Add one to your family!
No comments:
Post a Comment