Part One: Pract ical section

Comp rehensive practical guidance on all aspects of creating

a stunn ing planted aqua riu m, from how plants work to t he
value and techniques of reg ular ma intenance . The t opics of
wate r qual ity and f ilt ratio n, choosing subst rates, and correct
planting methods are all fea tu red in detail. Lighting, fee ding ,
and propagation are also key areas to receive attention,
followed by a major section on aquascap ing .

Introduction 10
The natural biology of plants 12
Water quality and filtration 26
The right substrate 38
Choosing and planting 48

u Lighting the aquarium

Feeding aquarium plants

Propagating aquarium plants

56
66
78
Maintaining a planted aquarium 84
Aquascaping 94
Fish for the planted aquarium 118

Part Two: Plant profiles

A wide-ranging survey of mo re than 150 popular aqu arium
plants presented in A-Z orde r of scientific name, including a
brief review of nonaquatic plants suitable for tempora ry
display in the aquarium. The majority of the featured plants
are shown in color photographs, many with accompanying
detailed views. Full bot ani cal, practical, and growing
informa t ion is provided fo r each plant, including com mo n
name, origin, height, growth rat e, suitable aquarium zone,
lighti ng requirements, optim um temperatu re rang e,
propagation techn iques, and d ifficul ty rating.
Left: Echinodorus uruguayensis.
one of many echinadarus species . Introduction 122
and cultivars available for aquarium
use. They pro vide bold shapes and Plant Profiles 124
contrib ute an elegant style to
planting displays. Index and credits 198
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Lighting the aquarium

During dawn
Light in nature and dusk, there _____________
The most intense light is a gradual
In tropical regions, plants will receive occurs during the change in light.
about 10-12 hours of strong ligh t middle part of the day.
every day for most of the year:
/
\
I I I I I I I I I I
o 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

Light in the aquarium A gradua l change in light intensity ~0 0 0

0
can be achieved by staggering lights.
Aquarium lighting should be similar
to natural light bu t can be altered A siesta tim e can help
slightly for practical purposes. slow algae growth.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I
o 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

The location of plants in nature receive a similar amount of light on a photosynth esizing once there is
affects the amount of light th ey require regular basis. The best way to achieve suff icient lig ht. How ever, algae are not
in the aquarium. Plants that are thi s is t o use a time r th at auto mat ically as biologically advanced as plants and
accustomed to op en environment s sw itches on the aquarium lights for need a long and relatively uninterrupted
will require st rong lighting for longer 10-1 4 ho urs a day. In aquariums w ith period of light to f unct ion prope rly. It is
periods, w hile plants found in th e mo re than one light, say, a num ber of possible to combat algae in th e
shade of vegetat ion w ill require a fluorescent tube s, you can adopt a aquarium by cont rolling th e inten sity and
less intense light source. In nature, a " staggered " approach, with each light period of lighting in th e aquarium and
number of plants, such as Echin odorus being turned on (or off) in a sequence, creating a "s iesta " period. This is a
spp.. also produce leaves above th e five to ten minutes apart. This w ill period of darkness that interrupts the
water surface, w here bot h light and benefit both the f ish and the plant s by nor mal day/ni ght light cycle in the
CO2 are more easily available. The reducing th e shock of a sudden change aquarium . If the aquarium receives 5-6
advantage of prod ucing aerial leaves in light inten sity. It is also important that hours of lighting foll ow ed by 2-3 hours
is that faster-growing plants are able aquarium plants receive periods of of darkness and then another 5-6 hours
to photo synthesise more quickly and complete darkness. During thi s time , of light, th e plants w ill be relat ively
utilize CO2 more readily. Aerial leaves plants stop phot osynt hesizing but unaffect ed and receive enough light
also provide vital shading f or less cont inue t o respire, so a dark period can throughout the day, but algae growth
vigorous submerged plants. be considered a period of " rest" for the rates w ill be signif icantly reduced and
plants' biological f unctions. may even start to die back.
Light duration
Most trop ical regions receive roug hly Creating a siesta period Reducing light loss
12 hours of daylight, with 10 hours of Plants are able to regulate th e rate In most cases, maximizing the amou nt of
strong light and 10 hours of complete of photosynth esis relatively easily, and light plants receive in t he aquarium has a
darkness and th is daylength varies little quickly respond to changes in light beneficial effe ct. There are several
throughout t he year. It is important t o condit ions. In other w ords, the y do reasons w hy a significant amount of
make sure th at plants in the aquarium not take long to wa rm up and start light is lost between the light source and

59
 MEASURING LIGHT INTENSITY light is achieved, taking into account losses (lumens). Each of these fluorescent tub es
The intensity of a light source reaching any of light, it sho uld be possible to ensure that requires costly starter units and space above
surface is measured in units of lux. Natural the plants receive the correct amount of the aquarium. Before long, the cost and
bright sunlight produces about 70,000- illumination. As a rough guide, a standard, practicality of fluorescent tub es may become
BO,OOO lux, although much of this is lost by rectangular, planted aquarium will require unwarranted and you should consider
the time it reaches aquatic plants. The lux around 30-50 lumens per liter of water: alternative light so urces.
requirement of aquarium plants varies Although less efficient than fluorescent
between roughly 300 and 6,000 lux, Light efficiency lamps, because they produce more heat
depending on the species. Plants such as The efficiency of a light source can be and less light per watt, mercury-vap or or
Anubi as and Cryptocoryn e spp., which are measured by the amount of lumens metal-halide lamps (halogen) lamps are a
often found in shaded streams, require less produced per watt. An artificial light source good choice. Their much higher wattage
light than plants found on or above the uses electricity (watts) and converts it into ensures a higher light outp ut and higher
water surface and in open, shallow areas, light and heat. A fluorescent tube never light intensity. Initially these lamps may
such as dwarf Echin odorus and ge ts very hot, and can be touched when in seem expensive, but comp ared to the
Myriophyllum . Lux can be measured by a use. This is because most of the electricity equivalent light output of fluorescent tubes,
ph otographic luxmeter, alth ough measuring used is converted into light, .making a they are actually considerably cheaper:
lux readings in the aquarium to ensure fluorescent tube very efficient. On the other
correct light intensity is unnecessary. It is hand, a 60-watt household incandescent
Useful definitions
much better to start by lookin g at the tube will get mu ch hotter and produce less
ou tput of various light sources. light than one 60-watt fluorescent tube (or Lumen: Unit of luminous energy,
two 30-watt tubes). However, this does not historically the light from one candle.
Output of light mean that the most efficient light source is Lux: Unit of illuminati on representi ng
The outp ut from a light source is measured always the best one. For larger and deeper one lumen falling on one square meter.
in lumens. (Lux is a measure of lumens pe r aquariums, a number o f fluorescent tubes Watt: Unit of electrical pow er.
square meter:) If the op timum output of may be needed to produce enough ou tput

Left: Plants that are

highly adapted to
different light
conditions can
nevertheless live in
the same areas in
nature . This tropical
lily requires strong
light, while the
plants shaded
beneath it need
I only moderate light.
i I

II 60
I ...
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Lighting the aquarium

the surface of plant leaves. Suspended Fluorescent lighting designed f or specific pur poses and to
debris in the aquarium w ate r can cut Fluorescent tube s emit light by electrically emit specif ic colors. Fluorescent tube s
down the amount of light reaching th e charging a gas conta ined w it hin th e designed for aquarium plant growth
plants quite considerably, but is easily tu be. The light produc ed by the gas is ofte n produce a red-yellow or red-
removed using a fin e f loss medium in mo stly in the invisible areas of th e vio let -blue color, whi ch, although ideal
the filter. Cover glasses and spect rum, but the fl uorescent coat ing on fo r plants, may give t he aquar ium a
condensation tr ays can screen out up th e inside of the tube converts this into slig ht ly garish look. To remedy thi s,
to 30% of th e light output fr om a given visible light. By altering th e chemical fu ll-spectrum tubes can be added to
source. Plastic condensation trays are coatin g on the inside of the tu be, t he balance th e color outp ut.
particularly bad in thi s respect because spect rum of light emitte d can be Fluorescent tu bes are the most wi dely
they quickly discolor and are difficult to changed, so f luorescent tube s can be used method of lighting aquarium s,
clean . If possib le, use glass covers and
clean them on a we ekly basis to reduce How light is lost in the aquarium
any significant loss of light. The light
from flu orescent tubes is given off in Light from a fluo rescent tube Reflectors help to redirect light
all directions and much is lost as it is is emitted in all directions. in to the aquarium.

~~
~
absorbed by the aquarium hood or
released th rough th e aquarium glass. Condensation
Using specially designed reflectors, trays must be
you can angle the light so t hat it is kept clean to
only directed into the w ater and not reduce light
outward. Reflectors can increase the absorpUon. ~
effectiveness of flu orescent tube s by As light passes

~ /'
up to 40 %. through the
Some light is wa ter, its
Choosing lighting refracted and/o r spectrum is
What w e can conclude from lookin g at reflected from ~ altered and
different types of light is that the best the wa ter intensity is
type of light depends on th e functi on it surface. reduced as it is
is required to perform . Household absorbed and
incandescent light s are inefficient and Particles in the converted into
produce a lot of heat, but are very cheap wa ter will soak heat energy.
and ideal for domest ic use. Fluorescent upalarge ~
tubes are very efficient and relatively amo unt of light. ~." .' : '. . ..
.. .. .. .. 0°
cheap if used in small numbers, and
ideal for smaller planted aquariums . The Some light is
less efficient, but higher output/inten sity lost throug h ~
lamps are ideal for larger planted tanks. th e aquarium ~
Remember th at it is often better to glass. Larg e-leaved
provide t oo much light rath er than t oo and tall plants
litt le, although far too much light wi ll be ~ take up light
damaging . W hen choosing th e correct in the upper
lighting for a particular system, the four Plants toward areas of the
main factors to consider are: th e bo tto m of aquarium and
the aquarium reduce the ligh t
1. Efficiency (output in relation to receive only reaching
power consumption) a small smaller and/o r
2. Output/Intensity proportion of lower plants .
3. Initial cost the emitted
4. Light spectrum ligh t.

61
mainly because th ey are very efficient, lum ens or lux. Fluorescent tubes can be 250-watt versions; a lSD-watt light
use little elect ricity, and are relatively adequatel y rated for most purposes by sho uld provid e a suit ab le output for
cheap w hen used in small n umbers. the wa tta ge of th e light tube rat her than most aqu arium s. (250-watt versions are
M ost flu orescent tubes w ill last up to its output of light. In aquariums t hat are bette r suited to marine invert ebrate
tw o years before th ey star t t o flic ker and 15 in (38 cm) deep or less, use 1.5-2 aquariums, w here dem and f or light from
event ually becom e useless. How ever, wa tts of light for every 4 liters (about 1 cor als is hig her.) You may need more
th eir light output d rops considerably gallon) of aqu arium w ater. than one lamp for aqu ariums longer
within t he f irst year of use, so t he t ubes than 42 in (107 ern), Halogen ligh ts are
become less eff ect ive and useful for Metal -halide lamps initially the most costly method of
plants unless they are chang ed at least Me tal -hali de, or halogen, lamps provide lighting, but pro vide the best output for
once a year. Fluorescent t ub es are by fa r intense, high- output light via a tu ngsten demanding aq uarium plants.
t he best light ing solutio n for smaller or filam ent. They are ideally suite d to
shallow ta nks, but for deeper or larger deep er aquariums, w it h a wa te r depth Mercury vapor lamps
tan ks or for plants th at require intense of 24 in (60 cm) or more . Suspended at Like halogen lamp s, mercury vapor
light ing, th ere are ot her altern atives. least 12 in (30 cm) above th e aquarium to lamps are suspended above th e
A lt ho ug h light is measured in lumen s allow ample vent ilat ion , a single unit will aquarium and provide a hig h-inte nsity
and lux (see page 60 ), fl uorescent tubes illuminate approximate ly 2 ft2 (1,800 crn-) light th at is able to penetrate deeper
vary in th e inte nsity and output of light of surface area. (A n aquariu m 24 in/6 0 wa ter t han fl uor escent t ubes. For
dep ending on the chem ical coating used cm long and 12 in/30 cm w ide.) Halog en .aquariums with a depth of 18-24 in
inside the tube and are rarely labeled in lights are usually available in l SD-wa tt or (4 5- 60 cm), me rcury vapor lamps

Left: Me tal-halide
lamps are w idely
used for marine CHANGES IN INTENSITY
aquariums, wh ere Plants adap t to a given light source
their spectral output relatively quickly, but a sudden and
suits marine algae prolonged significant change in light
and corals. A lighting intensity can be harmful and
canopy with metal- sometimes deadly. High-intensity
halide lamps and lights, such as mercury vapor or
fluorescent tubes metal-halide lamps, may produce too
will produce a much light for many plants. If the
balanced light outp ut light source is too brigh t, plants are
for healthy plant able to create pro tective pigmen ts
growth. The intensity that reduce any harmful effects.
provided by this sort However, if a sensitive plant (notably
of ligh ting setup is floating species) is transferred from an
ideal for deeper aquarium with single fluo rescent
planted aquariums. tubes to an aquarium with high-
inten sity lamps, the plant may not
have sufficient time to produce
eno ugh pro tective p igments and will
suffer, often dying back quickly.

