With sufficient background on how plants thrive and live symbiotically with fish in an aquarium, you will have the pleasure of not only a healthy habitat but an aesthetically attractive one as well.
Plants contribute largely to keeping the water balance in the aquarium. They are vital participants in the nitrogen cycle. The tank vegetation converts the nitrates they absorb (from the broken-down fish wastes and decaying material such as uneaten food or dead fish) into various essential nutrients such as plant proteins that herbivorous fish consume, and dissolved oxygen that fish "breathe" from the water.
On top of enhancing beauty and symmetry to a tank set-up, plants also provide a natural and secure environment for the aquarium residents.
Kinds of Aquatic Plants
Plants that aquarium hobbyists include in their setups are of two general kinds: submersed (in water) and emersed (out of water/floating). Both types have specific benefits to the fish community and the overall habitat.
Submersed aquatic plants are grouped as tubers, rooted, and cuttings.
Tuberous plants are usually sold slightly sprouted. Although most tubers are hardy and highly viable, purchasing a well sprouted or rooted one will ensure a better chance of survival in a new tank. Most of them, like regular non-aquatic tubers, need a hibernating period. This means that they thrive for one season (about eight months) then start to shed their mature leaves. When they do, they should be transferred to a cooler tank to hibernate for about two weeks. They can then be returned to the aquarium to re-grow and bloom. Their flowers will produce seeds that can grow new tubers.
Examples of tubers are the Aponogeton (see photo)(Madagascan Lace Plant), Nymphaea (African Tiger Lotus and Water Lily), and "Elephant Ears" .
Rooted plants are the most common aquarium flora. They are often sold as potted clusters but should be planted individually in the aquarium to provide for growth and proliferation. Once established, rooted plants grow well ��� some extending runners all the way across the tank, some anchoring with creeping rhizomes onto rocks and wood. Depending on the variety, rooted plants can be used as tall backgrounders or clustered foregrounders.
Examples of rooted plants are Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria (Straight or Twisted Vallis), Echinidorus (Brord-leaf, Ruffled, or Pygmy Chain Amazon Sword ), Sagittaria (Giant or Dwarf Sag), and Microsorium pteropus - see photo(Java Fern).
Cuttings are un-rooted tops of aquatic plants. They usually have finer or smaller leaves than rooted plants, with stems stretching all the way up to the water surface. Cuttings, although sold in bunches, should be planted individually to ensure proliferation and so that light reaches the bottom leaves. Fine-leafed cuttings are good hiding places for shy juvenile fish but are also prone to trapping "dust" if filtration is inadequate. Most cuttings take root after a while, and need to be trimmed for better growth and symmetry.
Examples of cuttings are Cabomba (see photo), Rotala, Bacopa, Nomaphila (Dwarf and Willow-Leaf Hygrophyla), Ceratophyllum (Hornwort), and Limnophila aquatica (Giant Ambulia).
Article by Ruby Bayan Choosing Aquarium Plants
2007 http://aguarium-fish.blogspot.com/
