Picking aquarium plants: a checklist before you buy
Live plants soak up harmful waste compounds, give fish and invertebrates places to hide, and simply make a tank look better. Aquarium Co-Op put together a short checklist for choosing plants that will actually thrive, and I think it is a good one to run through before heading to the store.
Start with size. An Amazon sword can reach 12 to 20 inches, so it belongs in a large tank, while Cryptocoryne parva stays around 2 to 3 inches and grows slowly, which suits small tanks and awkward corners. Mixing foreground, midground and background plants gives a more natural layout.
Next comes light and CO2. Beginners are advised to start with low-light plants such as anubias, crypts and ferns, which are the most forgiving. High-light plants that want CO2 are better left to experienced hobbyists, and CO2 injection itself is optional.
Fertilizer matters too. Slow growers need an all-in-one fertilizer once or twice a week, while fast stem plants need more, sometimes daily in dense tanks. Swords and bulb plants like root tabs. The article warns that skipping more than one dose in a row can cause deficiencies, and inconsistent dosing can invite algae.
Water parameters get their own section: above pH 7.8 with hard water there is less dissolved CO2 available, and below pH 6.5 in soft water plants can lack calcium and magnesium. Finally, check whether your fish eat plants. Anubias and ferns hold up to herbivores, while delicate stems, swords and crypts do not, and goldfish are notorious plant eaters.
What I appreciate most is the closing reminder that mistakes are part of learning a planted tank.
Source: Aquarium Co-Op
Start with size. An Amazon sword can reach 12 to 20 inches, so it belongs in a large tank, while Cryptocoryne parva stays around 2 to 3 inches and grows slowly, which suits small tanks and awkward corners. Mixing foreground, midground and background plants gives a more natural layout.
Next comes light and CO2. Beginners are advised to start with low-light plants such as anubias, crypts and ferns, which are the most forgiving. High-light plants that want CO2 are better left to experienced hobbyists, and CO2 injection itself is optional.
Fertilizer matters too. Slow growers need an all-in-one fertilizer once or twice a week, while fast stem plants need more, sometimes daily in dense tanks. Swords and bulb plants like root tabs. The article warns that skipping more than one dose in a row can cause deficiencies, and inconsistent dosing can invite algae.
Water parameters get their own section: above pH 7.8 with hard water there is less dissolved CO2 available, and below pH 6.5 in soft water plants can lack calcium and magnesium. Finally, check whether your fish eat plants. Anubias and ferns hold up to herbivores, while delicate stems, swords and crypts do not, and goldfish are notorious plant eaters.
What I appreciate most is the closing reminder that mistakes are part of learning a planted tank.
Source: Aquarium Co-Op
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