Right: The spectral outp ut of a

meta l-halide lamp shows useful
peaks in the blue and yellow
areas. The large volume of the
curve reflects the high light
inten sity th ese lamps produce. nm 400 500 600 700

62
 PRACTICAL SE CTION
Lighting the aquarium

Left: Fluorescent
tub es are available
in different color
sp ectrums for
different purposes.
Usin g a comb ination
of tubes in a planted
aquarium can create
good light for plant
growth, as well as
creating a pleasing
color balance for
the hum an eye.

Right: The spectral output of a

whit e triphosphor fluorescent Ab ove: A lth ough mercury vapo r lamps do
tube peaks at 40 0 and 600 nm, no t produce an ideal sp ectrum for aquarium
ideal for photosynth esis, and at plants, their high outpu t easily compensates
500 tun, which creates a more for this. M ercury vapor lamps also pro duce
balanced light appearance. nm 400 500 600 700 an aesthetically attractive light.

provide the most cost-effective and an addit ional light source. Blended sunlight un less you have plenty of
practica l solut ion, as they are cheaper spot lamps are a combina t ion of mercury experience and/or are w illing t o
than halogen lamps and provide a much and t ungsten and provide a very we ll- experiment a little . Providing the
higher outp ut than fl uorescent t ubes. balanced out put at low cost. aquarium is in a place w here it can
Common mercury vapor lamps use Unsuitable light s include any light th at receive sun light for t he majority of th e
between 60 and 125 wat ts, w hich does not provide suitab le red or blue day, all year roun d, it is possible t o creat e
makes them relat ively low -cost to run . light and/or provides t oo Iow an out put. a healthy, w ell-planted aquarium whe re
If they are w ith in your budget, halogen A typical example is the household fast plant growth wi ll prevent algae from
lamps will provide th e best source of incandescent (t ungst en) bulb, wh ich, forming . How ever, t his balance is
light, but mercury vapor lamps are an alt hough peaking in the red spect rum, difficult to achieve, and in most cases
excellent low- cost alternative . is highly ineffi cient and provides littl e th e plants wi ll either receive too little or
available light for aquarium plants. too much light. In addition , light levels
Other light sources may vary wi ldly throughout the year in
As well as fluorescent, halogen, and Natural sunlight northern and southern climates or an
mercury vapor lamps, there are other, At f irst glance, using natu ral light to incorrect balance may cause algal
less commonly used sources. Sodium illuminate aquarium plants seems an bloo ms. Sunlight does have advantages
lamps and blended spotlamps are two ideal solut ion; it is far brighter than in aquarium s w here light is blo cked from
reasonably good sources of light. fluorescent tube s, has a suitab le overhead, f or example from floating
Sodium lamps are efficient and long- spectrum, and is cost-free. How ever, plants. In thi s instance, sunlight through
lived altho ugh they do lack suitable blue there are disadvantages and generally a window wil l provide lowe r-growing
light and may need to be comb ined wi th speaking, you should avoid direct plants w it h additiona l light.

63
----------~------------- - ----------~---------------~

Lighting levels for aquarium plants

BRIGHT TO VERY BRIGHT Limnophila aquatica Bacopa monnieri
These plants require a high-intensity light for Limnophila indica Bacopa ro tundifolia
a large proporti on of daylight hours. In most Limnophila sessiliflora Barclaya longifolia
cases, fluorescent t ubes wi ll not provide Ludwigia brevipes Bolbitis heudelotii
sufficient light t o promote good growth. Use Ludw igia glandulos a Cabomba caroliniana
metal-halide or mercury vapor lamps. Ludwigia palustris any variety Cardamine Iyrata
Lysimachia nummularia Ceratoph yllum subme rsum
Micranthemum umbrosum Ceratopteris cornuta
Myriop hyllum aquaticum Crassula helmsii
Myriophyllum hipp uroides Crinum natans
Myriophyllum scabratum Crinum thaianum
Myriophyllum tube rculatum Cryptocoryne albida
Nesaea crassicaulis Cryptocoryne balansae
Nymp haea lotu s var. rubra Cryptocoryne beckettii
Nymphaea stellata Cryptocoryne ciliata
Nymp hoides aquatica Cryp tocoryne moehlmannii
Potamog eton crispus Cryptocoryne siamensis
Potamogeton gayii Cryptocoryne undulata
Rotala macrandra Cryptocoryne wen d tii
Rotala wa llichii Crypto coryne willisii
Ab ove: Red plants, such as this Myriophyllum Shinnersia rivularis Echinodorus amazon icus
tubercula tum, thrive in very bright light. Trapa natans Echinodorus bleheri
Echinodorus bolivianus
Alternanthera reineckii BRIGHT Echinodorus grandiflorus
Ammannia gra cilis M etal-halide or mercury Echin odorus horem anii
Bacopa monn ieri vapor lamps are still t he Echinod orus maj or
Blyxa echin osperma ideal choice for these
Blyxa j aponica plants although in Below: Echino dorus osiris is typical
Cabo mba aquatica aquariums less than 18 in of its gro up in needing
Cabom ba piauhy ensis (45 em) deep, two or bright light.
Cryp tocoryne parva th ree flu orescent t ubes
Didiplis diandra (w it h ref lectors) may
Echinodorus macrophyllus be sufficie nt. If t he
Eichh ornia azurea plants are densely
Eichhornia crassipes grouped t ogethe r, use
Eleocharis parvula metal-halide or mercury
Eusteralis stellata vapor lamps; if t hey are not
Fontinalis antipyretica and the re is plenty of open
Glossostigma elatinoides space, th en f luorescent tubes
Heteranthera zosterifolia wi ll be adequate .
Hydro cotyle sibth orpioides
Hydrocotyle verticillata Alternanthera reineckii
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Crispa' Anubias gracilis
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Strigosa' Ap onogeton boivin ianus
Hygrophila diffo rmis Ap on ogeton crispus
Hygrophila guianensis Apo nogeton ulvaceus
Hygroph ila stricta Apo nogeton undulatus
Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae Bacopa caroliniana

64
 PRACTICAL SECTION
l ighting the aquarium
I:=-~-=----~------- -- -----

Sagittaria platyphylla Ceratophyllum demersum

Sagittaria pusilla Crinum thaianum
Sagittaria subulata Cryptocoryne balansae
Salvinia auriculata Cryptocoryne cordata
Salvinia minima Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Salvinia natans Echinodorus cordifolius
Salvinia oblongifolia Echinodorus macrophyllus
Samolus valerandi Egeria densa
Saururus cernuus Vallisneria spiralis
Vallisneria americana
Vallisneria asiatica var. biwaensis UN DEMANDING OR SHADED
Vallisneria gigantea The plants in t his group are ideal for
Vallisneria tortifolia aquariums wi t h just one or tw o flu orescent
tubes. Some w ill live happi ly in a wi de range
MODERATE of light ing cond itions, ot hers prefer to be in
Above: The elegant strands of Ceratophyllu m These plants can be kept with two or th ree shaded areas or away from bright light.
demersum need only moderate tank lighting. f luorescent tubes and are relatively hardy
species. Alt hough some wi ll survive and grow Anubias barteri var. barteri
Echinodorus opacus under only one or two tub es (with reflecto rs), Anubias barteri var. nana
Echinodorus osiris t hey w ill not grow at an optim um rate and Anubias congensis
Echinodorus parviflorus may not show their f ull health . Mo st of the Anubias lanceolata
Echinodorus quadricostatus var. xinguensis plants in t his group wi ll do bett er w it h Aponogeton elongatus
Echinodorus tenellus brighter light, but Aponogeton madagascariensis
Echinodorus uruguayensis t hey do not require it. Cryptocoryne affinis
Eichhornia crassipes Cryptocoryne lutea
Eleocharis acicularis Anubias Cryptocoryne walkeri
Eleocharis vivipara angustifolia 'Afzelii' Lemna minor
Elodea canadensis Anubias gracilis Microsorium pteropus
Gymnocoronis spi/a nthoides Azalia caroliniana Spathiphyllum wallisii
Hemianthus callitrichoides Azalia filiculoides Vesicularia dubyana
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Hydroco tykleucocepha~
Hygrophila corymbosa
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Glabra'
Hygrophi/a corymbosa 'G racilis'
Hygrophi!a polysperma
Lagarosiphon major
Lemna trisulca
Limnobium laevigatum
Lobelia cardinalis
Ludwigia helminthorrhiza
Ludwigia repens M icrosorium pteropus is a
Marsilea hirsuta tough aquarium plant that will
Najas indica appreciate a shadyspot.
Nuphar japonica
Nymphaea lotus
Pistia stratiotes
Potamogeton mascarensis
Riccia f1uitans
Rotala rotundifolia

/
 Feeding aquarium plants
Plants require a number of organic and magnesium, nitro gen, oxygen, supply are carbon, magnesium,
mineral nutri ents in order to maintain phosphorus, sulphur, and potassium. phosphorus, sulphur, and potassium .
steady growth and good general health. Micronutrie nts are required only in very
Most of these nutr ients are required only small quantities and are often described Micronutrien ts
in tiny amounts but without t hem, vital as trace elements. Micronutr ients Although required in far lower
biological functions cannot be carried include boron , copper, manganese, quantit ies, micronutri ents are equally
out proper ly. Nutri ents can be considered molybdenum, chlorine, nickel, iron, and important to plant health . Wh ereas
as a plant's " diet" ; w ithout a proper diet, zinc. Bot h macro- and micronutrients are macronut rients are usually used for
health problems arise and the plant wi ll equally vital to the overall health of st ruct ural compone nts, such as cells,
become "ill." The num ber of nutrients aquat ic plants. prot eins, and fats, micronutrients are
th at any given plant requires is extensive used for cellular functions and th e
and can be provided in a number of Provid ing macronutrients activation of vital enzymes.
ways. Looking at the fu nction of various Many macronut rients are readily Micronu t rients can be considered as
nutrients, their availability in th e available in t he aquarium; for example, impo rtant for the correct" management
aquarium and assessi ng th eir import ance oxygen and hydrogen are normally and contro l" of plant biology. These
is a goo d w ay of devising a " shopping always present in more tha n sufficient " trace elements" can be fo und in many
list" fo r suitable sources of fertilization. quantit ies, while calcium and nitro gen liquid ferti lizers, as well as in most tap
are usually present. Calcium is only water sources, alth ough th ey are often
Macro- and micronutrients found at low levels in very soft w ater, used up quickly in aquariums bot h by
Plant nutr ients are often described as and nit rogen can be absorbed by plants plants as nutri ents and through bindin g
macro- or micron utrients, depending in t he form of nitrates and ammonium, to organic molecules.
on the quantities of a particula r nutrient which are normally present as a result of
required by a plant. Macronut rients biological filtration or from fish/o rganic Tapwater
are required in t he greatest quantities; waste. Therefore, the only macronutr ients Although tap w ater is a goo d source of
these include calcium, carbon, hydrogen, that th e aquarist normally needs t o many micronutrients, its qualities vary a

Left: Many Echinodorus species require high

amounts of iron. Pale leaves are a maj or
indication of a lack of iron, although a lack
of other nutrients may also be to blame.

OTHE R NUTR IENTS

Whenyou come to select suitable nutrient
mixes, bear in mind that some fertilizers
include other micronutrients that are not
essential for aquaticplantsand need not
be added to the aquarium. Some terrestrial
plants may require these nutrients for
functions that are not present in aquatic
plants, such as nitrogen fixation (obtaining
nitrogen from the atmosphere). These
nutrients include sodium, silicon, iodine,
and cobalt. Aquatic plants do not need
these nutrients.
II

66
 PRA CTI CAL SECTION
Feeding aquarium plants

great deal depending on location . Tap Chelated nutrients

water sources vary in hardn ess, acidity, Nutrients held in
and metal toxicity and sho uld be the substrate are
checked before use in a planted often stripped of
aquarium. Hard wat er generally provides
more nut rients, and regular small w ater
changes will keep the se nutrients at
/
Many nutrients in
oxygen by
anaerobic bacteria.
These nutrients
suitable levels for most aquatic plants . the water willbind then bind with
The use of tap w at er should depend on with oxygen and organic chelates
the preferences of the plants in the other elements, found in the
aquarium and w het her they are becoming too substrate, making
softwater or hardwater species. In either large to pass them easy for
case, it is usually best to use tap wa ter through the plant's plants to assimilate.
(rather than reverse-osmosis semipermeable
or rainwater) at least part ially as a source membrane. These
of nutrients in a planted aquarium . nutrients are of no
use to plants.
Hardwater and softwater plants
Depending on w here individual plant
species occur in nature, the y are adapted
to the quantities of nutrient s in that Chelated nutrients are

