Planted aquariums don’t have to be strict aquascapes. They can also feature a few fish and invertebrates that balance the ecosystem. Fish, shrimp, snails, plants, and even the Nitrobacter colonies that consume nitrates all need oxygen to survive. Respiration is a process all these species share, and this means they need to extract dissolved O2 particles from the water. A planted aquarium can be oxygenated by mechanical and biochemical means. Plants handle the latter process, and the former is achieved by agitation of the water column. Bubbling devices aren’t mandatory in planted tanks, but you still need some sort of mechanical process to oxygenate the water. What Aquarium Bubbling Devices …

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Aquascaping is the art of establishing enclosed ecosystems where aquatic plants are the main focus. Aquarists tend to prefer freshwater tanks for various reasons, and one of them is the diversity of fish they can stock their habitats with. All freshwater tanks should be planted to a certain extent. At the same time, a densely planted tank is more likely to thrive when stocked with the right fish species because of the natural carbon dioxide exhalations plants consume as nutrients. In freshwater planted aquariums where exotic or delicate plants are growing, the key to adding fish is to select species that won’t destroy the plants. Here are some of the …

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At the “cookie-cutter corporate superstores,” aquarium starter kits often include fish and plants species that grow quickly. You may get juvenile rainbow sharks and fancy goldfish along with hornwort and Java moss. This is a pretty clever marketing strategy aimed at getting beginners excited about entering the fish keeping hobby. The idea is to let them see species growing before their own eyes in a matter of days. A similar strategy can be applied with those who want to get into aquascaping. They can start with low-light plants that are known to grow faster before they get into exotics that may grow slower and require more maintenance. Just how long …

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Pretty much all tropical fish species recommended to aquarists come from natural habitats filled with plants, and you can be sure the fish and invertebrates you chose will enjoy having plants as part of the ecosystem. When you visit shops that carry high-quality freshwater aquarium supplies, their showcase tanks are invariably planted because they simply look better. However, the benefits of planted tanks go far beyond aesthetics. We’ll list a few reasons you should aim for at least 40 percent plant coverage in your tank, but we’ll also mention some caveats related to species that may be challenging to keep in a planted tank. Why Fish Love Plants Aside from …

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Most students in North America learn about photosynthesis pretty early as part of their scientific education. We associate this botanical process with the light of the sun, but then we learn about species growing at the very bottom of the ocean. These are aquatic plants that lack chlorophyll and don’t have a reasonable use for sunlight. Plants that typically grow in aquariums can certainly appreciate getting direct sunshine, but this would bring up a problem with regard to algae overgrowth. Unless you’re willing to establish a freshwater tank that requires constant maintenance to avoid algae bloom, you’ll need to purchase an artificial source of light from a trusted aquarium supplier …

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Freshwater planted aquariums, whether they’re strictly maintained for aquascaping or with a few fish to balance the ecosystem, will generally need less upkeep than tanks that lack plant species. Some aquascaping enthusiasts take pride in carefully balancing their ecosystems so they don’t have to worry about large water changes. This is one of the advantages of aquatic plants that fish keepers truly appreciate. They help with water oxygenation and complete with algae for nutrients. Nonetheless, even strict tanks will require water changes to keep the parameters in check. The Need for Regular Water Changes If the water in your aquarium looks clear, if there are no signs of algae, if …

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