Fish Tanks Guide

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Adding plants to your fish tanks will help make the water more oxygen enriched and chemical free. Aquatic plants are generally easy to care for, and can be added to a fish tank that is already stocked with fish. In addition to supplementing the work of a fish tank filter, plants will provide much needed hiding places for an aquarium's inhabitants. With just a few small modifications, any aquarium fish tank can support plant life.

When deciding which plants to add, it is important to take into account the water temperature and pH levels current fish tank fish require. If the majority of fish in a tank are native to the same geographical area, research plants that grow there naturally for the best fit. Aquatic plants are resilient, but to reach their full growth potential, they must be exposed to conditions that mimic their natural habitat as closely as possible. Plants that are thriving will be most effective in their oxygen production and water filtration capacities, so be sure to provide them with the best conditions to see maximum benefit.

Installing a lighting system that is designed to encourage plant growth is also important. Sunlight is a necessary part of a plant's photosynthesis, and finding lights that will facilitate this process is crucial to a plant's survival. When adding aquatic plant life to your marine fish tank, you may add brighter bulbs to your existing fixtures, or install new metal halide lighting for best results.

Fish tank plants are typically sold at partial maturity with an established root system. They can be planted by hand in the gravel common to tropical fish tanks. The gravel will act to anchor the plant to the bottom, but will rarely provide the necessary nutrients to stimulate a chemical reaction. Most stores that have fish tanks for sale also carry substrate. Substrate can be placed at the bottom of the tank to help provide the necessary nutrients for photosynthesis, or regular iron supplements may be added to the water.

The last consideration before added plants to your fish tanks is the number of plants that the fish population can support. Fish will provide the carbon dioxide plants need to breathe, which they will them turn back into oxygen. In fish tanks that are too densely planted, the fish alone may not produce enough carbon dioxide to support them. If this is the case, add a carbon dioxide injector to your tank to achieve the right balance.