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Aquarium Plants

Aquarium Plants - the selected species suitable for fishes

Plants are what turn ordinary fish tanks into beautiful aquariums. Each type contributes to the charm and fascination of the underwater "window."Aquatic plants are used to give the aquarium a realistic appearance, oxygenate the water, and provide habitat for fish, especially fry (babies) and for invertebrate species. Some aquarium fish and invertebrates also eat live plants. Many commonly-used plant species come from the rivers of South America.

While most of them are plants that live fully-submerged in nature and can live in the same way in aquariums, some are semi-aquatic plants that usually live in marshes of near the water. From the last category only some of them can actually survive fully submerged in aquariums, but usually with a slow or uneasy growth (for example, Saururus cernuus). Plants like these usually need to grow only half submerged, and are better for a paludarium than an aquarium.

Plants provide a cover for small fish, remove nitrogenous waste released by animals, and absorb carbon dioxide. The primary considerations in the choice of plants are based on the light conditions and the size of the aquarium. Elodea, duckweed, and Vallisneria require high light conditions. Chara (a stonewort) and Vesicularia (an aquatic moss) do well in low light. Duckweed and Vallisneria are best suited to aquariums 10 gallons or larger.
Elodea, Chara, and Vesicularia may be floated on the surface or rooted in the gravel. Vallisneria needs to be rooted in the gravel. Duckweed is a floating plant that multiples rapidly. Harvest (remove) some of the duckweed whenever it covers the surface of the water so that it will not restrict light and gas exchange.

Different plants have different requirements. Here's the basics: Good light, deep layer of fine subtstrate (gravel), aquarium plant fertilizer mixed with the gravel, and a good source of soft water (distilled or reverse osmosis water unless your tap water is soft) are the primary basic needs. One aquarium lamp is not going to be enough for the majority of species, so make sure you have enough light. That is the most important factor.
Fake or pseudo-aquarium plants

Several species of land plants such as umbrella pine and aluminum plant (Pilea cadairei) are also frequently sold as "aquarium plants". While such plants are beautiful and can survive for some time under water, they will eventually die and must be removed so their decay does not contaminate the aquarium water.

There are 3 categories of pseudo-aquarium plants:
Semi-aquatic plants that live near water or in marshes, but cannot live fully submerged. They usually last for about a year.
Garden plants, which usually last from 2 weeks to a maximum of 6 months.
Rock plants, which usually last for less than 2 months.