\
area. The major factor that affects t he normally present only
quantity of nutr ients is w ater hardness, in large numbersin
which, in tap wa te r, shou ld not be the water when an
confused w ith pH and acidity/alkalinity. artificial chelate or liquid fertilizer is
Aquatic plants f rom hardwater areas added. These nutrients are small The roots of the plant extend deep into the
require more calcium, magn esium, and enough to be taken in by plant substrate and release chemicals that aid the
potassium than softwate r plants, leaves above the substrate. assimilation of nutrients.
because these elements are present in
higher quantities in hard wa ter. On th e, continually add carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), How ever, so me may quickly bond w it h
other hand, softw ater plants are w ell w hich is the on ly nutri ent that may be other elements, making larger molecules
adapted to cope in water wi th low levels in short supply for softwater plants. It is that are unavailable to plants. They may
of these nutrient s and do not need so more difficult to keep hardw ater plants also need to be supplied in quantity in
much. Some nutrients, including many in soft water than th e oth er way around, the substrate or add itionally through
of the micronutr ients, are less available so if you have a mixtur e of hard and liq uid ferti lizers.
in hard w ater because t hey are more softw ater species, it is best to augment a The major difference between liquid
likely to form meta l oxides and becom e moderatel y hardw ater source w it h CO2 , and substrate fertil ization is that liquid
unavailable as nutrients. In th is case, In th is mixed environ ment, th e majority fertilizers may need t o be replaced
hardwater plants in the aquarium wi ll of plants should do we ll. we ekly or every tw o wee ks, w hereas
require less of t hese nutrients because substrate fertili zers are norma lly present
they are better adapted to maximize Sources of nutrients for longer period s. The subst rate in the
their uptake of them . In th e aquarium, nut rients can be aquarium acts as a " storag e" facility fo r
Generally speaking, the majority of supplied to plants fro m a num ber of some nutrient s. The lack of high oxygen
aquarium plants come fro m softwa ter sources. Because plants take up nutrients levels and w ater movement in a compact
areas, so most aqu arists w ill try to both through th eir leaves and t he roots, substrate wil l prevent nutri ents f rom
recreate softwater condit ions w hen nutrients shoul d be made available in being moved around , oxidated, bonded
keeping aquatic plants t o ensure th at th e subst rat e and the w ate r. wi th carbona t es, or otherwise made
they are able to obtain all the nutrient s M icronut rients, or tr ace elements, are unavailable to plants. In addition, the
they require. Howe ver, softwater plants only needed in small amounts and are high amount of organic matt er in most
can be kept in hard water, providing you often present in mo st tap w at er supplies. subst rates w ill allow natura l chelates t o

67
Above: Many fish foods are high in nutrient
con tent, and once the foo d has been broken
down , these nutrients are available for plants
to use. Many of the nutrients in fish food are
likely to have originated in plant matter.

Righ t: Small fish digest foo d quick ly,

excreting a large majo rity of the food 's
"useful" elements. Both fish and plants
benefit from the fact tha t plants use fish
waste as a source of fertilization.

bond w it h nutrients (see page 67), for most plants. Never be tempted to w aste to build up in the substrate, it w ill
allowin g a large quant ity of nut rients to overfeed , how ever, as left over, rotti ng natur ally become a "sink" for tr app ing
be present, whi le a slow release reduces food w ill create a number of prob lems and slow ly releasing nutri ent s
the amo unt of available nut rient s. in th e aquarium . indefin itely. Reg ular small wa ter changes
Substrate fertilization can be achieved and liquid iron fe rtilizat ion should be
through the use of proprietary substrate Nutrient-rich substrates enough to cont inually recharge an
mixes or localized tablet fertilizers. Ready-made, nutri ent-rich addit ives are est ablished subst rat e incorporati ng a
wid ely available and usually designed as nutri ent-rich add itive.
Fish food a main substrat e, or to be mixed w ith a
All higher organisms are made up f rom small-grade inert substrate. These Soil-based substrates
the same basic elements. It therefore substrates are high in many of the Although you must exercise caut ion
fo llow s th at fish food, w hich is nutrients required by plants and not w hen using soil-based subst rates (see
manufactu red mainly from living commonly available thro ugh other page 43), it is neverth eless tru e that soil
orga nisms (usually fi sh in the case of sources (tap w ater, natural processes, contains a large quantity of many
dry foods, such as f lake, tablet, or pellet etc.). In an established aquarium, most nutri ent s-far more than are produ ced
foods ) cont ains almost all the nutrients of th ese nutri ents are released slow ly through other fertilization meth ods.
required by plants as w ell as f ish. Most over long periods of time, making Apart fro m carbo n, chlorine, hydrogen,
of these elements are excreted by the nutrient-rich subst rates an ideal long- nickel, and oxygen, soil will provide every
fi sh and then become available to plant s term fertilizing solutio n. Most nutrie nt- other n utr ient required by aquatic plant s
as nut rients. Many fish f oods are rich subst rates w ill begin to run out of for a number of years. Because
part icularly high in phosphate and nut rient s aft er only two to three years. hydrogen, chlorine, nickel, and oxygen
potassium, and in a w ell-fed aquarium, How ever, if you carry out regular small can be readily ob tained f rom t he water,
may provide enough of th ese nut rients w at er changes and allow some organic it is possible to use just soil and CO2 as a

68
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Feeding aquarium plan ts

complete f ertilizing solution . During Many of th e nutrients in liqu id f erti lizers

the first 6-12 months of soil use in the w ill becom e unusable aft er a short
aquarium, carbon is also prod uced as period, usually th rou gh bindi ng wi t h
CO2 in sufficient quant ities to make oth er elements or through oxidation.
additional CO2 fert ilization unw arranted . For th is reason it is important to dose
the aquar ium on a regular basis,
Liquid fertilizers norma lly w eekly or every two weeks .
Several " off -the-shelf" liq uid ferti lizers
are available for aquatic plants, but the y Tablet fertilizers
should be used w it h caut ion because Tablet fe rtilizers provide a localized
over-fertilization can cause prob lems supply of nutri ents. They are
with algae and metal to xicity. Generally concentrated forms of nutri ent- rich
speaking, you get w hat you pay for subst rat e additives and part icularly high
when you buy liquid fert ilizers; some in iron. Some faster-growing plant s use
of the more specialized products are far vast amo unts of iron, and supplying a
more valuable and contain the cor rect concentrat ed source at the roots w ill
quantities of t he required nutr ient s help to prevent iron deficiency probl ems.
without oversupplying or lacking some Deficiencies in ot her plants, which may
elements. not be able to comp ete fo r available iron
Liquid ferti lizers can be particularl y as qu ickly, wi ll also be reduced or
useful in supplying chelated iron to the prevented . Do not use tab lets as a
aquarium. Although iron is a micro- "whole-aquarium" solut ion to universal
nutrient and needed on ly in small fe rtilizat ion or iron fertil ization, but on ly Above: Liquid fertilization is a useful method
quantities, it is often unavailable in to provide an addit ional source of of short-term fertiliza tion, although correct
the aquarium unless it is provided in a nutrients for individual plants. Tablets dosage is imp ortant. Pour the measured dose
chelated form that will slowly release are not required, even locally, w hen soil- into the water. Adding too much often
a usable form of iron over long periods. based substrates are used. causes more pro blems than adding too little.

Right: A thin layer

of nutrient-rich
substrate at the level
of the lower half of
the roots will
provide a valuable
long-term source of
nutrients for all the
rooted plants in the
aquarium display.

69
- - - - ------------_.

Carbon dioxide fertilization essential. Furthermore, the air/water

In most planted aquariums, CO2 exchange in an aquarium cont inually
f ertil ization is essential for good plant releases a large quantity of CO2 into
health and is often the limiting factor in t he atmosp here that must be replaced.
overall growth . Without adequate levels Because CO2 is a gas, it is not
of CO2, plants cannot photosynthes ize possible to introduce it into th e
effectively and therefore cannot produce aquarium through conventiona l means,
the energy needed to perform basic such as by w ay of liquid or substrate
physiological functions. There are several fertili zers. Various devices designed to
ways of int roducing CO2 into the introduce CO2 into t he aquarium are
aquar ium . It is created naturally through available fo r hobb yists and t hese
fish and plant respirat ion, but mostly by includ e tho se using tablets that slowly
bacteria as they break down organ ic release CO2 , slow-release chemical
matter. Many soil-based and established reactors, and pressurized CO2 cylinders
substrates w ill continua lly release CO2, t hat can be adjust ed and set by t imers.
which can be used by aquatic plants. All th ese syst ems int roduce CO2 gas
However, t he quantities produ ced by directly into the aquarium w at er. The
t hese processes are minimal and would aim is to keep the gas in contact with
not be enough for heavily planted tank s. the water long enough for it to be
This is w hy additional fertil ization is available for plant s to absorb.

Simple methods of CO2 fertilization

Ab ove: In this chemical-
Tablets and powders tha t based system, a reaction
produce CO2 w hen added A chemical reaction is CO2 collects between two compo unds in
to water provide the activated inside this under the a plastic con tainer gradually
wo rking principle for a disposable container, "b ell" and is releases CO2, w hich is
range of simple CO2 which releases CO2 over absorbed in to absorbed by the water. These
fertiliza tion techniq ues. a month at a steady rate. the wa ter. aquarium carbo nators are
effective but inexpensive and
simple to install in the tank .
Slow-release
CO2 tablets Slow-release CO2 and
potassium tablets
Slo w-release CO2 and
manganese tablets

This powder is
used to start the
reaction inside
the uni t.

These tablets slowly dissolve, producing - -

CO2 . Replace th em w hen fully dissolved.

70
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Feeding aquarium plants

How CO2 cylinder fertilization works The aquarium lights provide an

energy source for photosyn thesis.

This valve closes when the lights are

off, preventing the release of CO2 gas.

Cylinder systems can be

connected to a light timer
so that gas is only released
wh en the lights are
switched on. Plants have
no use for CO2 at night
and an excess at night can
harm the aquarium.

The cylinder contains

compressed CO2 gas,
which is released at a
controlled rate via a
regulator. The two dials
indicate the release rate
and the pressure of th e
gas in the cylinder, w hich
reflects the amount of The bu bb le counter allows tiny CO2
gas remaining. bu bbles to travel slowly up ward,
allowing maximu m time for the gas
to diffuse into the wa ter.

Right: Cylinders containing compressed CO2

are ideal for larger aquarium s and long-term
CO2 fertilization . The gas produced is sent to
a bubbl e counter, where it is kept in
contact with the water for an
extended time.

Conn ectors and

valves are standard
fit and suitab le for
all systems.

Right: Carbon dioxide gas enters at the

bo ttom of this diffuser, or bubble coun ter.
A fter a runnin g-in p eriod of abo ut 48 hours,
the bubbles stabilize and become smaller as
they rise and release CO2 gas int o the water.

71
 , { • , I ' ~ / ' '' ,' ~
, /, y .... ... ...

_______-'o.i.I.

Macronutrients Carbon
Carbon is used by all living organisms as a basic structural
These nut rients are used in the greatest quanti ty by "building block " and makes up 40-50% of a plant's dry
aquarium plants and are vital to many plant functions. biological mass. In terms of quantity, carbon is by far the
W itho ut them , plant s w ould be unable to grow, most importan t nutrient. Plants ob tain carbon from carbon
repair, or maintain healt hy t issue. dioxide (C0 2), whic h is broken down into oxygen (0 2) and
carbon thro ugh the process of photosynthesis. Although
Calcium plants need oxygen as well as carbon, the amount of oxygen
Calcium is a vital element used by plants in the formation of required compared to carbo n is minu te, so the maj ority of
cell wall structure and to mainta in cell permeability. It may oxygen is expelled as gas bubble s from the leaves.
also activate some enzymes. Although calcium is present in CO2 is a gas, so the amount present in a body of water is
sufficient quantities in most wa ter supplies, it may be affected by the air/water exchange. If a body of water is
deficient if only rainwater or reverse osmosis water is used highly agitated at the surface, then the air/water gas
in the aquari um. M any gravel-based substrates (other than exchang e is increased and the level of CO2 in the water will
quartz substrates) contain some calcium and this, combined rise or drop, depending on the level of CO2 in the immediate
w ith at least a partial use of tap water, should pro vide atmosphere. For plan ts to obtain enough CO2 from the
sufficient quantities o f calcium for the majority of plants. In water, the level of CO2 needs to be much higher than
most cases, calcium sho uld not be added artificially to the normal atmospheric' levels allow. This means that it must be
aquarium, as an excess will limi t the availability of other introduced into the water from an in ternal source (i.e., not
nutrients and raise water hardness. However, many plants from the surro unding air). In nature and in the aquarium,
from naturally hardwater areas will require higher levels of CO2 is introduced into the water as a result of the
calcium. Due to the fact that it is readily available in breakdown of organic waste by bacteria and by plant and
their natural environment, these "hardwater" plants animal respiration.
are not evolved to collect calcium efficiently in Plants can acquire the CO2 they need by a numb er of
low-level conditions. methods, including direct uptake from the substrate throu gh
the roots, direct uptake from the wate r through leaves,
Calcium is essential for basic plant "recycling" of respired CO2 , and thro ugh the breakdown of
structure and particularly bicarbonates in the water. Al though the concentration of
important for p lants from CO2 is highest in the substrate (due to the large amount of
hardwater areas. This Crinum organic matter) it does not diffuse readily and therefore is
natans wi ll thrive in no t always available in large quantities in the immediate
medium wa ter vicinity of the plant roots . The easiest way for plants to
hardn ess levels. obtain CO2 is directly from the surro unding water and
through the leaves. In some aquariums, CO2 levels are
sufficient for good p lant growth, although in most cases
growth is limited by the amount of CO2
present. Usually, it is necessary to
introduce additional CO2 to
maximize photosynthesis and
hence the amount of carbon
Hydrogen available to the plants. There
Hydrogen is used as water (H20), mainly as are several methods of
a structural component to fill cells, provide introdu cing CO2 to
support, and as a means of transporting the water and these
pro perties throughou t the plant. Clearly, are discussed on
hydroge n as H2 0 is easily available in the pages 70- 71.
aquarium and there is no need to add more.

