Aquarium plants: indispensable for near-natural keeping conditions
Simply filling the aquarium with water and adding some fish is not enough for appropriate care. Suitable aquarium plants are also essential. In the following, we will explain why they are important and what you need to consider when planting your aquarium.
Aquarium plants serve more than just aesthetics
Aquarium plants are much more than mere decorative elements. They fulfill several important functions that are crucial for the health and well-being of the fish in the aquarium.
Some functions of aquarium plants include:
- Providing hiding places for the inhabitants of the aquarium.
- Serving as spawning grounds for many fish species.
- Acting as a vital food source for various aquatic organisms.
Contributing to good water quality
Aquarium plants not only form an essential part of the habitat for water creatures like fish, but they also help maintain good water quality. The plants produce oxygen and assist in breaking down pollutants in the water.
While regular water changes are still necessary, suitable aquatic plants prevent the ecosystem from becoming imbalanced and help control excessive algae growth.
Wide variety of aquarium plants
When selecting suitable aquatic plants for your aquarium, you will discover a wide range of options. For example, there are floating plants that remain on the water surface and do not require rooting in the substrate.
Apart from floating plants, there are also aquarium plants that need to be rooted in the substrate at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the plant species, they can be used as background plants to hide the rear wall of the aquarium or positioned in the foreground without obstructing the view of the fish.
While background plants should have rapid growth and sufficient height, foreground plants should not completely cover the fish.
In addition to foreground and background plants, there are also so-called midground plants. These are placed in the middle section of the aquarium, providing desired spatial structures and visual accents. When adding midground plants, it is important to ensure they do not block too much light from reaching smaller foreground plants and to avoid overplanting the tank.
Moss as a complement to aquarium plants
In addition to aquarium plants, mosses can be beneficial, especially when keeping shrimp. Mosses collect small suspended particles from the water, which can serve as food for small animals like shrimp. Some small fish also use mosses as spawning sites.
Choosing the right aquarium plants
Before selecting specific aquarium plants, it is important to determine which plants are suitable for your aquarium. The choice of plants may vary depending on the fish species and other tank inhabitants.
Additionally, the size of the aquarium plays a crucial role in plant selection. The aquarium plants should not completely overgrow the tank. Instead, they should provide the right amount of hiding places.
Both the selection of aquarium plants and their arrangement and quantity must be carefully adapted to the tank to provide a natural habitat where the inhabitants can thrive. This can be a challenge for beginners in the field of aquatics. However, it is worthwhile to delve into the topic of aquatic plants before setting up the aquarium, as it ensures optimal living conditions and improved water quality.
What do aquarium plants need?
Just like any other plants, aquarium plants require light and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Additionally, a balanced supply of various nutrients is necessary for healthy plant growth.
Key nutrients for aquarium plants include:
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Nitrogen
- Sulfur
- Magnesium
- Calcium
To provide your aquarium plants with optimal nutrition, using a suitable plant fertilizer is recommended. For this purpose, we recommend using Aquaris Aqua Flora. This high-quality fertilizer for aquatic plants is ideal for supplying your aquarium plants with the necessary nutrients.
Artificial aquarium plants can be an alternative
In some cases, an aquarium may not be suitable for certain aquatic plants due to its size or lighting conditions. In such situations, high-quality artificial aquarium plants can be a good alternative.
Premium artificial plants closely resemble real aquarium plants, and they are easy to maintain as they do not require trimming or produce debris from dead plant parts.
However, whenever possible, real aquatic plants should always be the preferred choice when setting up the aquarium.
Conclusion on aquarium plants
As you can see, aquarium plants are an essential part of any aquarium. By selecting and planting the right plants in the appropriate quantity, you not only create an attractive decoration but also provide optimal living conditions for the inhabitants of your aquarium.
Therefore, it is undoubtedly worth delving into the topic of aquarium plants to enjoy the many advantages of well-planned plantings.
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