Anybody who has seen a well-maintained planted aquarium knows how beautiful aquatic aquarium plants can be. They add a depth and richness that turn a plain fish tank into a wonderful aquarium. However, many people are intimidated by live aquarium plants and wonder if they are worth the trouble. Do they provide any benefit besides looking good?

First of all, adding live aquatic plants doesn’t necessarily mean creating a densely planted, rich waterscape. An aquarium can be enhanced just by adding one plant, or a few. Live plants can be mixed in with artificial plants, or the aquarium can go to the extreme of a so called “Dutch aquarium” in which the plants take center stage and the fish are secondary in the tank.

Beyond the aesthetics, why should one consider plants in the aquarium? Plants are living things that serve an important purpose in the ecosystem of the aquarium. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants take in CO2 and release oxygen that is used by the fish. Nitrate can be bad for the fish when levels get too high, but the plants use the nitrate in the gravel as food. The plants provide shelter for smaller or shy fish, and this extra sense of security is reflected in healthier fish. The plants also help keep algae growth in check by shading the tank somewhat. Certain fish species like to eat plants, too, so they can provide a dietary supplement to some fish.

Keeping live plants in the aquarium can be relatively easy if a few basics are kept in mind. This one may sound obvious, but it is important to remember that plants are living things. They have needs just like the fish in the aquarium do and if one keeps those needs in mind, then the plants will be no trouble to keep in the tank.

When picking plants out to put in the aquarium, do some research and find out what the preferred water conditions are for the plants, just as you would when choosing fish. Some plants thrive in higher pH conditions, some like soft water, others want high temps, etc. Most aquatic plants will live within a common range of water conditions, but just be aware that there may be some plants that will not be compatible with your desired setup.

The substrate in the tank is important for keeping aquatic plants. The gravel should be at least 3″ deep so that the roots can grow unrestrained and anchor the plant well. A natural colored quartz gravel mix with rocks 2mm to 4mm in size is a very good choice. For plants that require some additional soil, they can be put in pots that can then be planted into the gravel.

Lighting is a necessary component to a planted aquarium, but in most cases a basic fluorescent bulb or bulbs will do just fine. Some plants need higher intensity light and heavily planted tanks have greater needs, but that is beyond the scope of this article. Two important things need to be kept in mind regarding the lights and the hood. The first is that fluorescent bulbs lose significant intensity after about a year, so even though the bulbs are not burned out, they should be replaced every year. Another often overlooked task is cleaning the glass underside of the aquarium hood. It often gets covered with algae and residue from evaporation, so clean it every week to keep the light intensity in the tank from fading.

Periodically the plants should be trimmed to prevent overgrowth. Fast growing plants can reach the surface of the tank and start to grow horizontally, thus shading out everything below. Some basic small sharp scissors will work for the trimming. Any dead leaves or dead plants should be removed from the tank quickly as the decomposing plant material is not good for the water conditions.

The beauty of a well-planted tank and all of the potential benefits of aquatic aquarium plants make a convincing case for adding plants to any aquarium. Given the fact that their maintenance is no more demanding than any fish that are already in the tank, it is hard to come up with a reason not to try live plants in your tank.