Plants in an aquarium perform several important functions. First, they saturate water with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. And secondly, underwater vegetation “takes” nitrates that are harmful to fish for their own nutrition. And, of course, a landscaped aquarium looks very impressive and can become a real decoration of the interior.
Choosing the Most Suitable Varieties
Of course, many beginners would like to learn how to plant plants in an aquarium correctly. But before embarking on such a procedure, of course, one should take care of the choice, in fact, of the representatives of the underwater flora themselves.
There are many species of aquarium plants. Some of them are unpretentious, others need careful and constant care. In any case, when choosing plants for your home decorative underwater corner, the following factors must be taken into account:
- hardness of water;
- displacement aquarium;
- water temperature.
Before you go to the store for plants, of course, you need to decide what the design of the aquarium will be. There are many ways to design tanks with fish. But in most cases, aquariums are decorated in compliance with the following rules:
- tall plants are planted near the back wall;
- representatives of medium-sized flora are distributed in the center of the aquarium;
- very small plants are allowed to be planted throughout the aquarium, including in the foreground.
Landing time
Many novice fish lovers are often interested, of course, in the fact that after starting the aquarium you can plant plants. No special rules are provided for in this regard. Unlike fish, underwater plants are not afraid of ammonia, or nitrites, or nitrates. So you can even plant them at the same time as the launch. It will not do any harm to the green underwater “inhabitants”.
There are no restrictions on when to plant plants in a new aquarium, therefore. The only thing - water before planting representatives of the flora must be defended for a day. Chlorine and other reagents used in cities to disinfect it can still harm plants.
Water characteristics
Most suitable for most species of aquarium plants is soft water. In a different kind of tough, representatives of the flora develop, unfortunately, not too well. The owner of such an aquarium will therefore have to come up with the choice of green spaces with maximum responsibility.
The answer to the question of which plants can be planted in an aquarium with hard water are, for example:
- Anubias
- cryptocorins;
- dwarf sagittaria;
- lemongrass.
In soft water, you can successfully grow almost any species of underwater plants.
Selection depending on the volume of the aquarium
The sizes of underwater plants may vary. Therefore, to choose them, among other things, follows and taking into account the depth of the aquarium. For large tanks, of course, practically any representatives of the underwater flora are suitable. For an aquarium of 15-50 liters, it is worth choosing not particularly tall, slowly developing plants. It can be, for example:
- dwarf barter;
- Caroline bacopa;
- cryptocorin beckett, etc.
Growing temperature
Most aquarium plants, of course, prefer warm water. In a tropical heated aquarium, for example, almost any flora will feel fine. For cold water, plants should be selected individually.
Under such conditions, they will develop well, for example:
- hornwort;
- cladophore;
- moss fontinalis;
- Wallisneria
Such plants are able to withstand a drop in water temperature to 16-18 ° C.
Where to start: disinfection
How to plant plants in the aquarium correctly, we will consider a little below. First, let's also figure out how to prepare the green products purchased at the pet store. You can’t immediately plant freshly bought plants in the aquarium in any case. This can lead to the spread of infection among the fish. Before planting, purchased plants must be:
- peel snails, if any;
- disinfect thoroughly.
Also, from the acquired representatives of the flora, all damaged and rotten parts should be removed. Processing plants before planting in the aquarium can be made:
- by soaking for 20 minutes in a weak (pink) solution of potassium permanganate;
- by washing the stems, leaves and roots with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (1 tsp. in a glass of water).
Growth stimulation
Treated with potassium permanganate or peroxide plants should be thoroughly rinsed with warm clean water. Further, the acquired representatives of the underwater flora should slightly shorten the roots. This will subsequently become an incentive for their active development. At the final stage of preparation, the plants are lowered into a container of water and transferred closer to the aquarium.
What should be the soil
Actually, the planting of aquarium plants in the aquarium itself is carried out according to simple technology. But to grow underwater flora at home, of course, you need to on the "right" soil. The quality of the substrate in this case is simply of great importance. In order to get a beautiful aquarium in the future, you need to approach the choice of soil with all responsibility. The purchased substrate must contain all trace elements necessary for the purchased plants. In any case, the following must be present in the ground:
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- phosphorus.
The thickness of the soil layer for the successful cultivation of plants should ideally be 10 cm. But, of course, not too much substrate can be laid in a small aquarium. In any case, the soil depth, even in a small container, should not be less than 3 cm.
