Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: What Goes Into a Freshwater Planted Aquarium?

In a freshwater planted aquarium a range of plant
types are used and they come in a variety of
forms. And in the same way fishes do, they also
have requirements for specific water temperatures
and lighting so you must find this out before you
start planting them in your aquarium.

Marginal Plants

The majority of aquarium plants come within this
category. In nature they are submerged for just a
section of the year. Throughout the dry season
they will grow out from the water and the
majority flower and seed at that time.

Cryptocoryne genus and Echinodorus genus are good
examples. There are more than 50 species under
the genus Cryptocorynes and the Amazon Sword
species, Echinodorus amazonicus), is very popular
amongst the genus Echinodorus.

Real Aquatic Plants

Often sold as cuttings these aquatic plants are
proper aquatic plants because they are submerged
in the water and must stay that way. A good
example is Cabomba caroliniana, which is from the
genus Cabomba and usually called the Green
Cabomba.

Terrestial Plants Are A No No

You can not leave these plants submerged for a
long time in your freshwater aquarium because bad
water quality will happen due to them rotting.
Sometimes these are sold as aquatic plants so
look out for them.

Cuttings

Cabomba is a very popular choice for the aquarium
but is also one of the more difficult to succeed
with. It is good for hiding heaters and pipes but
it also means that its delicate fronds can be
easily damaged in an area with fast moving water.
A more hardy species can be used for this
situation; the Hygrophilia.

Rooted Plants

As some of these can grow to a large size (for
example the Amazon Swordplants) choose carefully
so they fit in with the size of your aquarium.
Plants that are easier to manage are the E.
paniculatus and the E. tenellus which is ideal
for the front of your tank as it quickly covers
the substrate. Others such as the slow growing
Cryptocoryne species will need to be thinned out
after they establish themselves and grow in
bunches.

Basket Grown Plants

These can be either planted as they are, in the
basket, or preferably out of the basket. And
check to see how many plants are actually in the
basket. Quite often there may be four or five
plants potted as one. These need to be separated
and planted individually.

Bulbs and Corms

The most well known species are the Aponogeton
and Nymphaea. The Aponogeton have long pretty
leaves and you can get flowers and if you are
lucky they will seed giving you new plants. The
Nymphaea produce attractive leaves, varying from
pink to red, under the water but you must make
sure that lily pads are not formed on the
surface. If you do not then the surface will get
covered by them and no light will get to your
plants.

Floating Plants

Not often used in community tanks as again they
will cut out light to your other plants. But they
are useful in breeding tanks for hiding places
and spawning locations. Often used are Riccia,
Ceratopteris thalictroides (Indian Fern) and
Pistia stratiotes (Water lettuce). But avoid
Lemna (Duckweed) like the plague as it will
multiply very quickly and cover the surface
completely.

Feeding

Rooted plants can be fed with fertilizer pellets
so they can grow healthily but be careful not to
use too much.

Lighting and Water Temperatures

Cabomba plants for the aquarium need warm water
temperatures (from 18 to 32 degrees centigrade)
and good light levels (up to 3 watts per gallon).
Cryptocorynes don't need bright lighting and in
fact are good with low to moderate lighting
conditions and a temperature range of around 20
to 33 degrees centigrade.

Propagation

Cabomba can be propagated by cuttings with good
light conditions to facilitate rooting. Cabomba
is a plant that is very easily cloned. Cut them
in half after they reach 15-20 cm at the node or
branch. Just stick it in the gravel and the plant
does the rest.

Other plants, such as the Cryptocoryne species,
give out runners that go into the substrate and
form more plants. And others, such as Microsorium
pteropus (Java Fern) and Ceratopteris
thalictroides (Indian Fern), grow small plantlets
from their leaves which drop off or can be taken
off to form new plants.

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Paul Curran is webmaster at
Fresh-Water-Aquariums-Guide.com and provides a
care information system for fresh water
aquariums. Get your FREE E-Course on how to set
up and maintain a beautiful aquarium, have the
healthiest, happiest fish around AND learn more
bout freshwater planted aquarium at
http://www.fresh-water-aquariums-guide.com/freshwa
ter-planted-aquarium/

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