Varieties of live plants for the aquarium and their cultivation

Many aquarium fish lovers try to create the most comfortable conditions for their pets, close to those that are typical for the natural habitat of fish. For this, natural underwater plants are used in the reservoir instead of artificial ones. However, not everyone knows how to properly cultivate such flora, which species are best suited for specific fish, and how to properly care for the vegetation in the aquarium.

All these details will be discussed in detail in this article.

Living vegetation in a fish house has a number of very useful properties that cannot be replaced using artificial decor.

• Oxygen production. By promoting photosynthesis in your aquarium using fluorescent lamps, you will saturate the aquarium with pure oxygen, not the gas mixture created by the compressor. Also, representatives of the flora will help absorb carbon dioxide molecules formed during the respiration of fish. The compressor does not do this either.

• Maintenance of the nitrogen cycle. For its implementation, it is necessary to plant a fast-growing flora in the aquarium, which will reduce the concentration of ammonium during the start-up period and at the initial stage of fish keeping.Ammonium levels increase due to increased excrement and can be fatal in some species. Long-stemmed plants are able to absorb some of this substance, minimizing harm to the aquarium inhabitants.

If the acidity in the water increases, then another deadly compound is formed - ammonia. Already at pH levels above 7, ammonia can harm pets. Therefore, plants are needed that, feeling comfortable in an acidic environment, absorb excess substances.

• Algae control. Algae, which over time can form on the filtration systems and on the tank walls, impair both the aesthetics and functionality of the aquarium. It is the aquatic vegetation of a higher class, absorbing the substances necessary for the nutrition of algae, over time, the container with the fish gets rid of them.

• Power supply for the inhabitants of the aquarium. For a variety of nutrition and activation of the development of fish in their diet, the leaves of aquarium plants will not be superfluous. By eating them in small quantities, the inhabitants of the reservoir strengthen the body. However, if the fish are herbivorous, be careful not to consume too much vegetation from the tank. This can be achieved by replacing grasses with suitable feed.

• Decorative function. The advantage of living aquarium representatives of the flora is the change in their appearance in the process of growth and development. Plants can branch out, form whole bushes, pleasing to the eye. The growth process itself is also quite fascinating to observe.

Living plants for a home aquarium are divided into different types:

• fast-growing flora with elongated stems;
• slow-growing, which sometimes have long stems, but in most cases ground cover or bushy;
• floating - they do not take root in the aquarium and simply float in the water column;
• moss-like - cover the bottom, forming a layer resembling moss (as their name implies);
• requiring landing in the ground;
• covering the water surface.

Among the entire list of plants for a home fish tank, it can be difficult, especially for beginners, to choose the right varieties. You can pay attention to the options presented below.

• White-headed hydrocolita will be an excellent solution for those who are just trying themselves in the field of aquariums. This easy-to-maintain plant is resistant to changes in microclimate and tank conditions.

• Hygrophils have similar characteristics. The only difference is that they grow in the ground and have rather powerful roots. They can form whole thickets that become a convenient refuge for small fish. If the plants are exposed to strong light for a long time, their surface may turn red.

• Marsilia will work to create a green coating on the bottom of the aquarium. Its small shiny leaves, forming 4 edges at the joint, make it look like a clover. This plant is especially suitable for a fry tank as it will serve as an excellent hiding place.

• The Thai fern is able to survive in almost any conditions. Its long leaves can be the same or different in shape, as in some varieties. It can even be placed in aquariums where fish that feed on natural greenery live.

It is quite possible to grow aquarium plants yourself, not only vegetatively, but also from seeds. To do this, you must follow a certain algorithm of actions.

1. Treat the seeds with special preparations that stimulate the root formation process. Prepare a heteroauxin solution by taking one tablet (100 mg) in 2 liters of water.
2. Place the seeds in this solution and let sit for 7 hours.
3. Next, place the seeds in a small jar of drinking water and, covered with a lid, place in a warm place. Remember that the temperature in the jar should not exceed 25 degrees, otherwise decay processes may begin.
4. In another container, prepare the soil for future plants. It is based on components such as river sand, vermiculite, fine gravel, and peat chips.
5. As soon as the seeds germinate in the first container, they must be moved to the one where the soil is. Better to put them not very close to each other so that there is room for growth.
6. If the seeds are large, then you can place them deeper into the soil than small ones.
7. Further, the cultivation of seeds is carried out by maintaining a high level of humidity and protection from algae.

Growing aquarium flora is not enough.

There are certain nuances and rules of care.

• It is important that vegetation does not cover the bottom of the tank from light. To do this, take care of its location. The best option is a checkerboard pattern.
• Plants in tropical varieties are highly dependent on lighting. The light phase of some species reaches 12 hours, and it must be maintained using special lamps, the number of which is measured by the size of the aquarium. A time relay will become a useful element, thanks to which you can extend the period of the light phase to the required one. The lighting in the tank is created with the help of such devices as incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, metal halide or energy saving lamps, and sources with an ultraviolet spectrum.
• If plant propagation is planned, inexperienced aquarists should start with the simplest methods, such as cuttings.
• The vegetation that has a root system periodically needs additional nutrients. They are introduced by feeding. The dosage of tablets does not exceed 1-2 for each plant, but be sure to calculate the amount in accordance with the instructions.
• Take care of the placement of the aquarium flora that prefers shade, especially if it is planned to combine such plants with light-loving plants in the same tank. It is better to place shadow species so that they are covered by the crowns of neighboring plants, and abundant rays of light do not fall on them.
• Even if algae begins to form in an aquarium with young plants, this does not mean that they should be removed or the water changed constantly. Better to give higher plants time to adapt. If all the conditions are met, they will soon consolidate in the container, begin to develop, and the algae themselves will gradually be minimized.

It is worth remembering: like any living organisms, aquarium vegetation can be subject to some ailments. There is a specific reason behind each of them that needs to be corrected:

• plant growth slows down with a lack of carbon;
• lack of phosphorus is leaf fall;
• if the leaves are significantly less than they should be, then the proportions between light and temperature in the tank are violated;
• when the soil is too compacted and the substrate needs to be replaced, the roots may turn black.
• leaves of a pale color, as well as the thinness of the stems are explained by a lack of lighting;
• when the greens turn red or yellow, this indicates an insufficient amount of nitrogen in the water.

For the most unpretentious aquarium plants, see below.