72
 - _ __ " ; _0- - _-:... -

PRACTICAL SECTION
Feeding aquarium plants

Nitrogenous wastes produced

by fish are a major source of
nitrogen compounds in the
aquarium . Plants absorbing -------------- .-------
these can help to keep the water
safe for animal life. I I
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is one of the major nutrients required by all plants,
both aquatic and terrestrial, for strong growth and good
Magnesium health. It is used mainly in the production of proteins and
Magnesium is a vital macronutrient for all plants with a part "'-""-'-'''''-nucleic acids and makes up about 7-2% of a plant's dry
to play in numerous important functions, and an important weight. Plants do not take up nitrogen in its "raw " gas state
'. , ., !
ingredient in chlorophyll.
li. .. '
Magnesium is also used to activate
~
(N2) but can obtain it in a number of forms, including
enzymes that / orm vital tats, oils, and starch. Magnesium is a ammonia (NH3), ammonium (NH4 +), nitrite (N0 2- ) and
"hardwater" nutrient an& often f ound in levelsproportionate nitrate.'(N037). Most plants take up nitrogen in the form of
,. .. ' , . ': ' ~. .' - ~ . ..... " ,:"
. . .~

to calcium /f}vels. However, levels otmagnesium in tap water amrnoniuma'i,tJ nitrates, and although the preference varies
varJ! a gre~t qegl depend)ng on lotal cont/itians, so it is accardingto'sgecies, ammonium is mainly preferred to
difficult to
i
knowwheth~! aCiditioflal fertilizatio Q is needed nitrafes .•Themain reason for this is that plants use
Water authorities o(ten provide rea'dingsbf quantities in ammonium to synthesize proteins, and if nitrogen is
the 10caltapwater;arJdtest kifsar~>available.to measure absorbed as nitrates, the plant must expend energy
levelsof magnesium. The ideall'tveLot rT25!gn~sium in a converting the nitrates back into ammonium. In the
planted aquarium should be l boup.s- 2 5 .mgtliter, although aquarium, ammonium is produced by fish in waste matter
many plants live outside this range in nature . In general, and as a result of the decomposition of organic materials. It
there is usually sufficient magnesium in tap water in is normally converted first into nitrites and then into nitrates
hardwater areas. Using a nutrient-rich substrate additive or by the bacteria in a biological filter. Many plants will take up
soil-like substrate should provide a constant release of ammonium before the filter bacteria are able to convert it,
magnesium into the water. Alternatively, you can use although the two are both in competition for the
liquid fertilizers, which are especially recommended ammonium. However, do not be tempted to reduce the
for softwater aquariums. Many liquid fertilizers biological filtration with the aim of increasing the amount
contain magnesium sulphate (better known as of ammonium available to plants . In soft, acidic water,
Epsom salts), which is ideal, as it provides both ammonium is not dangerous to fish but in hard water with
magnesium and sulphur. Bear in mind that an a pH above 7, ammonium is converted into ammonia , which
excess of magnesium in the water is highly toxic to both fish and plants, making biological
will inhibit the uptake of other filtration even more important in hardwater aquariums .
nutrients, particularly potassium. Plants rely heavily on nitrates rather than ammonium as a
In fact, potassium deficiency is source of nitrogen in hardwater aquariums. Although plants
often due to an excess of will often use nitrates only in quantity once the ammonium
magnesium. source is depleted, bear in mind that nitrates are a much
safer source of nitrogen where fish are concerned, esp ecially
~ ~:~·I
in harder water. Many liquid fertilizers contain nitrates as a
:'~::- "
nutrient ingredient, but it is important to keep a check on
nitrate levels within the aquarium. In most cases, plants can
Tap water from obtain enough nitrogen from natural levels of nitrates
hardwater areas has produced as an end result of the biological filtration of
high levels of mineral aquarium waste (mainly from fish and, indirectly, fish food) .
salts and is a good Nitrate is easy to test for in the aquarium and many simple
source of magnesium test kits are available for this purpose . Ideally, nitrate levels
and calcium. should be kept below 25 mgtliter. Many tropical aquarium
fish can cope with levels higher than this, but in natural
conditions plants rarely experience levels above 2 mgtliter,
and levels above 30 mgtliter may be harmful.

73
Macronutrients
Oxygen
Oxygen is taken up by plants in its gaseous form (0 2),

J
as water (HP) and as carbon dioxide (C0 2), Oxygen is
a vital structural compo nent of cells and used during
pho tosyntnesis, although it is alsoa waste product of
photosynthesis. Plan ts obta in the majority of their oxygen Phosphoru: ls
throuJ h their roots and from respiration . (It is also released mainly absorbed /
from the roots .) A quatic plants have large internal through the
"channels" that make up a high propo rtion of their roo ts, here o f ~ .
structure. These are used for transporting oxygen aro und Crinum ~
the plan t, most notably to the roots. Once oxygen is th aianum
transported to, and released by, the roots, it combines with
carbon and/or organic elements within the substrate,
creating CO2 , which is taken up for photosynthesis.
Releasing oxygen aro und the roots also helps to pre vent
localized anaerobic conditions, which can damage roo ts.
Despite this high usage and waste of oxygen, plants Phosphorus
do not do well in high-oxygen conditions and requi re only a Phosphorus plays a vital role in energy transfer and is an
small dissolved oxygen (0 .0.) con tent. This is because when imp ortant "ingredient" of genetic compounds and enzymes.
dissolved oxygen levels are high, a numb er of nutrients, HealtHy Dot development and flower formation also depend
especially iron (Fe), bind with oxygen and become too large on phosphorus availability within the plan t. Phosphorus is
to be assimilated by plants. High oxygen levels prevent taken up by giants throu gh the roots in the form of
plants from obtaining oth er vital nutrients in sufficient phosphate (PD4- ), which is present in the substrate at much
quantities. During the day, plan ts pho tosynthesize and higher levels than in the wa ter. This is because ph osphate will
produce w aste oxygen, so there are never oxygen- react with metal oxides - no tably iron oxide - more frequently
deficiency problems at this time. The only time when in open water, creating insoluble forms, such as iron
oxygen becomes low is at night, when p lants do no t ph osphate, that cannot be used by plants. In open water,
pho tosynthesize but continue to use up oxygen through there is greater movement and mixing, hence the increased
a heavily planted aquarium wi th lit tle wa ter
respiration. In likelihood of contact betwee n phosphates and m etal oxides.
mo vement or a large number of floating plants, the This con tact does not occur as often in the substrate, where
air/water gas exchange is reduced and oxygen levels may phosphate remains in a usable form. In some cases, CO2
drop severely. However, levels rarely drop too low for produced by the roots dur ing respiration can break down
plants, although they may drop below the levels needed by the bon ds with in insoluble phospha te compounds and allow
fish. In most cases, it is not necessary to provide oxygen phospha tes to become available for plant uptake.
and/or aeration in p lanted aquariums. Phosphate is often present in fish food, so levels are rarely
deficient in the aquarium. In an average aquarium ph osphate
levels are frequently 1- 3 mg /liter, wh ile in natural conditions
Adding levels are normally only abou t 0.005- 0.02 mg/liter. Low
oxygen phosphate levels are no t normally a concern, but high levels
thro ugh can encou rage algae to bloom. To grow strongly, algae require
phosphat e levels above 0.03 mg/liter; since these levels are
usually exceeded in the aquarium, algae bloo ms are often the
result. Under norm al conditions, most ph osphate is "locked
away" in the substrate and unavailable to algae. There
should be no need to add phospha te to a planted aquarium,
although it may be p resent in some nutrient -rich and soil-
based substrates.

74
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Feeding aquarium plants

Flo ating plants, such as this

Potassium Salvinia natans, are ideally placed
Potassium is a very impo rtant plant nutrient that to receive light and nutrients.
should not De ignored in a planted aquarium. It is a
key component of a plant 's biological systems and
used in protein synthesis, the opening and closing of
\
stomata (pores), seed developm ent, root pro duction,
disease resistance, and photosynthesis. A po tassium
defiCiency creates an o verall w eakness in a plant's
development and appea rance and also impedes
ph otosynthesis.
Plants absorb potassium as an ion (K+) from the I
water, rather than from the substrate, desp ite the fact
that both in nature and in the aquarium, most
po tassium leaches from the soil or substrate. We do
not entirely understand why this should be 50, but Sulphur
allowing potassium to remain in the substrate may Sulphur is used in the production of amino acids,
increase the availability of ammonium to plant roo ts. pro teins, and chlorophyll, and is normally present in
As tap water contains very small quantities of adequate quantities in tap w ater. Plants absorb sulph ur
potassium, it is impo rtant to introduce it artificially to in the form of sulphate (SOi-), and many aquatic soil-
the aquarium, either by means of a liquid fertilizer or, based substrates contain sulphate in quantities that are
more commonly, as one of the ingredients contained quite adeq uate for most plants. Some fertilizers also
in nutrien t-rich or soil-based substrates. Potash contain forms of sulpha te. Rainwa ter also contains
and/or relatively high levels of sulpha te, but these levels
granite vary considerably One of the main reasons
dust are why you should be cautious about using
often mixed rainwater in the aquarium is the high level
with nutrient-rich of sulphur that can be present during the first
substrates to pro vide few minutes of rainfall. Sulphur in its raw form is a
potassium . dangerous chemical and should not be introduced
into the aquarium in large quantities.

Anubias grows best

attach ed to rocks or
bogwood, w here its
roots can absorb
nutrients such as
sulphates directly
from the wa ter.

75
 -------~------ -----------------4

Micron utrients Chlorine Copper

Chlorine is absorbed by plants in the Plants absorb copper as an ion (Cu2+), both
These nutri ents are required only in form of chloride (0-) ions and is used from the water and the substrate, although
extrem ely small quantities and are often for osmosis, ionic balance, and also in humic acids and organics in the substrate
described as " t race elements." They photosynthesis. Chloride is normally often bind wi th copper and other metals,
play important roles in t he biochemica l present in sufficient quantities in making them unavailable for plant upta ke.
processes tha t sustain life and are vital tap water (even after the use of Copper is a key part of enzymes that facilitate
for goo d plant health. dechlorinators), so sho uld no t present respiration, but is only needed in tiny amou nts
any nutritional problem s for plants. by plants. Additional fertilization wi th copper
Boron is no t required. Inaeed, in most cases, tap
Boron is absorbed by plan ts in the form of water contains far. more copper than p lants
borate (BO/-) and is required for cellular Nickel require, but since they have little or no control
membrane function, root growth, Aquatic plants use nickel as an ion over how much they absorb, they simply take
carbohydrate transport, metabolic (Nib) in extremely tiny amo unts in up wha tever is available. If they absorb too
regulation, and flower production . Aquatic ttte production of the enzyme urease mu ch, the result is metal toxicity, typically
fert ilizers often contain boron in the form (which breaks Gown th e nitrogenous resulting in brown spots and tissue breakup .
of borate or borax (sodium borate) and it compound urea into ammonia). It is Copper is occasionally used in treatmen ts
is also present in most tap wa ter sources. normally present in tap wa ter and soil to con trol parasites or algae, so use
Normally, boron deficiency is unlikely to or in nutrient-based substrates. Nickel these with care.
occur in the aquarium and the nutrient is deficiencies or excesses should not The maxim um safe level of copper
not considered a vital additional source of occur under the vast majority of in water is much high er for humans:
fertilization. aquarium conditions. 7.3 ppm (parts per million, equivalent to
mg/lit er) than for fish: 0.02 ppm. For this
Iron reason, plan ts offer themselves as a vital
Iron is an impo rtant micron utrient used in Tiny quantities of resource for redu cing copper concentrations
respiration, enzyme production, and chlorophyll micronutrients are in the aquarium, w hich may be at dang erous
synthesis. Plants will absorb iron bo th through needed by aquarium levels for fish if the wa ter is sourced from tap
their roo ts and leaves. As a nu trient, iron is most plants, such as this water. Plants are sometimes used exclusively
useful to plants in the ion form Fe2 +, although in Echinodorus 'Rubin' for the purpose of removing copper and other
the p resence of oxygen i t converts into narrow leaves. dangero us metals.
Fe3+, which is difficultfor plants to
assim ilate. This problem can be overcome by
using chelates or chelated iron. (Chelates are
dissolved organic substances that bind to metals
and p revent them from forming larg er molecules
through oxidatio n.) The most common chelate
used in fertilizers is fOTA, which is often used to
supply chelated iron (FeEDTA). Fe 2 + is then slow ly
released by the chelated iron and becomes
available to plants.
Although iron - or; more precisely,
chelated iron - is heavily p romoted as a
vital plant fertilizer; there is a plentiful
supp ly in soil-based or nutrient-rich substrates.
Iron and natural organic chelates, comb ined with
a low -oxygen substrate, ensure that iron is always
present in an available form. Mo st aquatic
fertilizers contai n iron and chelates and should
always be used in aquariums withou t soil-based
substrates.

