More and more fish enthusiasts are embracing the idea of live plants for their aquariums.
One of the obvious reasons that maintaining live plants for your fish aquarium is such a good idea is the increased supply of oxygen.
The process of photosynthesis works just as well under water, in your aquarium, as it does in the open outdoors.
These plants use the carbohydrates found in water and the carbon dioxide respired by the fish as their food source.
In turn, these plants release oxygen into the water as a by-product of photosynthesis.
Plants also use nitrates in their process of photosynthesis.
As the tank ages, nitrates build in the water.
Such nitrates often stimulate algae growth, but these plants dissuade the growth of algae by absorbing the nitrates in the water.
Sometimes live plants need a little help to stay healthy in a tank environment.
If your plants which are live, are not doing as well as they should be, they will give you indications of poor health.
For example, most live plants that have a reddish or orange color will have a need for iron additives in order to remain healthy.
Green plants whose leaves turn yellow are probably displaying a sign of iron deficiency.
Fortunately, you can purchase good plant additives that will contain iron, nitrates, phosphates, and other nutrients to keep the live plants in your tank healthy.
Lighting is a critical element in the process of photosynthesis.
It is the energy of light that powers the entire progression.
The two important factors in aquarium lighting for live plants are light intensity and photoperiod.
Intensity deals with the color and strength of the light.
In the natural world, plants require the red and blue light spectrums in sunlight.
Aquarium enthusiasts who cultivate live plants have to use metal halide or fluorescent lighting emitting these spectrums.
Light strength naturally depends upon the size of your aquarium.
It is recommended that you use two watts of lighting per gallon to stimulate sufficient plant growth.
The photoperiod is simply the length of time the lighting is left on.
Ten to twelve hour cycles are recommended for aquariums stimulating growth of plants which are live.
Water hardness (the amount of minerals in the water) and pH need to be monitored in order to maintain live plants.
The range of water hardness and pH will vary with the type of plants you grow and can easily be monitored with inexpensive test kits.
One of the obvious reasons that maintaining live plants for your fish aquarium is such a good idea is the increased supply of oxygen.
The process of photosynthesis works just as well under water, in your aquarium, as it does in the open outdoors.
These plants use the carbohydrates found in water and the carbon dioxide respired by the fish as their food source.
In turn, these plants release oxygen into the water as a by-product of photosynthesis.
Plants also use nitrates in their process of photosynthesis.
As the tank ages, nitrates build in the water.
Such nitrates often stimulate algae growth, but these plants dissuade the growth of algae by absorbing the nitrates in the water.
Sometimes live plants need a little help to stay healthy in a tank environment.
If your plants which are live, are not doing as well as they should be, they will give you indications of poor health.
For example, most live plants that have a reddish or orange color will have a need for iron additives in order to remain healthy.
Green plants whose leaves turn yellow are probably displaying a sign of iron deficiency.
Fortunately, you can purchase good plant additives that will contain iron, nitrates, phosphates, and other nutrients to keep the live plants in your tank healthy.
Lighting is a critical element in the process of photosynthesis.
It is the energy of light that powers the entire progression.
The two important factors in aquarium lighting for live plants are light intensity and photoperiod.
Intensity deals with the color and strength of the light.
In the natural world, plants require the red and blue light spectrums in sunlight.
Aquarium enthusiasts who cultivate live plants have to use metal halide or fluorescent lighting emitting these spectrums.
Light strength naturally depends upon the size of your aquarium.
It is recommended that you use two watts of lighting per gallon to stimulate sufficient plant growth.
The photoperiod is simply the length of time the lighting is left on.
Ten to twelve hour cycles are recommended for aquariums stimulating growth of plants which are live.
Water hardness (the amount of minerals in the water) and pH need to be monitored in order to maintain live plants.
The range of water hardness and pH will vary with the type of plants you grow and can easily be monitored with inexpensive test kits.