Placing plants in fish tanks is becoming ever popular these days so much so that there are even hobbyist who have turned to the art of aqua-culture with no fish at all in their tank. No one can deny how beneficial it is to have plants in a fish tank and with a little effort can create a beautiful world within that provides your aquatic life a perfect place to frolic and roam.
Beginners generally tend to shy away from planting in their aquariums but it really is not as difficult as one might think. What you need is some patience, a streak of creativity and a proper guide and you're bound to create a nice little inner world.
Before going out to the store to buy your plants, you do need to draw a rough sketch of what you want the aquarium to look like in the end. Fish tank plants come in various sizes and shapes, and can also be categorized as floating or planted. Work out on paper what you want your tank to be and then head over to the nearest fish store. It would be a good idea to let the store owner know what type of fishes you plan to keep in the tank as well to get his advice on the best plant options.
The most important element in a planted aquarium is substrate. You can't just have gravel or sand in your tank and expect the plants to live. Substrate provides the plants with important nutrients which will enable them to grow healthily. Usually the substrate is placed as a layer beneath the gravel or sand and as the plant roots bore down, it will consume the nurtients. Some of the most important nutrients that plants will be able to obtain from the substrate are carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous and iron while there are also other lesser elements as well that increases their health.
Next consideration is lighting. Plants perform photosynthesis and this requires a light source. If your aquarium is located beside a window or door which has a natural source of light, that's great but if it doesn't, you will have to provide the plants with an alternate light source to fulfill its needs.
The last thing to consider is the kind of filter you plan to use. Undergravel filters are definitely out as the roots of the plants will eventually clog up the gravel and reduce the filtration capabilities. You should try to use a filter that does not move the water around too much.
With all that aside, it's now time to plant them. Firstly, check the leaves of the plants to ensure that there are no snails on them and rinse them off. While doing this, also cut off any brown or decaying leaves or they will decay and contaminate the tank. When adding the plants, it is always a good idea to add them at one go. This is where the complete design comes in handy. Placing the plants all at one go allows the aquarium water to achieve a balance which is something that happens each time you place in new plants.
Planting is easy. All you need to do is make a depression with your finger or a pencil in the substrate. Then place the roots carefully in the depression and cover it back with a slight press to anchor the plant to the floor. If the plants you bought do not stay still in the substrate, you can weight them down with lead which you can get from a local fish store.
