- Healthy fish – When you have live aquarium plants in your aquarium then you will get healthier fish. The live plants form an ecosystem that looks like the fish’s surrounding in the wild. Fish assume these plants to be their home and live aquarium plants propose a safe and secure place where a fish can hide from other fish. This also lessens aggression amongst the fish and lowers their levels of stress.
- Aesthetics – Aesthetics is one of the most apparent benefits of live aquarium plants, like Java Fern aquarium plants. Live plants form a life-like and more vivid underwater scene. When you opt for live plants, then you will find fish to be more active and it makes your aquarium extra beautiful.
- Added filtration – Live plants do benefit the aquarium keeper as well as the fish by added filtration. These plants propose an exclusive filtration system that can remove ammonia, carbon dioxide, decaying matter, and fish waste from the habitat. Added filtration of plants does improve the quality of water and it creates healthier fish.
- Natural diet – Live plants also work as a renewable food source that is similar to the natural diet of a fish. However, the good thing is the plants never lose their aesthetic appeal. Healthy plants do grow as well as renew themselves because the fish munch away happily.
- Aeration – A live plant does not work for filtration only but also for aeration. As these plants have natural processes they can make as well as release oxygen and this oxygen turns out to be pretty much better compared to a mechanical bubbler as it saturates the water. Airstones and bubblers increase the movement of water and it increases the level of oxygen.
Taking good care of aquarium plants
For taking very good care of aquarium plants, you need to do the following:
- Choose the ideal freshwater aquarium plant – Aquatic plants can survive when they remain submerged under water completely though different plants need distinct levels of care. Most often, Anarchies, Anubis, Lilaeposis, and Echinodorus are suggested for freshwater aquariums because you can take care of them easily.
Some other aquatic plants that you can consider are Microsorium, Ludwigia, Cryptocoryne, Hygrophila, Vallisneria, and Bolbitis. You must be mindful of checking the compatibility of every plant with your fish and water condition as some fish do dig up and also eat other plants.
- Determine the substrate of your aquarium plant – Commonly, a live freshwater aquarium plant comes in a loose bunch or potted. Though plants grow in all the aquatic substrates, you must provide 2-3 inches of laterite. This is a rock and soil combination that has a rich supply of aluminum and iron.
- Invest in a helpful light source – Light turns into a vital source of energy as it helps plants in the process of photosynthesis. The majority of the plants do benefit a lot from full-spectrum lights and commonly, they require nearly 10-12 hours of light every day. Again, a few plants have got more specific requirements. People prefer Java Fern aquarium plants as they need 1.5 watts of light/gallon of water. The best thing is they survive even in brackish water.