76
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Feeding aquarium plants

Manganese
Manganese is absorbed as an ion (Mn 2+)
through the roots and leaves of aquatic NUTRIE NT DEFICIEN CIE S AND EXCE SSES
plants. It activates enzymes used in An excess or deficiency of one or mo re signs of excess begin to show The same
chlorophyll pro duction and p hotosynthesis. nutrients can cause problems to both fish process works in reverse; faster-growing
Rlants require relatively low levels of and plants in the aquarium . Because plants plants w ill show signs of nutrient
manganese, but it is still an important have no control over the amo unts of some deficiencies before slow-growing plants,
micronutrient. In most cases, manganese is of the nutrients they absorb (such as wh ich have higher reserves.
present in tap wa ter in sufficien t quantities, copper) excesses can cause fundame ntal Plants will generally take up more
but fertilizing with a liqui d fertilizer will problems within individual cells that in nutrients than they need and simply ..
ensure that plants do not suffer a turn affect th e entire plant. Providing a store them in the cell tissue for later use. ••
manganese deficiency. correct balance of nutrients without Problems occur when the storage capacity I
supplying too much or too little of any of a plant is exceeded and the nutrient
particular nutrient is very difficult. The buildup becomes toxic, affecting the
levels of most nutrients cannot be easily function of cells. For example, a buildup
determined and the only way to j udge of iron manifests itself in the form of
whether there is a nutrient pro blem is to brown spo ts on the leaves. These are
observe the health of the plants. literally deposits of iron that have collected
Aqua rium fish Deficiencies can be spotted in many ways, in one area. Over time, further deposits
(here Apistogramma mainly in the form of slow or defo rmed prevent the cells in that area from
agassizi) are very sensitive to copp er in the gro wth, alterations in the color of leaves, funct ioning properly and the affe cted
water, which plants can help to reduce. or a breakdown of cell structure. They may area dies back.
only affect some plants due to differences Many nutrient problems take the form of
Molybdenum in individual nutrient requirements . yellowing of the leaf tissue - chlorosis -
Molybdenum isan impo rtant nutrient for Sometimes, a deficiency of one nutrient caused by a lack of chlorophyll.
aquatic plants . It isa component of an can be caused by an excess of another. In Chlorosis occurs when a plant is
enzyme used by plants to reauce nitrates this instance, the nutrient present in unable to produce normal
(NOF) 'nto ammonium (NH4+) for protein excess "comp etes" with the second amoun ts of chlorophyll due
synthesis, and is especially imp ortant in nu trient preventing it from being to a lack of nutrients. Since
hardwater conditions, where litt le or no absorbed by the plant and chlorophyll is used for
ammonium is available as a source of causing a deficiency. photosynthesis, a lack of it
nitrogen. Plants absorb molybdenum in the A good indicator of ~ pre vents this vital process
form of molybdate (M o0 4 2- ). This is available whether a particular problem and affects every aspect
in tap water, but additional fertilization with is caused by an excess or a of a plant's health. Many
substrate, tablet or liquids will ensure deficiency of a nutrient can nutrients are'used in
sufficient levels in the aquarium. be seen in the difference th e production and
in symp toms between correct fun ctioning of
slow-growing and chlorophyll, so chlorosis
Zinc faster-gro wing plants. can be used asa general
Zinc, an imp ortant nutrient for overall plant If there is an excess of a indicator of nu trient
...._...;.h'"ealth,
:J is a component of many enzymes certain nutrient, faster- problems in the aquarium.
and is involved in chI rophyll formation. growing plants may not
Zinc is taken up in its nutrient form (Zn2 +) be affected because they
tnrough the leaves and roots . At high can essentially 'dilute' the The yello w areas
concentrations it is toxic to both fish and nutrient through fast on this leaf may
plants, although sensib le use of liqu id production of new leaves. be signs of
fertilizers should ensure that these do no t Slow-gro wing plants have no poisoning or a •
occur. Traces of zinc at levels high enough choice bu t to increase th eir deficiency of iron.
for aquatic plants are present in tap water, buildup of the nutrient until
liquid fertilizers, and nutrient-rich substrates.

77
Propagating aquarium plants
In a healthy aquarium environment, plant. Sexual propagation requires two transfer pollen from the stamen (male)
many common aquarium plants will or more plant s to produce flowers above to th e st igmas (female) using a fine
propagate themselves without any the water surface, and alt hough this art ist's brush. In some cases pollen can
intervent ion from t he fishkeeper. Other does occur in t he aquarium if t he be used to f ertilize th e same plant from
plants, ofte n t hose w ith cent ral stems, environmenta l conditions are favorable, w hich t he pollen was taken, t hus
can be propagated by a number of it is diff icult to control. First you must creating seeds with an ident ical genetic
artificial methods . Propagat ion is a good encourage the plants to produce the makeup.
way of increasing the number of plants strong aerial stems on w hich the flowers If pollination is successful and seeds
in the aquarium, as well as replacing old w ill be borne, so provide a w ell- are produced, plant them up
or tattered ones. vent ilated area above the aquarium and immediately, as ofte n th ey do not last
below th e light unit. Most plants t hat long before starting to germinate. In
Sexual propagation can produce aerial flowers wi ll eventua lly many cases, it is bette r to plant t he
In the wi ld, many aquatic plants do so, althoug h t his does depend on the seeds in damp soil, rat her than
reproduce sexually, much like terrestrial w ater level , w hich may have to be submerged in water, and grow
plants, by producing flowe rs and seeds, low ered f or some species. Most stem the m out of w ater unt il
or spores. When a flower is pollinated plants and lilies wil l produce flowers in the seedlings are /'
w ith the pollen f rom anothe r plant of the aquarium under the right conditions. about 4 in (10
th e same species, a viable seed is Once th e flow ers are produced t hey em) tall. Then
produced with the potential to grow must be pollinated . In natu re, insects are you can transfer
into a new plant. The combination of responsible for th e transfer of pollen, them to
genetic information from the two parent both in aquatic and terrestrial plants, but aquarium
plants w ill produce a genet ically different to carry out the process artificially, condition s.
:
Right: The flowers
of some aquarium
plants are quite
stunning in design.
Spathiphyllum wallisii
produces blooms that are
robust and well able to
withstand environmental
pressures, both above
and below the water.

Above: The flowers of this Bacopa

monnieri are produced above water and
will be fertilized by insects, much like
terrestrial plants. This plant can also be
propagated by cuttings and side shoots.

78
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Propagating aquarium plants

Propagatin g aquarium p lan t s from seeds

As the seeds begin to sp rout, As the new plants gro w, raise
The seeds of most add a little water, so that the the water level so that the
aquatic plants are quite leaves are just covered. Some leaves remain covered. Once
delicate and need no t be aquatic plants can be grown the seedling s have at least four
planted deep in the from seed above water, but or five leaves and are about
substrate. Simp ly sprinkle they may not acclimatize 4 in (70 cm) high, they can
them onto damp soil. quickly to the aquarium. be mo ved into the aquarium.

.
.•
I

Asexual propagation quickly produce roots and new leaves,

The majority of aquatic plants propagate eventua lly anchor ing in t he subst rate
themselves asexually, both in nature and and becoming comp letely formed adult
in t he aquarium. In asexual reproduction, plants. The runners betwee n th e parent
the parent plant produces" daughter" and new adult plants may break down
plants th at are genetically identical. or stay attached and cont inue to grow
Although asexual reproduction occurs new slips. Each new slip produces a new
frequently in healthy, mature plants, you segment so that a chained runner
can encourage th e process and ensure develops, rather t han a long, single one.
the survival of new plants. To remove a daughter plant, cut and
shorten the runn er and tri m th e roots on
Natural aquarium propagation the new plant before replant ing it. The
Aquarium plants reproduce naturally new plant should be at least a quarter of
by means of runn ers, offsets, and the size of t he adult plant befo re it is
adventitious plantlets. removed. Detaching daughte r plants
may prevent th e runner from continuing
Runners Runners are hor izontal to produce new slips. A good method of
branches produced at th e base of th e selecting new plants is to allow the
plant t hat develop daughte r plant s runner to produce severa l slips and t hen
(called slips) at t he ends. The root like remove and replant the healthiest and/or
runners normally grow just above, or fastest -growing ones.
Above: Barclaya longifolia (the orchid lily) somet imes just below, t he surface of the Ma ny floating plants also produce
can be propagated only by seed. At this substrate and may continue to extend, new plants on runners, although the se
stage, the seeds are ready to be removed producing slips along t he runner at should be left attached until the runner •
and sown in damp substrate. Most should intervals of about 2.4-6 in (6- 15 cm). breaks down naturally. This w ill happen
sprout and produce new plants, w hich can The new slips obta in the majority of their when the new plant is suff icient ly well
eventually be moved into an aquarium. nutri ents from th e parent plant and developed to survive on its own .

79
Common species of aquarium plants may susta in lasting damage. Wh en
th at propagate by runners include moving established plants, be sure to
Cryptoco ryne, Echinodorus, Sagitta ria, remove the entire rootstock from t he
Vallisneria, and some floating species. substrate. Any root left in the substrate
will rot and could prevent plants from
Offset s Offsets are produced in similar a root ing in that area or adversely affect
way to runners, but are fo rmed much the healt h of nearby roots.
closer to the parent plant. Many plants
that grow in clumps reproduce in thi s Advent itious plantlets Small plant lets
w ay. Some Cryp tocoryne and that form on various parts of an adult
Echinodorus species produ ce offsets, plant are described as adventit ious
creati ng th e appearance of a larger plantl ets. Depending on th e species,
individual plant. Offsets can be gently these may form on the leaves, stem
removed from t he main plant and nodes or on shoots. Small leaves are
replanted elsewhere in the aquarium produced first, fo llow ed by roots, and
once the roots have been trimmed . the new plant remains attac hed to the Above: Water lett uce (Pistia stratiotes)
Separatin g off sets norm ally requires parent plant unt il th e area of attachment produces new plants on runners. Eventually,
removing the w hole plant from the tank dies back and th e new plant is released. the runner will begin to die and break apart,
first, so do not carry out th is procedure Once a plant let has a few leaves and at leaving a fully formed plant that wi ll later
too often, otherw ise th e parent plant least 1.2- 1.6 in (3-4 cm) of root growth, p roduce its own daugh ter plants.

Propagating from a runner These daughter plants of Echinodorus sp.

are ready to be planted in the substrate.

~ ,L A
The mo ther plant may Above: Many plants produce several daughter
produce more than a larger
plants from one runner, so to obtain
one runner at a time. number of plants, do not remove the runner
until it has produced at least five or six plants.

Once the mother plant has produced a Separate the individual plants, or slips, Put each new plant into the substrate,
1 number of daughter plants with at least
two or three leaves each, you can cut the
2 leaving a sma/llength of runner on either
side. Handle them carefully, holding them by
3 as described on page 53, leaving a gap
of at least 2 in (5 cm) between the plants
runne r with a pair of sharp scissors. the leaf and not by the stem. to allow for future growth.

80

l' : ," -. ... " / ; \ 1 , .~

 PRACTICAL SECTION
Propagating aquarium plants

it can be carefully removed fro m the Propagating from adventitious plantlets

parent plant and replanted . It is ofte n

,
best to leave the new plantlet to grow Right: New plantlets with well-
as much as possible before doing th is. developed roots are clearly visible
Common species t o propagate by at the tip of this Java fern leaf You
plantlets include Echinodoru s, can either separate and replant
M icrosorium, Ap onogeton, and Bolbitis. these or leave them to develop and
drop off nat urally Several plantlets
Artificial aquarium propagation may be produced from th e same
Aquarium plants can also be propagated leaf before the leaf dies back.
artificially by means of cutt ings, and by
dividing rhizomes and rootstocks.

Cutt ings All plants w it h a cent ral stem

support ing a number of leaves can be
propagated by cuttings. Mo st stem
plants sold eithe r as bunches or potted
up are simply top cuttings from
established plants. Cuttings can be taken
fro m both the top and middle stem
sect ions, as w ell as from side shoots.
However, th e top sect ion of a stem plant
includes t he growing point and a top
cutting is likely to establish more quickly
than a cutting taken f rom othe r areas
of t he plant.
A norm al stem w ill have a number of The plantlets underneath this leaf are
nodes (point s at w hich leaves are
produced) and these w ill also form roots
1 well developed, while th e mo ther leaf is
beginning to die back to allow the plantlets
2 The new plan tlet is no w large enough to
be replanted. Simply pull it from the main
leaf. As the moth er leaf is beginning to fall
if a cutt ing is taken . Using sharp scissors, to drop off This makes them easier to apart, remove it from the main plant and
take a cutting just above a node, w ith at remo ve by hand and plant out separately discard it. Otherwise, it will simply rot away
least four or five nodes below it. The
bottom set of nodes on the cutting w ill
be t he area whe re new roots develop.
Carefully remove th e leaves on t hese
nodes and plant the stem cutting in t he
substrate so that the stripped low er
nodes are ju st covered by the substrate.
The cutti ng w ill sta rt to produce roots Left: One leaf may
and once firm ly anchored in the produce several
subst rate, should start to grow and plantlets in close
produce new leaves. The plant that proximi ty. When
"supplied" the cutti ng should also removing plan tlets,
cont inue to grow and may produ ce side check to see how
shoots from t he point where the cutt ing many individual
was taken. Since taking cutt ings fro m plants there are.
parent plants or regular pruning Even quite small
encourages the produ ction of side plantlets can be
shoots, it can also be used as a method carefully separated
of creating a bushier plant. and replanted.

