| Aquarium plants can make your fish tank look more | | | | to turn light energy into chemical energy that they |
| vibrant and interesting. They can also make the | | | | use to grow. Normally plants would derive the light |
| aquarium more like the indigenous environment of the | | | | source from the sun but in the case of aquarium |
| fish which will make the fish less stressed and | | | | plants the sun may not be available so an artificial |
| healthier. Maintaining live aquarium plants poses can | | | | source is needed. The light source should provide a |
| pose new problems for Aquarists. This article will | | | | full spectrum of light to the plants. Popular types are |
| discuss some of the things you need to consider to | | | | mercury vapor or metal halide lights |
| keep plants in your fishtank. | | | | Plants need a good substrate. |
| Plants need Carbon Dioxide to grow. | | | | A substrate is the type of gravel or sand that you |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important nutrient | | | | use in the fish tank. The substrate must be deep |
| that you need to keep aquarium plants healthy. CO2 | | | | enough to allow the roots of plants to take hold and |
| is produced by the waste products within the fish | | | | keep the plant firmly attached. You want the |
| tank, like fish excrement, excess food and as | | | | substrate to have a depth of about 8 cm. |
| by-product of bacterial action but this is often not | | | | Substrates can also be nutrient rich so they can help |
| sufficient to keep plants in good condition. | | | | to keep the plants healthy but they must not alter |
| Therefore many people utilize a system that puts | | | | the quality of the water. For example, lime based |
| CO2 into the aquarium. CO2 systems come in a | | | | substrates will make the water harder or more |
| variety of shapes and sizes but can be split into two | | | | alkaline. Most fish have a preference for soft or hard |
| simple types. Those that provide a constant source | | | | water, if the water was to change due to the |
| of CO2 and those that can regulate the CO2. | | | | substrate the fish could become stressed or ill. |
| It is a good idea to regulate the CO2 either using the | | | | Many Aquarists use layers of substrate to get round |
| system or manually because fish will suffer if there is | | | | this problem. If a fish likes soft water then the top |
| too much CO2 in the water. Rough guides for carbon | | | | layer of substrate would be a lime free gravel. Under |
| dioxide suggest that 30 to 45 mg per litre of water | | | | the lime free gravel a liner layer of nutrient rich gravel |
| is enough for plants to thrive but over 100mg per | | | | could be used. |
| liter is too much for fish. | | | | Summary. |
| Plants need an adequate lighting source. | | | | Carbon dioxide, a good light source and a nutrient rich |
| CO2 systems must be synchronized with the lighting | | | | substrate are important components in maintaining |
| system that you use in the aquarium. Light is a vital | | | | live aquarium plants. Liquid fertilizers can also be used |
| part of the photosynthesis process which plants use | | | | if you feel that the plants look in poor condition. |