| What is an aquarium without plants? Your fish need a | | | | Middle ground plants are of medium size and they fill |
| place to feel at home and the best way to do that is | | | | in between the foreground plants and the |
| to decorate your tank with plants that would | | | | background plants. They do a good job of hiding the |
| normally grow where your fish come from. It is | | | | stems of the background plants. |
| important to remember to use a variety of colors | | | | Madagascar lace, ludwigia and melon sword are good |
| and textures when landscaping your aquarium. | | | | choices for middle ground. |
| Plants are essential for a healthy aquarium. They | | | | Foreground plants are low growing and small. Some |
| provide oxygen in the water, they absorb the carbon | | | | form a carpet like covering of the substrate. Many |
| dioxide put off by the fish and they help keep the | | | | require very bright light. Java moss, micro sword, |
| chemistry of the water in balance. | | | | dwarf baby tears and moss balls work well in this |
| Aquarium plants also compete for nutrients with | | | | position. |
| algae, thereby keeping its growth to a minimum. | | | | Every aquarium needs a specimen plant or two. |
| There are some things you'll need to attend to in | | | | These are usually decorative plants that draw the |
| order to maintain healthy aquarium plants. | | | | attention of the viewer. Contrast plants provide a |
| Plants need the right lighting. Most aquariums are not | | | | change in color or texture. For example, if most of |
| set up with enough lighting to keep plants happy. The | | | | your plants are green, adding a red leaf variety would |
| general recommendation is to provide 2 watts per | | | | provide a good contrast and add visual interest. |
| gallon. Use a color temp or a K bulb to provide | | | | If you choose varieties that propagate quickly, be |
| enough light. | | | | prepared to do some pruning occasionally. |
| Next, your freshwater aquarium plants need a good | | | | An overgrown tank is not attractive. Plants must be |
| substrate. This is the soil in which the plants are | | | | kept in check to look their best and show off your |
| anchored. By using a clay or specialty substrate that | | | | fish. Some plants propagate by runners, some spread |
| provides nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur | | | | by rhizomes under the surface of the substrate. |
| will help your plants succeed. | | | | Adventitious plants produce baby plants from their |
| When planning your planting, you will need | | | | branches that then detach and drift away to settle in |
| background, middle ground and foreground plants. | | | | another spot. |
| Background plants are tall and are useful for hiding | | | | When you set up your plants, let them grow for a |
| heaters, hoses, filters and so on. They usually grow | | | | few weeks before you add a few starter fish, such |
| quite fast. | | | | as white clouds. |
| Bunch plants often work well in the background. | | | | After the white clouds have been in the tank for a |
| Bunch plants include anacharis and cabomba, among | | | | month or so, you can add other fish. The starter fish |
| others. | | | | help start the ecosystem in the tank between the |
| Other background plants include Amazon sword plant, | | | | plants and the fish. |
| java fern and corkscrew vallisneria. | | | | |