| Freshwater aquarium plants are an important part of | | | | In other cases you may find more than one |
| the overall strategy in ensuring your aquarium has a | | | | specimen in your pot, so separate them all before |
| satisfactory environment in which to keep and | | | | planting in the substrate. You can feed your plants |
| maintain your fish in a healthy state. This report | | | | every quarter if necessary with aquarium fertilizer |
| covers two types of plants you can use and their | | | | and if you want to restrict their growth you can cut |
| requirements. | | | | some of the roots at the base. |
| It is a mistake to regard plants as nothing to be | | | | Plants like the Dwarf Anubias (Anubias nana) and |
| concerned about. Plants play an important role in | | | | Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus) are good for giving |
| aquariums as they not only help to provide a safe | | | | height to your planting layout. They have rhizomes |
| and attractive environment for the fish they also help | | | | (horizontal stems) sprouting small roots that will |
| to maintain and improve water conditions in the | | | | attach themselves onto wood or rocks. And of |
| aquarium by reducing nitrate levels. | | | | course, fish that dig around in the substrate will not |
| Do not treat the selection of plants as a trivial task. | | | | affect these plants. |
| It is not. By reducing levels of nitrate in the aquarium, | | | | The Dwarf Anubia can be fixed to wood or rocks by |
| providing a haven for timid and shy fish, helping | | | | nylon line initially until established but be careful not to |
| reduce algae growth and during breeding supplying | | | | cut through the rhizome. Lighting should be |
| areas for spawning, plants have great beneficial | | | | somewhat subdued. The Java Fern grows slowly and |
| effect on both the aquarium environment and the | | | | is sturdy, requiring moderate lighting. |
| fish themselves. | | | | Cuttings |
| When buying plants make sure they are really proper | | | | Cuttings are the tops of plants (no roots) and are |
| aquatic plants and check the leaves for discoloration. | | | | useful for both the foreground in your tank or the |
| There are generally 4 sorts of freshwater aquarium | | | | background, though you will need to trim the |
| plants you could put in your tank cuttings, rooted | | | | foreground plants regularly. You need to place the |
| plants, floating plants and tubers. Here we cover the | | | | cuttings so that light can get through to the very |
| rooted plants and the cuttings. | | | | bottom leaves, otherwise they will die, rot and pollute |
| Rooted Plants | | | | the tank. |
| Rooted plants you purchase are often seen encased | | | | Locate the cuttings in such a way that when viewed |
| in mesh baskets. You can plant them in your tank as | | | | from in front of the tank all you see is a wall of |
| they are but in time the baskets may become visible | | | | plants. Never plant in bunches as this can cause stem |
| so you may wish to plant with the baskets removed. | | | | rot due to bruising, especially with vulnerable species. |
| In some cases plants are in a synthetic media which | | | | A lot of plants can grow both in and out of water |
| may cause irritation to your fish so it is best | | | | and are easier to cultivate. |
| removed. | | | | |