A Beautiful Aquarium

Nothing compares with the beauty and fascination that an aquarium showing luxurious plant growth exudes. The fish appear much healthier and they are. But it is the aquatic plants waving in the moving water that really make the picture complete. Many people strive to obtain good plant growth but for most, from the time they place new plants in their aquarium, the plants go progressively backwards until they eventually rot away. Basic water parameters seem OK and plant foods may even be applied, light on times also seems sufficient, but still plants die or just don't grow. So what is wrong?

In the Natural State

Aquatic plants do not grow well in every river or lake. Some water systems are void of plants. In some though, growth is excessive and varieties are numerous. These are the ones with certain water qualities and constant supplies of nutrients. Water that comes from limestone areas or springs (usually contain high levels of growth and plant varieties. Ponds, billabongs etc. that contain rich sediment also supports certain aquatic plants, usually ones that like both worlds, growing in and out of the water. The river systems however, that support the type of plants most suited to aquarium application are the ones with sustained levels of inorganic nutrients, one of the most important being iron.

Plant Nutrients In The Aquarium

Aquatic plants can only use inorganic nutrients while they exist in a non-oxidised form. This fact presents a major problem when feeding aquatic plants ordinary fertilisers, because water and dissolved oxygen will oxidise certain important elements within hours. Furthermore, some of the nutrients, chiefly phosphates and nitrates, are unwanted in an aquarium, both being supplied indirectly by fish food, fish waste and the biological filter system. To have excessive quantities of these supplied in a plant food would most most likely result in an algae problem.

Other Important Plant Requirements

Listed briefly, here, in order of importance, are factors that will have an effect on aquatic plant growth.

1. Aquarium water should contain all the essential nutrients in a form that is useable by aquatic plants.
2. A constant supply of critical nutrients should be available.
3. Provide either a carbon dioxide infusion or a carbonate hardness (kH) value of 50ppm or higher or both.
4. Provide adequate light, perhaps multiple light tubes are required.
5. Light on and off times need to be regular and represent a full day.
6. Circulation is a big advantage, plants like a current of water.
7. Aeration though, could be detrimental, expelling carbon dioxide.
8. Provide the correct water parameters. pH should be between 6.0 and 7.5, every plant has a preference. Hardness should be between 40ppm and 150ppm. Salinity should be below 440ppm. Temperature, not critical but more warmth is more grow.
9. Perform regular water changes, the minimum is 25% per month.
10. Substrate (gravel) size should be around 2mm size and some slow movement of water through the gravel is beneficial. If using substrate (under gravel) filters, moderate the flow.
11. Remove highly activated carbon from the filtration as some of the nutrients may be absorbed.
12. Purchase aquatic plants that grow only underwater, many plants are sold as aquatic, spend much more of their life our of water and the home aquarium does not supply conditions suitable for their survival.

Growing Luxurious Aquatic Plants With Aquasonic

Recommended products