How to Grow Aquatic Plants in an Aquarium

Buy and install lights to facilitate plant growth. Like other plants, aquatic plants will need light to grow. Light is a necessary condition for photosynthesis to create energy and nutrients for plants. You need to check the light needs of each plant species, as each plant has different needs. Full-spectrum fluorescent and LED aquarium lights are both good options. Aquatic plants can also get extra light from nearby windows.

• Many plants require a lot of light, so you need to do your research before choosing. ^[9]
• It’s a good idea to start with a fluorescent light that’s rated at 2.5 W per 4 liters of water, unless you have a carbon dioxide system installed in place.

Isolate and treat newly brought plants before adding to the aquarium. New plants can carry pests such as snails or shrimp that can threaten tank safety. Snails and shrimp can multiply quickly and fill the tank, unless you have fish that feed on these creatures. ^[10] In addition, newly purchased plants can also bring bacteria or pathogens into the water. ^[11] Quarantine will help you detect pests before they have a chance to enter your tank. ^[12] You can also treat plants with bleach solution.

• To treat with bleach, you need to mix 1 part bleach to 19 parts water. Depending on the sensitivity of the plant, you can immerse the plant in the solution for about 2-3 minutes. Thoroughly rinse the plant in water before adding it to dechlorinated water. ^[13]
• To prevent snail infection, you should dip the plant in salt water after you buy it. Mix 1 cup (240 ml) of aquarium salt or kosher salt in 4 liters of water. Dip the plant in the solution for about 15-20 seconds, keeping the roots above the water. Make sure to wash the plant thoroughly before putting it in the tank. ^[14]
• After a week of isolation, you can put the plant in the tank.

Line the bottom of the tank with plant-friendly substrate and spread gravel on top. The base layer is the material used to cover the bottom of the tank. When growing plants, you will need a nutrient-rich substrate, although this can be a bit more expensive at first. A good base material for plants will also often cloud the water when agitated, but you can prevent this by spreading a thin layer of gravel over it.

• Seachem Fluorite contains all the essential nutrients and comes in a variety of colors.
• Clay and laterite are good options for nutrition and can be less expensive. However, these materials often take longer to settle in the tank.
• Aqua Soil contains a lot of nutrients for plants, but causes the pH level in the water to drop to 7. Although optimal for plants, this substrate can be harmful to fish. You need to check your fish’s pH needs before choosing this type of substrate.
• Gravel does not provide nutrients to the plant if used alone. ^[15]

Plant plants that need to cling to the substrate to help the plants get nutrients. Some plants need to be rooted in the substrate to absorb the nutrients they need. Place the roots just below the surface of the substrate, but not too deeply, as this will cover the rhizome, that is, the thick green stem above the roots. Plants may die if the rhizomes are buried.

• Make sure not to stick one tree on top of another. ^[16]

Tie the remaining plants to rocks or wood so that the plants can take root. Some plants such as moss, Java fern or Nana’s wax prefer to grow on rocks or wood. These plants will then grow roots on rocks or wood. Wrap your fishing line lightly around the tree, then loop it over a rock or piece of wood. Fasten the fishing line, then drop the rocks and plants into the tank.

• Driftwood and lava rock are good options for anchoring the tree. ^[17]

Release the fish when the tank has stabilized after a week. Wait a week after installing the aquarium before releasing the fish. If you’ve bought fish, you can put them in a makeshift aquarium, but it’s best to wait until the tank is ready before buying fish.

• Fish waste will be a source of fertilizer for plants. ^[18]
• Don’t be eager to release fish too soon. Aquariums need to go through a process called “microbiogenesis”, so that the water environment is stable and safe for fish. Very few fish can survive before the aquatic environment stabilizes. ^[19]

Prune plants that grow beyond the tank to prevent decay. Most trees are fast growing, so pruning is necessary. If the plant grows out of the tank, the outer part of the plant will die. Use sharp scissors to carefully cut away the excess.

• Another option is to choose slow-growing plants. ^[20]

Clean the water weekly to maintain a good environment in the aquarium. Unlike fish, aquatic plants do not require frequent water changes, but regular water changes will maintain a healthy environment in the aquarium. The first step is to scrape off the algae clinging to the wall of the tank. Use a siphon to suck out 10-15% of the water, paying special attention to the gravel layer and the area around the fixtures attached to the aquarium. Replenish the drained water with clean and dechlorinated water. ^[21]

• When using a siphon, be sure not to place it on the planting ground to avoid accidentally killing the plant. You need to place the tube above the substrate.
• Shrimp and catfish are both algae eaters, so they are good choices to add to the aquarium, depending on what other fish have been selected. ^[22]
• This process is also known as water change. Some people prefer to change the water completely every few months, but this can disturb the ecosystem in the tank. It is better to use a water filter and maintain a clean aquarium.

Add fertilizer to promote fast and healthy growth. Aquatic plants usually don’t need fertilizer, especially when there are fish in the tank, as their waste can feed the plants. However, fertilizer can help plants grow better and may be worth the extra effort. There are many ways to fertilize aquatic plants:

• You can add fluorite directly to the substrate to provide iron and nutrients to the plant.
• Substrates are placed near the roots and tucked underneath the substrate. The substrate will continuously provide nutrients for the plant for 2-3 months.
• If you prefer a watery fertilizer, you can add it to the tank once or twice a week. Water fertilizers are suitable for plants that do not take root in the substrate, such as plants tied to rocks. ^[23]
• The CO2 pump provides more CO2 for the plants to absorb and convert into oxygen. If you have a well-lit aquarium, it helps to generate more CO2 because the light promotes photosynthesis, which means the plants will convert CO2 into oxygen more quickly. ^[24]