81
Rhizom es A rhizome is a modified stem the new divisions eit her to porous rock
that resembles a thick root at the base or to suitable pieces of bogwo od until
of t he plant. It is often used as a storage they have become firmly anchored.
organ , as w ell as for t he production of
new shoots. To get to it, you wi ll need Division Plants t hat grow in clumps w ill
to remove the w hole plant from th e eit her produce off sets or carry on
subst rate, taking care not to damage produc ing leaves from th e main
th e roots. To produce new plants, cut rootstock. If a plant is large enough, you
the rhizome with a sharp knife and can divide the main root, creating t wo
divide it, ensuring that each division has or more separate plants. Depending on
at least one good shoot . If the original the condition of the rootstock, either
plant or any cuttings or divisions have a pull the plant apart gent ly or cut it w it h
large amount of rootstock, tr im t his to a sharp knife. Plant th e divisions
about 1 in (2.5 cm) in length before separat ely and they should develop
replantin g. Trimmi ng the old roots w ill into healthy new plants.
reduce the amount of damage caused
by replanting and ensures th at f resh, Right: The rhizom e of this African fern
new roots develop quickly. Plants that (Bolbiti s heudelotii) is clearly visible. A new
root on rock and wood , such as shoot to the right of the rhizome indicates
Microsorium or Anubias species, can be that this is the gro wing end and the best
propagated in thi s way. Using cotton, tie area from which to take a cutting.

Propagating from cuttings

Push the cutting into the substrate so
Virtua lly all stem plants can be propagated by cuttings, taken 3 that the lower leaves are just resting on
from both the top and middle stem areas. Taking cuttings is the substrate surface. Roots sho uld grow
also a go od way of thickening up plants, as side shoots are from the base and the plant w ill establish
oft en produced from the main plan t as a result of cutting. quickly, although lower leaves may die off.

To take a top cutting, snip off a length Strip away the leaves from one or two
1 o f stem w ith several leaves or no des. Cut
between the nodes with sharp scissors. For
2 nodes at the base of the cutting to
allow the plant to root more quickly. Roots
the best results, take cuttings from the will form from the stripped node. Make sure
fastest-gro win g and/or healthiest stem. it is beneath the substrate wh en planting.

82
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Propagating aquarium plants

Divid ing cryptocoryne

Cryptocorynes are good examples

of plants that producemany offsets
directly next to the
parent plant.
Separate
2 the leaves to
establish the natural Once the plant

Startby
divisions within the
plant. If the roots
3 has been divided,
eitherby hand or using
1 removing
the main plant
are relatively a sharp knife, trim the
untangled, the roots and replant the
from the substrate. plant can be two separate sections
Carry out this separatedby into the
procedure with hand. aquarium.
care to avoidany
damage to the
plant's roots.

Dividin g Java fern Right: This Java fern can

be left to spread across the
wood or divided into
Because Java fern isgrown above two, with one half
the substrate, the rhizomeis replanted elsewhere
easy to see and division is in the aquarium.
relatively simple.
Below: A good specimen
can be divided into a
number of plants. As they
already have established
roots, they should begin to
grow almost immediately

Left: Cut the

rhizome with
a sharp pairof
scissors. Each division
should have at least
two or three weI/-
developed leaves,
Trim the as weI/ as a good
trailing roots root system.
before replanting.
Maintaining a planted aquarium
Just like any other aquarium , a planted th e debris using a gravel cleaner. alone completel y. First, you should
aquarium needs regular maintenance to Removing organic debris helps to remove any organic debris resting on the
keep th e environment and the fish and prevent decompositi on, w hich releases surface of the substr ate. This "surface
plants within it healthy and active. ammonia and nitrites, and also combats debris" does not help to store nutri ents,
Thankf ully, a well -planted aquarium wi ll bacterial diseases and algae. How ever, in but w ill promote bacterial problems in
virtually look aft er itself, as healthy a heavily planted aquarium, th e organic bottom-dwelling fish and may also clog
plants wil l act in part as wa ter purifiers, debris produced from fish, fi sh fo od, and fi ne-leaved plants, preventing light from
keeping th e w at er conditions good for plant w aste is oft en beneficial in the reaching the leaves. Gently st irring the
both fish and other plant s. Because of production and storage of nutrients w ater above the subst rate w ill cause the
t his, most of t he maintenance in a wi thin th e substrate. As organics build up debris to rise higher into the water,
planted aquarium is concentrated on th e in th e substrate, they act as " storage" w here it can be taken up by filters. In an
plants th emselves, w hich need constant components for nutrients, helping to aquarium w ith a great deal of surface
trimming , separating and tidying up. If replace those that may be lost over tim e debris, th is should be done at least three
maintenance is carried out continual ly, from the initially nutrient-rich substrates. tim es a w eek, preferably more.
but in small amoun ts, a matu re planted Gentle w ater movement from substrate A lternat ively, surface debris can be
aquarium will need only minimal heaters, and oxygen produced around siphoned away, but take care not to
attenti on, allowing you more time th e roots of aquati c plants prevent the damage any plants in the process.
to spend appreciating the display. subst rate from becoming anaerobic. Despite the oxygen prod uction fro m
Although it is true to say that a good plant roots, and w at er flow through the
The substrate substrate w ill look after itself for th e subst rate f rom heater cables, it is
In many aquariums, it is necessary to most part, it w ill require a litt le inevitable that anaerobic patches w ill
clean the substrate regularly and remove maintenance and should not be left occur. In most cases, small areas of
anaerobic substrate are not harmful, and
Siphon gravel cleaners Left: Va rious gravel in some cases even beneficial (see page
cleaners are available, 47 ). However, a buildup of anaerobic
altho ugh all wo rk on subst rate is harmful to the root s of
the same basic aquatic plants, mostly through th e
principle of gravity prod uction of toxic hydrogen sulphide,
suction, removing the which w ill kill plant root s and ot her
Squeezing this lighter wastes while organisms. To avoid thi s problem , gently
bulb w ill start leaving the substrate disturb the subst rat e every month or so
the siphon ic relatively intact. simply by moving your fing ers slow ly
water flo w th rough it , loosening t he w hole of t he
subst rate, and creat ing gaps in it.
Over long periods of time, all
subst rates wi ll lose th eir ability to hold
one or more vital nutrients. This nutrient
depletion can be countered by increasing
Some other forms of fertili zation, such as liquid
cleaners have Different-size fertili zers. Nevertheless, there usually
taps in the gravel cleaners comes a point w hen it is best to replace
pipe, allowing are available for the ent ire subst rate in the aquarium.
the siphon to diffe rent tank This process is highl y disrupt ive and it is
be turn ed off sizes. vital to handle all the plants w it h great
and on again care. Remove each one individually and
wi th ease. t rim all th e roots before replanti ng them
in the new subst rate.

84
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Maintain ing a planted aquarium

Normally, you can replace t he

substrate and replant the plants right
away, so simply store th e plants in wa ter R OUTIN E M AINTENANCE IN THE AQUA RIUM
from the aquarium w hile you replace th e Daily Every three months
substrate. If the new substrate is to • Check for any missing livestock and examine • Check the substrate for compaction and
contain soil-like media, such as nutrient- the healthof all the fish. Look for red marks gently loosen it with your fingers.
rich substr at es, you may need to strip on the body and gills, excessmucus, gasping • Remove and clean any impellers and
th e aquarium comp lete ly and add th e or unusual behavior. impellerhousingsin pumps and filters.
substrate while the aquar ium is empty. In • Check the water temperature.
this case, ho use th e plant s and fish in a • Check that filters and lights are working. Every 6- 12 months
separate aquar ium wi t h th e water and • If fluorescent tubesare the main source of
filter from the orig inal tank. Once the Twice weekly lighting, replace them even if they are still
new substrate is in place, return the fish, • Gently disturb any fine-leavedplants, such working. After 10-12 months they will
plants, filter, and matu re wa te r to th e as cabomba, and dense foreground species, havelost much of their intensity.
original aquarium. A norm al subst rate, such as hairgrass, to remove any trapped • Replace filter sponges. Overtime, the
high in organics, w ill need to be detritus, which can hinder photosynthesis. bacterial capacity of sponges will diminish
replaced afte r about three years of use. and they need to be replaced. If sponges
Weekly are the main biological medium, then
Equipm ent • Test the water for nitrites (N0 2), nitrates replace half at a time, leaving a month in-
Any pumps or f ilters in a planted (NO) , pH and hardness. between. This will reduce the loss of
aquarium w ill need t he same • Remove dead leaves and other plant matter. beneficial filter bacteria.
maintenance as those in any ot her type • Siphon out or removeany mulm from the
of aquarium to keep them functioning top layer of substrate and replace the water When needed
correctly. Clean out intern al f ilte rs and removed during thisprocess with new, • Replenish liquid or tablet fertilizers
the media in th em at least twi ce a dechlorinated water. This will also constitute accordingto the maker's instructions.
month . Exte rnal filte rs should be cleaned a small water change, replacing minerals • Check and replenish any CO2 supply
at least once a mo nth . Always clean any and helping to lower nitratesand systems that may be in use in the aquarium.
phosphates. • Trim any tall stem plants, so that they do
Below: Sponge filters do not need thorough • Replenish liquid fertilizers after water not grow across the surface and block out
cleaning. Simply rinse them in water from the changes according to the maker's light to other plants. Replant the cuttings if
tank. Tap water contains chlorine, which may instructions. you wish.
damage the useful bacteria in the sponge. • Using an algaemagnet, pad, or scraper; • If tall-stemmedplantsare looking thin near
clean the inside front and side glass, even if the base, remove them, cut off the upper
little algae is present. This prevents a build- halves and replant.
up of algae that can be hard to remove. • If the leaves of plantssuch as large
• If you have a condensation cover; wipe it Echinodorus sp. have grown too big,
clean to avoid a reduction in light remove the outermost leaves and trim the
penetration to the plants. roots slightly The plant will respond by
producing fresh, smaller leaves.
Every two weeks • Old plant leaves may become tattered or
• Thoroughly clean half the spongein the covered in algae. Remove them to prevent
internal filter; using water from the the spread of algaeand to allow new leaves
aquarium. Then tip this water away to grow
• Over time, someplants will age and begin
Monthly to look less healthy They stop growing and
• Switch off external filters and clean the become tattered. If this happens, remove
media in water from the aquarium. Then and replace them. Besure to take out the
tip the water away entire rootstock, as any pieces left over may
• Replace any filter floss in an external filter. rot and pollute tae substrate.

85
 Above: Chemical filter media, such as
activated carbon, can be used to remove
color and toxins from the wate r. Use them
with care, as they can remove nutrients and
treatments at the same time.

Left: Tannins released from wood can

discolor the w ater. Although not harmful,
this can look unsightly Regular, but limited,
use of chemical media shou ld effectively
remove such discoloration.

f iltration media in wa ter f rom th e one and th e date it was perfo rmed. It is from tap water. Norma lly th is is
aquarium; never use tap wa ter, which also possible t o test for t he presence of beneficia l for both plants and fish, but
may contain eno ugh chlor ine to kill certain nutr ients, but th is needs to be many metals are also nut rients vital to
benef icial bact eria. To ensure t hat any done on ly when plants show signs of a plant health . Using metal-removing
pumps remain in worki ng order for as deficiency or excess of nut rients. dechlorinators to cond it ion water will
lon g as possible, be sure t o clean bot h Keeping a record of t est results is a not only remove useful nutri ent s f rom
the impeller and the impeller housing. good way of checking any trends in th e the new wa ter, but also nutrients already
This can normally be done with a specially aquarium, such as rises in nitrates or present in t he aquari um . There are
designed brush or pipe cleaner. softening of th e wa ter over t ime. In various ways of preventi ng t his. First, if
If the light in t he aquarium is most cases, regular water changes, using you use dechlorina to rs, stick t o the
provided by f luorescent tubes, be sure to at least half tap water, w ill keep the simple products and avoid th ose wi th
replace these every 12 months, even if aquarium wate r in good condit ion. The " added benefits," such as metal
they stil l appear t o be working prope rly. f requency of wate r changes depends on removal, aloe vera and "co ndit ioners."
The int ensity of light from a fluo rescent th e individual requi rements of the Second, remembe r tha t water can be
tub e diminishes quickly and althoug h a aquarium. For most planted aquariums, naturally dechlorinated by aeration over
year-old tube may seem to be a small (10-15%) water change every a 24-hour period, wi t hout any need f or
functionin g correct ly, its ou tpu t wil l be week or two should be sufficient. chemical dechlorinato rs. This method is
less th an half th at of a new tu be. Rememb er th at water changes do not of ten prefe rable to using dechlorinator s.
Any condensat ion trays or cover- only reduce toxins, but also replenish Special "pref ilter" units are also available
glasses should be cleaned every week nut rients, so even if the wate r quality that remove chlorine from t ap wate r,
t o prevent t he bu ildup of deposits, as seems good, you shou ld sti ll carry out but these are expensive and oft en
these wi ll also significantly reduce the water changes. unj ustif ied.
amo unt of light reaching th e plants. Tap water ofte n contains high levels of Over time, water in a planted
chlorine, w hich wil l need to be removed aquarium may appear to turn a slightly
Water quality before t he water is added to the tea-yellow color. This happens as humic
It is impo rtant to check th e levels of aquarium. There are many proprietary acids are released from organic material,
ammonia, nit rites, nitr at es, pH, and dechlorin ators available fo r aquariums, particularly bogw ood, and is somet imes
hardness in the aquarium on a regular but use t hese w ith care in a planted unsightly, althoug h t he water is perfectly
basis. If possible, carry ou t th ese tests aquarium . Many water cond itione rs healthy. The coloratio n has no effect on
every week and keep a record of each conta in properties th at remove meta ls .plants or fish and is not a sign of poo r

