| There are several benefits to having plants in your | | | | long, thin stems. They thrive in water temperature of |
| freshwater aquarium. Plants add oxygen to your fish | | | | 60-77 degrees and require soft water hardness. |
| tank and also act as biological supplementary filters | | | | Otherwise their specific care needs are identical to |
| that assist in keeping your aquarium clean. In turn, | | | | that of the Amazon sword. |
| fish provide carbon dioxide and nutrients to the | | | | Four: Hygrophila Polysperma - Hygrophila Polysperma |
| plants. Live aquatic plants are good for you too - | | | | are tall, standing at 24 inches. They grow in bunches |
| they look great and make your aquarium look more | | | | and have small reddish or green leaves. The tank |
| like a natural habitat. Between making you, the fish, | | | | should have a pH level between 6.5-8 and a |
| and the plants happy and healthy, it is a triple win | | | | temperature between 68-85 degrees. The lighting |
| situation! | | | | and water hardness needs are the same as the |
| Several factors apply when researching plant | | | | Sword plants. Trim the Hygrophila Polysperma every |
| possibilities: | | | | so often, as they tend to branch out. Because of this |
| One: water parameters - Water parameters are | | | | it may be wise to place them in the center of the |
| specific levels of things in water, such as | | | | tank and back, so they have room to grow. |
| temperature and pH. When water has a lot of mineral | | | | Five: Umbrella Plant - (Spathiphyllum wallisii). Umbrella |
| content, it is said to be hard. | | | | plants can be anywhere between 8-12 inches tall. |
| Two: Substrate - Substrate is the surface a plant or | | | | They have tall, thin stems with small leaves at the |
| animal lives on. (Are you planting in rocks, gravel or | | | | top of each stem that branch out into a star shape. |
| dirt? Does the plant float like a lily pad?) | | | | They are high-maintenance plants and need a pH level |
| Three: Lighting - Even aquatic plants need light to | | | | between 5-7 and a temperature between 72-78 |
| grow. | | | | degrees. They need intense light to grow and a |
| Four: Fish Compatibility - If you have fish that are | | | | water hardness measuring between 4-12 degrees. |
| herbivores, for example, consider your ferns and | | | | Umbrella plants are not actually aquatic plants and will |
| grasses as good as salad. | | | | die if submerged completely in water. You can still |
| The best plants are flexible in all of the above | | | | have this gorgeous greenery as a part of your fish's |
| factors except the last. There are seven aquatic | | | | habitat-Just grow the plant on the surface and |
| plant species that are hardy and also attractive to | | | | submerge the roots below. |
| stick in your aquarium: | | | | Six: Vallisneria spiralis - This looks like grass and grows |
| One: Java Ferns - (Microsorium pteropus). Java ferns | | | | to 24 inches. It needs a ph level between 6.5-7.5 and |
| tend to be around eight inches tall with bushy with | | | | a water temperature between 60-85 degrees |
| tall spade-shaped leaves. They grow well in waters | | | | Fahrenheit. It should have 50 watts of light for every |
| with a pH level between 5.5-7.5 and in temperatures | | | | 50 gallons of water and the water should have a |
| between 68-82 degrees Fahrenheit. They have the | | | | hardness between 5-15 degrees. Vallisneria spiralis are |
| potential to grow even in low-lit tanks and require a | | | | good plants for beginning aquarists as they have a |
| water hardness of between 2-15 degrees. Java Ferns | | | | wide range of water parameter needs. These plants |
| grow best when tied to floating driftwood rather | | | | look best along the sides or in the back of your |
| than planting their roots. | | | | aquarium. |
| Two: Amazon Sword - (Echinodorus amazonicus). | | | | Seven: Anubias Barteri - Anubias Barteri are wide |
| Amazon Sword grow to be 20 inches tall and have | | | | plants with wide green leaves that grow as tall as 16 |
| wide green leaves that fan out. They will grow best | | | | inches. The water temperature should be regulated |
| in a tank with a pH level ranging from 6.5-7.5. They | | | | between 72-82 degrees with a pH level ranging only |
| also require the water's temperature to be regulated | | | | from 6.5-7.5. These are also aquatic divas, insisting on |
| between 72-82 degrees. With regards to lighting, | | | | moderate lighting and a water hardness of 8 degrees. |
| provide 50 watts for every 25 gallons of water. | | | | They grow best with CO2 fertilization. |
| They require the same water hardness as Java Ferns | | | | All of the plants discussed in this article look great in |
| and should be planted in loose substrate and | | | | an aquarium. The first three are the best to get if |
| supplemented with iron fertilizer. | | | | you are a novice because of their flexible needs. But |
| Three: Argentine Sword - (Echinodorus argentinensis). | | | | as always, do your research before buying. |
| Argentine Swords grow as tall as 18 inches and have | | | | |