Most suitable for aquarium plants, of course, is a special purchased substrate. However, it is possible to purchase such soil, unfortunately, in pet stores far from all cities. In the event that a substrate saturated with microelements cannot be purchased, ordinary steamed and washed river pebbles can be laid on the bottom of the aquarium. Such soil is very inexpensive and is sold in almost any pet store.
When using such a substrate, however, it is better to plant the plants in plastic cups or special pots filled with ordinary garden soil. Subsequently, such containers are simply buried in pebbles for masking.
How to plant plants in an aquarium: lighting
Any underwater representatives of the flora have one feature: they develop very poorly in the dark. Therefore, the owner of the aquarium will have to purchase, among other things, also quite powerful lamps for lighting it. The most suitable for growing plants a variety of such equipment are considered T5 phytolamps of blue and red.
We plant potted plants in the aquarium
After the green spaces are prepared and disinfected, you can begin, in fact, to transfer them to a permanent place. Perform this procedure, of course, you need to correctly. So, let's see how to plant plants in an aquarium. When using cups or pots, this operation will look something like this:
- the landing tank is rinsed with warm water;
- some garden soil is poured at the bottom of the pot;
- the roots of the plant are placed in a cup and straightened;
- the container is filled with garden soil by about a third;
- a layer of river pebbles is laid on top of the earth and rammed.
At the final stage, the pot is installed in the aquarium in the right place and dug into the ground. Pebbles placed on top will prevent leaching of garden soil and water pollution in the aquarium.
How to plant in the ground
Using glasses allows you to grow healthy and beautiful plants in the aquarium. But the best result can be achieved, of course, by using special soil for green spaces. In this case, a substrate of a special composition is usually poured onto the bottom of the aquarium. Further, in order to avoid erosion, it is covered with a layer of pebbles or sand from above. After that, a little water is poured into the aquarium and begin, in fact, to plant the plants.
Perform this procedure in compliance with the following recommendations:
- for plants with vertical roots, dig a deep hole, with horizontal roots a long groove;
- plants capable of obtaining nutrients from water are planted without roots, after removing the lower leaves.
Density: specialist recommendations
Placing the plants in the aquarium, of course, also needs to be done correctly. The planting density of such representatives of the flora depends primarily on their variety. Between lush plants, experienced aquarists advise leaving more space. Small representatives of the flora are allowed to be placed more often. Creeping plants are planting several in one hole. Simply put, when planting, the aquarist should, among other things, try to make sure that the plants do not obscure each other during development.
Than fertilize
How to plant aquarium plants in an aquarium? The answer to this question, therefore, is not too complicated. But is it necessary to fertilize green spaces immediately after they are in the tank?
Like any other plant, underwater, of course, should be fed from time to time. It is best to use purchased formulations from a pet store for this. But if you wish, you can fertilize the plants and, for example, clay - the usual red or blue. The use of such top dressing in most cases leads to rapid growth of underwater flora. The fact is that clay contains almost all trace elements necessary for plants. Among other things, such top dressing also in no way harms most species of fish.
When planting plants in cups or a substrate, clay, like purchased fertilizers, can not be used at first. Feeding representatives of the underwater flora immediately after they find themselves in the aquarium is worth it only if they are planted directly in pebbles.
Clay before use as a fertilizer you just need to crumble into powder. Next, it should be moistened with a small amount of water and rolled from it small balls. The top dressing thus obtained can be stored in any convenient place and used as necessary. To fertilize the plants, clay balls are applied under their roots. Purchased dressings are used according to the instructions from the manufacturer.
Plant Care: Do I Need CO2?
So, we figured out how to plant plants in an aquarium. But what can be done so that representatives of the underwater flora subsequently develop as best as possible? As you know, any plants in the process of photosynthesis absorb oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. Underwater flora is no exception.
In most cases, aquariums are acquired, of course, for keeping fish. Plants in this case serve only as a pleasant addition. But sometimes in the apartments you can see the so-called herbalists. In such aquariums, the emphasis is on the underwater flora. The owners of such containers grow original, difficult-to-care plants, carefully select the lighting power and monitor the water parameters. In addition to other things, carbon dioxide can also be supplied to this type of aquarium. This technique allows you to get unusually lush, brightly colored, completely healthy plants.
CO2 is usually fed, of course, mainly only to herbalists. But if you wish, you can try to use this gas when growing plants in a conventional aquarium. However, in this case, it is worthwhile, of course, to be as careful as possible. After all, fish, unlike plants, do not need carbon dioxide, but oxygen.