86
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Maintain ing a planted aqua rium

wat er conditions. How ever, if you w ish, attra ctive display can quickly becom e a Plants th at produ ce leaves from th e
you can remove t he coloration using tang led mess of vegetation. To keep base, rather tha n on stems, can also be
absorpt ive chemical media such as plants looking their best, th ey w ill need trimmed to prevent th e leaves from
activated carbon. These types of to be regularly trimmed and/or older grow ing to o large. Older leaves
filtration media sho uld be used only leaves must be removed to allow (nor mally th e larger ones) can be
for short periods, as th ey will also healthy, new ones to grow in t heir place. caref ully separated from t he base and
remove many useful nutri ent s (as we ll Stem plant s w ill often cont inue t o discarded, allowing new leaves to form
as medications) from th e water. grow until th ey reach the surface, at in their place. Appl ied over a period of
The occasional use of chemical w hich point t hey eit her grow time , t his met hod of trimming can be
media in th e planted aquarium may be horizontally across th e water or produ ce used to influ ence t he eventual size of
valuable not just for removing wate r aerial leaves above it. Unless you want to the plant. For example, if older leaves
discoloration, but also to elimi nate build- encourage thi s growth habit , you shou ld are regularly removed before they reach
ups of unwanted metals and ot her regularly t rim th e top portion of stem thei r f ull size, th e plant wi ll remain small
chemicals. Whe n using chemical media, plant s. When trimming plant s, it is ofte n and compact. How ever, if the plant is
do not carry out addit ional fertilization better to take off a significant amount - allow ed to grow large leaves initiall y, it
(other tha n CO2 f erti lization), as the say 4-6 in (10-15 cm) - every other week, . w ill contin ue t o produce larger and ta ller
introduced nutrients will simply be taken rather th an small amou nts two or three leaves in succession, and the plant w ill
out by the chemical media. times a w eek, w hich could event ually eventu ally att ain a substant ial size.
damage t he plants. Taking off a larger As leaves age, they of ten become
Fertilizing porti on also allows you to replant the covered in algae or may begin to die off
Establish ing a good regime for cutting as a separate plant if you wi sh. at the edges, sometimes developing dark
introducing nutri ent s int o the aquarium In any case, since the st em plant wi ll
is vital for t he conti nued health and eventually become worn out from Below: Stem plants that reach the water
growth of plants. The typ e and quant ity continual growth and trimming back, surface can be trimmed with sharp scissors.
of fertilizatio n depend s to a great extent you should use at least some of th ese Remove larger portions as needed, rather
on the dynamics of the individual to p cuttings t o replace th e original plant. than regularly cutting small trimmings.
aquarium. An aquarium w it h nutrient-
rich or soil-based subst rat es may need
only regular water changes w it h tap
water and carbon dioxide fert ilization to
maintain sufficient nutrient levels. On
the oth er hand, an aquarium with an
inert subst rate and few addit ional
substrate fertil izers w ill need regular
dosing with a liquid ferti lizer, in
conj unction wi t h carbon dioxide
fertilization . If an aquarium is deficient in
only a few nutrients, such as iron and
potassium, it may be necessary to add
specific fertil izers regularly. Wh atever t he
circumstances, it is important that any
fertilizer regimes are maintained on a
consistent basis to ensure good plant
health in the display aquarium.

Keeping plants tidy

In a healthy plant ed aquarium wi t h goo d
light ing and balanced nutrients, th e
plants sho uld grow and propagate at a
relatively fast rate. If left unchecked, an

87
patches or even ho les. At th is point th ey check th at a particular tr eat ment is safe build up, with various effects on some
shou ld be removed f rom th e aquarium, t o use w it h plant s, particularly in th e plant species. For exampl e, it is not
because not only do they become case of algae treatments. unusual for an aquarist to have problems
unsightl y, but th ey are oft en less useful keeping certain species of plant, even
to the plant than the new leaves that Allelopa thy though th e lighting , t emperature, and
wo uld grow in t heir place. Allelopat hy describes th e produ ction of wa te r quality are at ideal levels, and
Plant s do not have an unlimited chemicals by an orga nism that adversely there is an abundant supply of nut rients.
lifespan; there comes a po int whe n affect another organism and/or Often , the reason for this common
individu al plants simply sto p producing advanta geously aff ect itself. In t he case occurrence is th at anothe r plant in the
new leaves and wi ll need to be replaced. of plants, t hese chemicals (called aquarium is producing particular
W hen t aking out old plants, it is very allelochemicals) are of ten readily allelochemicals that inhib it or prevent
important to remove as much of the produced to inhibit th e growth of ot her th e growth of th e prob lem plant.
root as possible. Any root left in the plants or algae, or to prevent animals The allelochemicals produced by some
subst rat e w ill rot and may create f rom eati ng th e plant. Plants depend aquatic plants have a particularly adverse
anaerobic cond itions . heavily on allelochemicals because the y effect on floating plant species and
are unable to defend t hemselves in a algae. This is one of t he main reasons
Plant diseases and poisoning mob ile way (i.e.. th ey cannot run, move, w hy a we ll-planted aquarium may not
Plants are as susceptible to disease as or fight in the traditional sense). In show signs of algae blooms, despite
any ot her complex living organism , but nature, alth ou gh t hese chemicals may be high nut rient levels and stro ng lighti ng.
luckily, plant diseases in th e aquarium produced in abundance, t hey are ofte n A lthough some info rmation is available
are very rare except in one case: dilut ed in effect where a single plant is
cryptocoryne rot. Crypt ocoryne rot is a concerned . Only w hen a part icular Below: There are many reasons why algae
disease that affects most ly the species is grouped over a wide area can may blo om in the aquarium. Normally, a
cryptocoryne f amily of plants. Its cause is a noticeable effect be seen. How ever, in change in the aquarium environment will
not entirely understood, but it is often the enclosed environment of the help to remedy algae blooms . Take action
tr iggered by changes in environmental aquarium, allelochemicals can quickly before the algae swamp the aquarium.
condit ions. The sympto ms includ e holes
or perforated patches in the leaves,
follow ed by a com plete degradation of
t he leaf tissue, sometimes resulti ng in
the death of the plant. If aquarium
condit ions are go od in t erm s of wa ter
quality and nutrients, most plants
recover once th ey become established.
Like fish and ot her living organisms,
plants can be adversely affected by a
number of chemicals, and poisoni ng can
easily occur in plants. The symptoms of
poison ing often show as a random
degenerat ion of leaf ti ssue, holes, or
generally ill or weak-looking plants .
Sometimes th e sympto ms are very
similar to t hose prod uced as a result of
nutrie nt defic iencies, alt hough in cases
of poisoning , t he sympto ms appear
much more quickly. Poisoning can occur
as a result of using chem ical t reat ments
in the aquarium. Disease treatm ents and
algae treatments, as well as snail-killers
all contain strong chemicals, so always

88
- .
"";~"? '-..... ~ ~..,....Jl1 rl.
'
__ z~_':.
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Maintaining a planted aquarium

relating to specific plants and t he

allelochemicals they produce, littl e is
known about the process of allelopathy,
so it is impossible to produce a list of
compatible plant species. In most cases,
it is a combination of chemicals, rather
than a single allelochemical, that has an
adverse effect on plant species. In any
case, it is worth being awa re of th e
process w hen keeping aquatic plants,
because it can somet imes explain an
inability t o keep one species of plant ,
while ot hers thri ve.

Algae
Many forms of algae grow in th e
aquarium environment and an algal
bloom can qu ickly swamp plant s,
competing for light and nutri ent s,
until the plant s are choked t o death .
Not only do algae inhibit plant growth ,
but they also look unsightly and can
release dangerous to xins into the water,
affecting both plant and fish health . It is
impossible to eradicate algae completely,
because w herever t here is water, light
and a minima l supply of nutrients, algae
will grow. How ever, it is possible t o keep
algae to a minimum, and a littl e algae
grow th on rocks and wood may even
add to the appeal of a display, as w ell as
providing a source of f ood for some fish.
In most cases, a well -maintained
planted aquarium experiences fewer
problems with algae th an an unp lanted
aquarium, despite t he addition al
nut rients. Algal bloom s occur in the excess of solub le iron is often a key Ab ove: Cleaning the aquarium glass every
aquarium only wh en certain conditions factor in blooms of "g reen " algae, such week, even wh en it appears clean, can help
become ideal for algal growth . as single-celled or filam ent ous algae. to prevent the forma tion of red and other
Fortunat ely, you can tak e steps t o Some of th ese algae w ill suddenly bloom algae. Use an algae pad designed for the
prevent those conditio ns from occurring. in the aquarium, w hile others grow aquarium and keep it solely for that purpose.
Countless types of algae may be slow ly but cont inually.
present in the aquarium environment, t oo small to be trapped by conventional
but most are variations on a few group s Single-celled algae As the name mechanical fi lt ration, increased filtration,
of common algae. The causes and suggests, these algae develop as single w hich is often the first obvious course of
remedies vary for each type, as does the cells that do not join tog ether or f orm action, will not work. Although mostly
severity of algal bloom ing. In many larger organisms. In t he right conditions, seen in ponds, single-celled algae
cases, an excess of orga nic mat erials and th ese waterbo rne algal cells can quickly blooms can occur in the aquarium and
poor w at er qu ality or excess nutrients mult iply, creat ing " green w ater" in t he t he cause is usually a combin ation of
are the main causes of algal growt h. An aquarium. Since the individual cells are brigh t, direct sunlight and a high level of

89
dissolved organi c matt er. In pond s, UV Filamentous algae This is one of the associated with high nutrient levels, poor
(ultraviolet) clarifiers are used as part of most common aquarium algae and wate r quality, and a lack of water
th e filtration syste m to kill single-celled occurs in a numbe r of forms, variously chang es. The velvety-looking algae
algae. Although UV light units are described as thr ead algae, hair algae, or appears as a th in, blue-green blanket
available f or aquariums, th ey are not blanketwe ed. The algae is prod uced as across th e substrate and/or decor and
recommended for planted systems long, fibrou s, hairlike t hreads that grow plant leaves. It is slimy to th e touch and
because the process can break down from any surfa ce, usually toward th e breaks up relatively easily. Often, the
some nut rients. The best course of top of the aquarium and often on the algae has a distinctive smell, w hich
action is to reduce or block any natural aquarium glass and in areas of w ater emanat es from th e aquarium surface.
sunlight reaching the aquari um and try movement. If th e conditi ons are right, The algae is to xic as a food source, so
to reduce the amo unt of dissolved th is algae wi ll bloom quickly and cover algae-eati ng fish w ill not go near it.
organic matter. A reduction in the plants and decor, causing many Treatm ent is not easy; only the most
amou nt of fish feeding and liquid problems w it hin the aquarium . Again, potent algae treatments w ill have any
fertilizer dosing, combined w ith a st rong light or sunlight, combined effect. The algae can be easily siphon ed
siphoning or gravel cleaning of the wi th an excess of organic material, away, but may quickly regrow. A t op-
uppermost layer of substrate, sho uld may cause thi s algae to grow. An excess layer gravel cleaning and w ater changes
achieve a signif icant reduction in of nut rient s or slow plant growth also may help to prevent regrowth .
dissolved organics. If no improvement is encourage filamentous algae, amon g
seen w it hin a w eek, a chemical solut ion oth er types, to bloom . Physically remove Brown'algae Brown algae is the most
may be required. as much of the algae as possible and common typ e of algae found in
There are several algae treatments gravel clean th e top layer of subst rate to aquariums and depend ing on various
available specif ically for single-celled reduce org anics. A temporary reduction parameters, it may grow cont inually or
algae. These are often labeled as " green in lighting may also help to eradicate th e never at all. The brown-colored algae is
w ater " tr eatments. Most of them work algae. Chemical treat ments are available, not fibrous and form s a covering on any
by binding th e individual algal cells but use them w it h caution, as many are solid objects, most not ably, the aquarium
together into larger clump s (a process harmfu l t o plant life . glass. Providing any surfaces that show
known as "flocculat ion"), w hich can th e algae are regularly cleaned, it very
th en be taken up by a mechanical filter Blue-green algae The causes of blue- rarely causes any problems. Brown algae
or sipho ned aw ay from th e subst rate green algae are not ent irely underst oo d, on the glass can be simply w iped off
during routine maintenance. although most occurrences are w ith a suitable cleaning pad. If t here is

Left: Filamentous Below : Several liquid algae killers

algaeoccur in a are available, but their effectiveness
number of forms. In ' variesand the algae may return
this case the algae is after treatments.
relativelyshort, but
has spreadrapidly to
cover the leaves of ~
smaller plants. ~~

90
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Maintaining a planted aquarium

Right: Brush algae is slow -

growing but difficult to treat
and/or pre vent. Although it
is not harmful, it should be
removed to prevent excess
growth, which may result
in an unsightly blo om and
have an adverse effect on
the aquarium plants.

