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It is recommended for beginners to buy
and use plastic plants in their first aquarium.
You are going to have enough trouble with trying to
maintain water quality, learning proper feeding habits,
tank maintenance and a host of other related tasks.
There has been some questioning of late as to the actual
effects of live plants and their contribution to tank oxygenation.
So don't feel like you need them for that reason.
Plants do add decorum to your fish tank, shelter and a
security factor for fish. Both live and plastic will
accomplish those things. On the other hand live
plants do act as a test conditioner for your water
quality. If your aquarium can't support live
plants, then it's unsuitable for your fish. They
do act as an algae inhibitor to some degree. Live
plants are a food source for many fish, both directly
and indirectly as food for organisms upon which fry fish
feed. Live plants can be use as spawning medium,
however, plastics and other materials can be used as
well. Live plants, therefore are just not a
necessity for the well being of your fish. Many
commercial breeders maintain their fish without plants.
If you are absolutely determined to have live plants,
then go with plants that are easy to grow and maintain.
We recommend the following plants: |
Bacopa australis
Bacopa australis
Bacopa australis
Family:
Scrophulariaceae
Region:
Brazil
Care
Fairly undemanding plant.
Grows quickly, and under higher light will try to stay
low. Propagation by lateral shoots. |
Echinodorus 'Ozelot'
Echinodorus 'Ozelot'
is a hybrid between Echinodorus schlueteri 'Leopard'
and Echinodorus barthii created by Barth in
Dessauin the former East Germany. It is beautiful with
elliptical black spotted red-brownish leaves and a very
short petiole. The black spots has, of course, inspired
the name 'Ozelot'. In contrast to many other
spotted and flecked plants Echinodorus 'Ozelot'
maintains the spots regardless of light intensity and
other environmental factors. Older leaves, however,
tends to have dark-red spots rather than deep black as
in the younger leaves. Echinodorus 'Ozelot' is a
sturdy plant and accepts most environmental conditions.
If the conditions are sub optimal the plant just grow
more slowly and a bit smaller. |
Hygrophila Polysperma
This species was imported by the aquarium trade from
India and Malaysia in 1945 (Innes 1947) and escaped
cultivation in Florida in 1965 (Vandiver 1980).
The elliptical leaves are approximately ½” long and ½”
wide and taper to a sharp point. Leaves are
covered in fine white hairs and grow opposite on the
stem. Submerged leaves are longer with small leaf
stalks; emersed leaves are sessile (no leaf stalk) and
slightly rounder. The emergent stems are square;
Hygrophila polysperma, often called Miramar Weed
or Indian Swamp Weed, is a very aggressive
non-native invasive submerged stems are round and can
grow over 6 feet long.
Each
fall, blueish-whitish flowers form at the axils
(place where leaves attach to the stem). |
Ludwigia Repens "Rubin"
Variety of Ludwigia repens with striking dark red
leaves and stalk. It makes a fine color contrast to the
green shades in the aquarium. Plant in large groups to
enhance the decorative effect, and prune regularly to
encourage bushy growth. The plant makes few demands, but
if light is insufficient the lower leaves tend to fall
off. In strong light the color becomes more intense. Its
scientific name is at present uncertain. See also
Ludwigia repens. |
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For beginners
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For beginners
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