How to Use Real Plants in a Tropical Fish Tank
- 1). Remove your saltwater aquarium plants from their pots. Keeping the plants in the pots would cause the water to get dirty from the substrate inside. The plants do a surprisingly good job of staying alive if you simply take the time to remove them and trim overgrown areas from time to time.
- 2). Use whatever ceramic media you have lining the bottom of your fish tank to help anchor any "rooted" plants. Arrange the rocks around the plant to help secure it. Remove any dead leaves as they come.
- 3). Use an aquarium test kit to test the nitrate level in the water. A well-planted aquarium should have results between 20 and 40 ppm. Check the level periodically to ensure the health of the aquarium.