Goldfish Blog

Archive for April 16th, 2011

Adding live plants to a fish tank does more than just improve aesthetics – plants provide shelter, food for vegetarian fish, and prevent green water. Plants also soak up carbon dioxide, waste material, contribute oxygen into the water, and promote the growth of algae, tiny worms, rotifers, and protozoa, providing live food for your fish.

Lights are important if you would like your plants to develop successfully. They need 12-14 hours of light each day, just like in the wild. Opinions vary concerning just how much light live plants need, but generally 3-5 watts per gallon works well. Compact fluorescent bulbs and par 20, 50-watt halogen bulbs both get the job done right, so experiment with a variety of lighting to find out what works well with your plants.

Plants also require the correct nutrients to remain healthy and green. Everything works together in a well-planned aquarium, so keeping the plants fed isn’t a difficult prospect. Nutrients to feed the plants come from the fish in the tank – you can add more if needed. Fertilization is easy as well because plants can naturally use fish waste as fertilizer. You can add a commercial fertilizer whenever you change the water, but it’s generally far better to stick to the “less is more” philosophy with regards to fertilizing your plants. An excessive amount of fertilizer can create problems with algae growth in the tank, and you may always add more if neccessary. What’s cool today is that there are alot of cool free programs that allow you to watch numerous beautiful fresh and saltwater fish varieties right from your computer screen via 3d moving screensavers. Check them out! You may be impressed by how life like these free moving screensavers actually are!

What about water temperature? Virtually all aquatic plants thrive in water temperature ranges between 72f and 78f. The pH of the water is additionally significant – a pH of 6.8 to 7.8 is ideal.

Snails are another natural component that aid the overall health of the aquatic environment. Snails clean plants of food and tiny algae, as they crawl over leaves and foliage. However, some snails can in fact create problems. Ramshorn, pond, along with other species consume the leaves instead of clean them, and may cause unwanted damage. Luckily, it’s really simple to get rid of troublesome snails. Simply place lettuce leaves towards the top of the aquarium to attract the snails – remove everything with a net once all the snails have assembled to the lettuce pieces.

Before placing new plants in your aquarium, rinse them thoroughly in warm water to remove any insects you don’t want invading the aquarium. Healthy plants have solid roots and firm leaves, making this what you should search for when choosing aquatic plants. Avoid plants that give off an unusual scent, particularly bulbs, as it becomes an indication that the plant is unhealthy and may not grow properly once placed in your tank.

Younger plants generally adjust easier to transplantation, so keep this in mind too. Although the plants you buy will require a period of time to adjust, and can lose some leaves, don’t be alarmed. This really is completely normal. To promote healthy new development, just remove dead leaves as they appear, being careful not to damage the roots.

In the long run, aquatic plants make a beautiful addition to any aquarium and help to keep the fish comfortable, healthy, and happy.Also don’t forget that you can watch numerous beautiful fresh and saltwater fish varieties right from your computer screen with moving screensavers. They’re 100% FREE, look great, and supply an ideal solution for an instant tropical getaway at any time during the day!