Can Live Plants Keep an Aquarium’s Water Clean?

Each year, judges from the Aquatic Gardeners Association (AGA) choose the best-looking ponds and aquariums around the world. This international contest dates back to the year 2000, and it has done a lot to promote the importance of keeping live plants in aquarium habitats. The categories for the AGA annual aquascaping contest start at just six gallons, and it’s amazing what aquarists can do even with small freshwater planted aquariums. Aquariums and ponds with live plants will always look better than those that use artificial decorations, but the most important benefits are reaped by the fish keepers themselves. Plants can not only improve the overall health of the ecosystem but also help in terms of keeping it cleaner.

The Natural Filtration Process of Aquatic Plants

All tanks require aeration and filtration systems, but those that include plants will always be more efficient. As part of their botanical processes, plants absorb nitrates that are naturally produced by fish. However, this doesn’t mean plants will consume all nitrates through their leaves. The bacteria filter media is still required, but they’ll provide a complementary process that results in lower ammonia levels.

Rooted Plants and Fish Waste

Aquatic plants that take root in the substrate can be thought of as being passive scavengers. Some fish waste will be dissolved in the water, but most will fall to the bottom of the tank, thus prompting plants to break it down for the purpose of absorbing nutrients. As previously mentioned, the leaves will also absorb nitrates that break down into molecules, resulting in cleaner water. Cory catfish and invertebrates such as ghost shrimp are the perfect complement to rooted plants. This combination will not only clean the water but also the substrate.

Plants that Provide Algae Control

Fast-growing stem and grassy species tend to grow very quickly in aquatic habitats, and they’re able to do so by consuming nutrients that normally produce algae. Even though there’s a bit of fertilizer produced by fish, it’s not enough. Supplements of nitrogen, potassium, and iron are very important to keep the plants growing fast enough to “override” nuisance algae. These substrate grass and stem plants are more efficient in this regard, and they’ll eventually starve algae and prevent blooming. A smart complement would be to stock a tank with both stem plants and Amano shrimp to keep algae to a minimum.

How Plants Help the Oxygenation Process

Like all organisms, plants need oxygen to survive, but they actually contribute to the oxygenation process while more complex organisms simply consume it. Aquarium pumps promote oxygenation by mechanical processes. Plants do so through a biochemical process that involves sucking up some of the carbon dioxide exhaled by fish in the daytime. The active photosynthesis process releases healthy oxygen in the daytime. At night or whenever the aquarium lights are turned off, some CO2 levels will be released into the water, but they won’t be harmful to fish.

If you need some tips on caring for a planted aquarium and need the supplies to properly maintain the tank, Aquatic Warehouse has you covered. Check out our store in Kearny Mesa, order supplies directly from our website, or give us a call at 858-467-9297 if you have any questions.