Substrate
Different plants have different needs, while some
Not all liquid plant foods are complete fertilisers. Some
are meant as trace nutrient supplements. Check the label.
grow in substrate or pots, others grow attached to
Healthy plant leaves should be green and shiny with
driftwood or rocks.
new buds appearing.
Ideally substrate should be 1.5 to 3.0mm in size and the
If your plants are pale and white this is a sign that
depth required will vary from 3cm to 8cm. An average
indicates poor nutrition.
of 6cm should be suitable for most species, although
the Echinodorus requires a depth of 8cm.
Ongoing care
The substrate should be a material that does not
Aquatic plants will flourish with ongoing care and may
affect the pH of your water. It is better to use natural
even become large enough to start growing outside
materials rather than synthetic such as epoxy coated
of your tank! Thinning and pruning is important! You
or coloured ceramics.
don’t want the vigorousness of your plants to shade
your aquarium and increase your algae growth.
Common hardy aquatic plants
Practice this ongoing care for a stunning plant display:
Java Fern – attaches to driftwood or rocks
• Remove any decaying or yellowing leaves
Vallisneria – suggested for background placement
Echinodorus – large plants which make an excellent
feature plant – there are many varieties
Cryptocryne wendtii – plant in groups in the middle ground
Cryptocoryne walkeri – plant in groups in the foreground
Hydrocotyle Leucocephala – can be used as a floating
• Remove any dying roots – these appear
limp and brown
• Thin and prune as necessary
• Add fertiliser as directed on the packet
Anubias bateri – foreground planting and attached to
driftwood
Cabomba – middle to background plants.
The pH value indicates if the water
is acidic or alkaline. Most aquarium
plants can withstand pH in the range
of 6.5 to 7.4 without any problems.
Fertilisation / nutrition
There are various fertilisers on the market for
enhancing aquarium plant growth, follow the
instructions on the labels and make sure it is an
Plant problems & solutions
Besides algae infestations, plants can suffer other
ailments, especially when the water conditions are not
favourable. Water with incorrect properties can cause as
much or more damage to a plant than nutrient deficiency.
aquatic safe fertiliser. These fertilisers are free of
If plants begin to wane (i.e. prematurely yellow, lose
phosphates and nitrates. The most common types
leaves, and show leaf damage), first check that the water
are solid / granular (root absorption) or liquid
conditions (pH, KH, phosphates & nitrates) are in order.
(leaf absorption).
If they are, see the chart on the following page for help.
6763 ANI Aquarium Plant Care FA.1 1
Action
Thin stalks
Insufficient
lighting
· Make sure the
light is on long
enough
Smaller leaves
Lower leaf loss
on plant stem
· Check the light
bulb and change
if necessary
· Is your light
strong enough
for your plant’s
requirement
Small brown
spots,
developing
into holes
Yellowing
leaves
High nitrate
content from
lack of water
changes
· Make a series of
moderate water
changes
Small, irregular
holes with
sharp edges
in otherwise
seemingly
healthy leaves
Snail feeding
· Remove snails
by hand
Stunted
growth
Carbon dioxide
deficiency
Aquatic plants
care guide
· Add snail
feeding fish
such as Clown
Loaches
Premature
die off
· Start fertilising
with carbon
fertilisation.
Decrease
aeration
Supply list:
There are many varieties of plants so please ask our
staff in store for advice.
Possible cause
• Check your aquarium light and replace bulbs as
per the manufacturers recommendations.
plant, grows rapidly and provides shelter
Hygrophilia polysperma – extremely hardy
Symptoms
Tank set up
Plants
Test kit with pH,
Plant fertiliser
ammonia, nitrite,
nitrate & KH
test strips
Substrate
Lighting
CO2 diffuser
(optional).
www.animates.co.nz
4/5/09 9:13:34 AM
Planting your aquarium
Before planting your aquarium:
Plants not
only enhance the
beauty of your tank
but they also provide
a great deal of benefits
for your fish. A well
planted tank can be
a stunning sight.
• Make a rough sketch of how you would like your
tank to look
• Choose plants to populate these 3 categories:
and low growing
background plants
Plants and lighting
Plants require illumination in order to thrive. It is not
essential to leave an aquatic light on for more than 12
hours; in fact this is likely to favour the growth of algae
To keep your aquarium plants healthy, the light
and CO2 must be balanced.
• If the light is very intense and there isn’t a
•
•
•
Water oxygenation – live plants absorb carbon
dioxide and produce oxygen (when your tank
is illuminated)
Added filtration – they absorb ammonia,
nitrates and phosphates and contribute to
maintaining a balanced water chemistry
They serve as an extra site for the colonisation
by beneficial bacteria
CO2 diffusers or injectors promote plant growth.
This can produce wonderful results when balanced
with sufficient lighting and necessary nutrients.
Even plants that would survive without any additional
CO2 should only be added to an aquarium to promote
• Leaves can be pale green to yellowish and their
stems are weak
plant growth once optimum fertilising and lighting
regimes are in place. CO2 works very well but will not
provide significant benefits unless these basic plant
requirements are also met.
Advantages of CO2 injection:
• Stem plants have few leaves and long internodes
• Creates optimal plant growth
• Provides the most essential and available carbon
•
They stem algae growth by directly competing
with algae for the intake of essential nutrients
and absorption of light
Carbon Dioxide CO2
portion of the stem is bare.
Plants need CO2 to live. CO2 is naturally produced in
your aquarium environment through the respirations
of fish and the breaking down of organic material.
source for plants
Specimen plants – these are usually large,
decorative species that are planted singularly in the
middle ground or background
Contrast plants – these plants can be used as a
contrast to the other plants in the tank such as red
(carbonated hardness) levels and you should monitor
photosynthesize, and can also harm your fish
Bunch plants – these are usually middle ground or
background species that look good in groups
CO2 can start growing much more rapidly when they
your tank and fish behaviour carefully.
• Growth near the light is vigorous and the lower
6763 ANI Aquarium Plant Care FA.2 2
• There are also these to consider
of light will affect your aquarium plants ability to
Symptoms of insufficient light:
as heaters or filters
the CO2 level in your tank to dissipate.
This is a balancing act between your pH and KH
• A balanced tank will have more plants than fish.
Background plants – these are your tall plants that
can be used to hide your aquarium equipment such
(increasing the surface turbulence) can quickly cause
harm your aquarium plants
• Too much CO2 without a corresponding amount
levels can harm your fish, but aerating the water
receive extra CO2.
They provide natural shelters for fish – reducing
stress and supporting natural behaviour
They look great!
Carbon levels should run between 5 - 15mg / L, excess
corresponding larger amount of CO2, the light can
•
•
Middle ground plants – these are medium sized and
can be used to block unsightly stems from your
rather than plant growth.
The benefits of a planted
aquarium include:
Foreground plants – these plants are small
leafed plants
Floating plants – these plants require plenty of light
and can be very prolific, make sure they don’t shade
the plants underneath that require high light levels.
• Select a few species of each and buy in quantity
rather than many different species with 1 or 2 of each
• Add all your plants at once as these will directly
compete with the establishment of algae
• Always remove the devices that hold plants
together when planting
• Excellent method of lowering the pH in aquariums.
• Never bury the crown of the plant
If there is a deficiency of CO2 the aquarium plants stay
• Be aware of their maximum size and provide
small and grow slowly.
enough space to allow for growth
• Remove any dead or decaying leaves immediately.
4/5/09 9:13:36 AM