How to grow aquarium plants? Recommended easiest aquarium plant species
The lush green aquatic plants in a fish tank not only beautify the aquarium but also serve as a habitat for the fish. There are so many species of aquatic plants for fish tanks that people usually choose those that look good or are easy to keep, so how do we grow the aquatic plants in a fish tank? Below, the editor will introduce them, and let's take a look together.
How to grow aquarium plants
1. Basic conditions for growing aquatic plants: moderate lighting, the addition of carbon dioxide, sufficient fertilizer (base fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, top dressing), water flow, water temperature, water hardness, pH value, and a healthy substrate. Reproduction methods of aquatic plants: there are two types, sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction is completed through the process of flowering, pollination, fertilization, and seed formation (seeds). Asexual reproduction is also called vegetative reproduction.
2. Root reproduction: the roots of some aquatic plants produce lateral buds, and when the lateral buds grow up they separate from the parent plant to form new individuals. Stem reproduction: plants with underground stems can use broken branches or lateral branches to separate and form new plants; underground stems grow from the roots and spread through the bottom sand, and each node can produce a new plant. Runners are somewhat like underground stems, but they only spread on the surface of the sand.
Which aquatic plants are easiest to keep
1. Tape grass (Vallisneria) is a perennial stemless submerged herbaceous aquatic plant of the genus Vallisneria in the family Hydrocharitaceae, commonly known as noodle grass, dragon whisker grass, carrying pole grass, etc. It has runners, leaves growing from the base, and narrow, strap-like leaf blades. The leaf length varies with water depth, and the leaves are emerald green and semi-transparent, standing gracefully in the water, with strong adaptability to water quality.
2. Amazon sword (Echinodorus) is also called Amazon sword grass, crown grass, etc. It is a large aquatic plant of the genus Echinodorus in the family Alismataceae, with thick leaf stalks and broad leaves in a graceful leaf shape. The largest Amazon sword can grow nearly 100 leaves, with a maximum leaf length of up to 50 cm and leaf width of up to 8 cm, and it is called the king of aquatic plants.
3. The narrow-leaf Amazon sword is a small marsh plant native to Brazil, with lanceolate leaves 10-15 cm long and 1 cm wide, almost no leaf stalk, an overall height of about 20 cm, 2-3 spiral-shaped flowers about 1.5 cm large, with six pistils. The leaves are green and firm, with the main veins clear and the veins on both sides less obvious.
The role of growing aquatic plants in a fish tank
1. The metabolism of fish in an aquarium and the decomposition of feed easily produce large amounts of ammonia and nitrite, which through action form nitrate. Nitrate is not decomposed and accumulates in the water, causing water quality to deteriorate and destroying the entire aquatic living environment, while aquatic plants have the function of absorbing nitrate, reducing the accumulation of nitrate in the water and purifying water quality.
2. During their growth process, aquatic plants can release effective antibiotics, kill bacteria and pathogens in the water, reduce the content of harmful microorganisms in the water, protect fish from bacterial invasion, and promote healthy fish growth.
3. The most important function of aquatic plants in an aquarium is to enable fish to reproduce in the aquarium, and some fish especially like to lay eggs on the surface of aquatic plant leaves. If there are no aquatic plants, juvenile fish have nowhere to hide in the aquarium, and may then be attacked by large fish that eat them.
Precautions for growing aquatic plants in a fish tank
1. Before planting, the aquatic plants must first be disinfected. Newly bought aquatic plants should be soaked in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for about 10 minutes for disinfection treatment, which can kill parasites and bacteria on the plants, then rinse them clean with clear water and set aside.
2. Do not use mud to plant aquatic plants at the bottom of the fish tank; choose to use sand, because using mud will make the water quality in the fish tank cloudy. When choosing sand, do not choose sand grains that are too fine; it is best if the diameter is 2 to 5 mm.
3. The layout of the fish tank should be reasonable. Generally, tall species are always planted in the rear part of the tank, short species in the front, and species with broad, large leaves in the middle. At the same time, they should be matched appropriately with the rocks in the tank, with a well-balanced arrangement of density. Aquatic plants should not be planted too densely, otherwise it not only hinders viewing, but also affects the growth of ornamental fish because more oxygen is consumed at night.
The fish slowly swim back and forth among the aquatic plants, and the brightly colored fish and the lush green aquatic plants set each other off beautifully. This scene is very beautiful, and now the editor finally understands why so many people like to keep fish at home. However, everyone should note that aquatic plants are generally only suitable for planting in fish tanks that keep small fish, while large fish usually damage the aquatic plants.