| Plants can help enhance the look of your fish tank | | | | plant to keep in your aquarium if you have a lot of |
| but did you know that they also provide your fish | | | | herbivorous fish as they will not eat it. It does not |
| with a great place to spawn and hide? Not only are | | | | need a lot of light so is rather easy to grow in most |
| fish tank plants decorative, they actually help to keep | | | | any aquarium. This plant is a slow grower but will |
| your aquarium water healthy for the fish by reducing | | | | reach up to 15 cm. It likes temperatures of |
| the carbon dioxide level. | | | | betweeen 20 and 30 c and a PH of 5.5 - 8. |
| The key to growing plants in your fish tank is the | | | | Moneywort |
| lighting. Most plants require high levels of light and if | | | | Moneywort (Bacopa monnieri) is another plant that is |
| you have tried to put plants in your tank only to | | | | easy to grow in most fish tanks. It has a long stem |
| have them wither and die after a few weeks, this is | | | | with small leaves in pairs all along the length. This plant |
| most likely the reason. It's a simple matter of getting | | | | is a pretty good investment as you can propagate it |
| a brighter bulb for the tank and you can have lush | | | | by taking cuttings and then planting those right in the |
| green plants that give your aquarium a natural look. | | | | aquarium. It does like a lot of light and a PH of 6-9 in |
| Planting natural aquarium plants is quite easy. Most | | | | a tank that is between 15 and 30 degrees c. Given |
| plants you buy will have a root system which needs | | | | the right conditions, this plant to grow up to 30 |
| to be planted into the substrate. To do this, grasp | | | | centimeters. |
| the root end of the plant between your thumb and | | | | Wisteria |
| first finger while making a little hole in the substrate | | | | Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) doesn't look anything |
| with your free fingers. Gently push the roots down | | | | like the vine that grows in your yard, but it is a |
| into the hole and hold in place while swooshing back | | | | wonderful aquarium plant with large oaky leaves. This |
| some of the substrate to cover the root ball. | | | | plant also helps to prevent the growth of algae in the |
| Rootless plants can be planted much the same way, | | | | tank by absorbing nutrients from the water. It does |
| instead of pushing the roots into the gravel push the | | | | need a lot of light but is a fast grower and can grow |
| bottom of the stems in. | | | | up to 50 cm. Plant Wisteria in a tank that has a PH |
| There's many different kinds of fish tank plants | | | | between 5 and 9 with temps between 22 and 30 c. |
| available at your local pet store or even for sale here | | | | Java Moss |
| on the internet. Here's a list of some of the most | | | | This fish tank plant is different from the rest as it |
| popular aquarium plants. | | | | has a more mossy appearance and actually almost |
| Amazon Sword | | | | resembles coral in the way that it grows. It attaches |
| The Amazon Sword (Echinodorus amazonicus | | | | itself to rocks or wood in the tank and it's mossy |
| (bleheri)) has long narrow flowing leaves that sway in | | | | tendrils extend upward to a height of 5cm. Requiring |
| the current. This plant can grow up to 50 cm tall. It | | | | minimal light, this is one of the easiest plants to grow. |
| requires good lighting and fertilization so is a bit harder | | | | It will tolerate most water conditions but prefers |
| to keep than most plants. If given the right | | | | temps of 15 to 28 c. This plant may be a slow |
| environment, however it can be a fast grower, | | | | starter but is very hardy. |
| sending out shoots to reproduce. It prefers aquarium | | | | So now you know, plants add ambiance, help keep |
| temps of around 30 degrees c. with a PH of 5.5 - 9. | | | | your tank clean, provide shelter for your fish and are |
| Anubias Anugustifolia | | | | not hard to grow provided you give them enough |
| Although the name is a mouthful, this plant is really | | | | light and good water conditions. |
| quite pretty with long narrow leaves. This is a great | | | | |