Left: Algae can build up on

the inside of the aquarium
glass and become difficult
to clear. It is much better to
use a scraper regularly to
keep the surfaces clean.

strong growth on plant leaves, it w ill also wildly variable. The only way t o ensure a causes of algae. If t he cause of the algal
need to be removed. This should be done reduct ion in growth is to remove any bloom is not eradicated, th e algae wi ll
with extreme care so t hat the leaves are items on w hich t he algae is growing. In simp ly grow back after treatm ent.
not damaged. A good method is to use some cases, the algae wi ll continue to
cotton wool to wipe t he leaves gent ly grow only at a slow rate and shou ld not Natural prevention
underwater. Brown algae is more become a prob lem. It has been not ed in The best way to prevent algae in a
common in aquariums with hard water a number of situations that the Siamese planted aquarium is to establish
and/or low light levels. This brown algae flying fo x (Crossocheilus siamensis) may continued strong plant growth. Plant s
should not be confused wi th t he "true" eat br ush algae. have many advanta ges over algae when
brown algae that include many comp lex it comes to collect ing nutrie nts and
saltwater seaweeds. Using algae treatments uti lizing sunlight, so good plant growth
Chemical algae treatments sho uld be wi ll often starve algae of nut rients. The
Brush algae Brush algae grows used only as a last resort in aquari ums, allelochemicals produced by plants may
relatively slowly at first, but w ill soon especially in planted aquariums, as the also playa part in restricting algal
begin to spread rapid ly in most chemicals involved can be harmful to growth . Whatever the reasons may be, a
aquariums. It appears as small, f urlike bot h fish and plants. Ma ny algae healthy, we ll-planted aquarium should
tufts, up to 0.4 in (1 em) high and tr eatments contain high levels of copper rarely encounter harmful algal blooms .
normally black or brown in color. or f locculents (compou nds tha t bind Algae-eating fish, such as many loaches
The algae grows particu larly we ll on particles together), both of which can be and catfish , can also be introduced to
bogwood, but wi ll also fl ourish on th e t oxic t o fish either directly or ind irectly. the aquarium, as well as some snail and
substrate and plant leaves, around filte rs, High copper levels also build up in plants freshwater shrimp species. All these
and in th e corners of th e aquariu m and in many cases, in a we ll-planted animals will browse on algae as part of
glass. Unfortunately, the causes are aquarium, the copper w ill be taken up their main diet and will prevent it from
largely unknow n and therefore it is likely by plants before it begins t o affect algae. gaining a foothold in the aquarium. Do
that there are no special cond itions In t his instance it is possible that copper bear in mind, however, that algae-eating
beyond th ose of a nor mal aquarium t hat toxicity will occur in plants befo re the species are often selective and will eat
encourage it to grow. Although there algae are greatly affected . Chemical only certain types of algae unless they
are some chemical tr eatm ent s available treatments are only a temporary are forced to do otherwise due to a lack
to treat brush algae, their effectiveness is measure and will not eliminate the of their preferred food .

91
Snails in the planted aquarium small blob s of jelly on th e stems and
W hether snails are useful or harmful in und erside of plant leaves, and on th e
a planted aquarium depends largely on aquarium glass.
th e number present and, to a lesser Snail popul ations already in the
degree, the type of snails. Generally aquarium can be contr olled by regularly
speaking, a small and contr olled snail cleaning th e top layer of substrate, as
popul ation is beneficial in a planted we ll as by removing th em. You can
aquarium . Snails are scavengers, so as make a snail trap by placing a sinking
w ell as eat ing algae, the y will also f eed food pellet (such as catf ish fo od)
on any waste orga nic matte r, be it in th e underneath an upside-down saucer on
form of fi sh w aste and fi sh food or plant the aquarium fl oor. Place this in the
waste in th e subst rate . As th ey remove aquarium at night, w hen snails are more
some of the organic debris found in the active, and t he fo llowing morning there
top layer of the substrate, w hich is not w ill be a congregatio n of snails
useful to plants, t hey reduce levels of und erneath the saucer, w hich are easy
harmf ul bacteria. In additi on , they to remove. Some fish, such as clow n
cont inually move the subst rate about, loach (Botia macrantha) or mollies
preventi ng algal growth . (Poecilia sp .), w ill readily eat small snails,
Unfortunately, most snail species helping t o keep popul ations t o a
rapidly breed in the aquariu m minimum. Snail-killer treatments are
environme nt and soon become available, but avoid them if possible as
unsightly. In large numbers , th ey may th ey can be very harmful to fish and
damage plants, although thi s is unl ikely; plants if not added in th e correct
the main reason for ridding an aquarium dosages. Mu ch like algae treatment s,
of snails is simply aesthetic. Any visible chemicals used in snail killers are very
damage on plant leaves in an aquar ium potent and contain a number of toxic Above: The appearance of snail eggs varies.
is far more likely to be nutrient- or w ater metals, including copper, w hich may The eggs in the top picture are those of the
quality-r elat ed, rath er th an due to snail harm many plant species, as we ll as large apple snail (Ampullarius sp.), while
damag e. Snails oft en eat " dead" areas . some fish, including clown loach, w hich those in the lower picture are more likely to
of plant ti ssue, giving th e impr ession of are very suscept ible t o strong treatments. belong to a much smaller species.
eat ing (and causing harm to) plants.
Snails are generally introdu ced into
the aqua rium by accident, often arriving
on th e leaves of plants. If snails are
unwanted, the best tim e to remove
them is before t hey enter t he aquarium,
so thoroughly check any new plant s for
snails before adding them to th e t ank. It
is possible to buy solutio ns in which
plant s can be dipped for a short period
to kill any snails that may be present.
How ever, many of these treatments may
not affect snail eggs, w hich appear as

Right: Larger snails, such as this Viviparus sp.,

normally found in garden ponds, can eat some
delicate plant leaves and sho uld be removed
from the aquarium . Smaller species, such as
trumpet or spire snails, are less harmful and
sometim es useful in the aquarium.

92

~ --- \" : :L -' -~

.WIa-
~ ~

.l!I
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Main taining a planted aquarium

Ab ove: The clown Ioach (Bot ia macracanth a), a popular and

attractive fish, relishes snails as a food source, j ust as it
would in nature. In the aquarium, clown loaches will eat the
yo unger snails, ther efore preventing a population increase.

Below: Freshwater p ufferfish (Tet raodon spp.), such as

this Carinotetraod on lorteti remain small (less than
2.75-3.2 in/7-8 em) but can easily crush snail shells w ith
their teeth and welcome such a feed in the aquarium.

Left: If large snails

are allowed to over-
p opu late the
aquarium, the
damage can be quite
significant, as seen
on this previously
healthy plant.

93
Aquascaping
The difference between a we ll-planted wate r qu ality by releasing calcium and and as bolst ers to create raised substrate
aquarium and a stunning display carbonates that raise the pH and water areas. Porous rocks, part icularly lava
aquarium lies in goo d aquascaping. hardness. There is a simple t est that you rock, can be used as rooti ng media fo r
Aquascaping is not just a matter of can carry out on rocks to check whether plants such as Java fern (Microsorium
placing plants and decor in th e right th ey are suitable; simply put a few drops p teropus) or A nubias species.
comb inations or in the right places, it of vinegar on the rock, and if it fizzes or
means being creat ive, imagin ative - even shows any kind of reaction do not use Quartz is an interestingly
inspired. There are certainly methods of the rock. The fizzing is a result of the Granite pieces can colored rock.
planti ng and guidelines t o positi oning acidic vinegar reacting w it h the alkaline be stacked or
that will help you create a good display substances present in the rock. used individually.
aquarium, but ultim ately, th e design Calcareous rocks can be used in
should be the realization of your hardwater and marine
personal vision. aquariums, but not in planted
or general community
Suitable aquarium decor aquariums.
These days, aquarists are faced with a In t he planted aquarium,
w ide range of rocks, wood, and ot her rocks fu lf ill a num ber of roles,
decor, but not all materia ls are suitable both practical and aest het ic.
f or a planted aquarium. W hen making a Smaller cobbles and pebbles
choice, it is often best to keep things can be used in the
simple and stick to, say, one or two foreground, creating gaps
types of rock, rather than crowd the between smaller plants and
aquarium w ith all manner of objects. All making open spaces more
the decor should , of course, be bought interest ing . Larger rocks in th e
and not collected from t he wi ld. Clean it midground can also be used as
well before using it in t he aquar ium . breaks between planting areas

Rocks Be careful when choosing rocks;

most are inert and suitable for th e Calcareous rocks are
aquarium. They wi ll have no effec t on often brittle or porous
t he environment, but ot hers are in appearance and
calcareous and w ill adversely affec t should no t be used in
a planted aquarium.

RO CKS IN A
PLANTED A QUARIUM
The following inert rocks
are safe to use: coal, basalt,
Cobbles make good additions flint, granite, sandstone,
to the aquarium foreground. quartz, slate, and lava rock.

Rocks to avoid include

Once washed, coal is a chalk, limestone, marble,
striking rock that is safe and tufa rock .
to use in the aquarium.

94
 PRACTI CAL SECTION
Aquascaping

Makesu~ matbrushwood
is completely dead before
using it in the aquarium .

Mopani bogwood is "Twisted roots " bogwood

precleaned and has makes an ideal rooting
interesting twisted shapes. medium for some plants.

Wood Although natu ral, or "norma l,"

wood cannot be used in an aquarium
because it w ill quickly rot and produce
fun gal growt hs, ot her f orms are suitable.

Bogwood can playa large part in the

design of the planted aquar ium. There
are many different forms of bogwood, color the wate r slightly, often making it a Bark is highly
althoug h these of ten arise f rom t he light " tea" color. This colorat ion can be buoyant and must
different cleaning meth ods applied t o removed using carbon or ot her be weighted down
the wood before it reaches t he retailer. absorpt ive media. How ever, th ese media in the aquarium.
Some woods are precleaned using sand should be used only temporarily in a
as an abrasive, which gives the wood a planted aquarium , as they also remove
smoother and two-toned appearance. nut rients vital to long-term plant healt h.
Bogwood from aquatic retailers is safe Bogw ood is a good medium for
to use in th e aquar ium wi t hout any prior plant ing up in th e same way as porous
treatment. This is because it has been rock and is suitable for mosses such as
dead and soaked f or many years, during Java moss. Tw isted roots, another form
which tim e any harmful organisms wi ll of bogwood , are particu larly effect ive in
have been removed . Alt hough you can t he planted aquarium . Being long and
safely place it direct ly into the aquarium, th in, they do not take up too much
it is not inert . Various humic and tannic space, but still become a dominant
acids continually leach f rom it over a presence in the aquarium . pipes. In t his inst ance, the best met hod
long period of tim e and alt ho ugh th e is to silicone th e bark t o th e object w hile
effect is minimal, th ese acids wi ll low er Cork bark can be used in some both are dry, before the aquar ium is
the pH and hardness of the aquarium circumstances, as long as it is old and fi lled with water.
water. This is not harmful to plants and completely dry. The major prob lem with
may even benefit many species. Soaking bark is that it is very buoyant and must Brushwood is simply a t erm for the
bogw ood f or a week or two can help to f irst be f ixed to a we ight of some kind. It dead twi gs and small branches f rom
remove some t annins. can be particularly effect ive if f ixed to t rees or bushes. Because t he wood is
The oth er side effect of using unsightl y items such as bu lky fil t ers, or very th in, it dies quickly and dries easily,
bogw ood is t hat the tannic acids wi ll w hen used to hide inlet and/o r out let making it safe f or use in t he aquarium .

9S
 Bamb oo is available in th e wood clean (using on ly w ater) and
several thicknesses, but dry it before varnishing. Once the w ood
bamboo canes are the has been varnished and is dry, soak it fo r
easiest to find. Placing up to a week to make sure it is ready
a number of canes for t he aquarium .
amo ng dense Bark does not normally need to be
planting will create an varnished as it is unlikely to rot
interesting visual effect. underwater, but it w ill need to be
cleaned and soaked before use. All dry
woods w ill float and w ill take a long
time before they are fully wa terlogged
and begin to sink . To solve t his problem,
t he wood can be siliconed to rocks or to
Above: To ensure that woods such as a flat piece of glass that will sit
bamboo last longer underwater, they undern eath th e subst rate, act ing as an
can be varnished using a clear anchor t o keep th e woo d down .
polyurethane varnish. Varnish both the Over time, even we ll-prepared and
inside and the outside of the wood. varnished wood wil l rot and start to fa ll
apart. W hen this begins to happen, th e
W hen using brushw ood, it is important orange patches) may grow on th e wood wood w ill need to be removed and
to make sure that it is comp letely dead, itself . To prepare brushwood and replaced, altho ugh it normally takes at
w ith no green areas present w it hin the bamboo, coat t he surface of the wood least a year for this to happen.
w ood. If it is clearly dead and dried out, with a clear polyurethane varnish. It is
it should be brittle and w ill snap easily important to use only clear varnish, as Fake or synthetic decor can also be
rather than bend when pressure is colored varnishes may contain chemicals used as part of the design, and many
applied. harmfu l to aquat ic life. synthetic rocks, tree roots, and caves
The inside of larger bamboo pieces w ill look very realistic once they are
Bamboo is another form of w ood w it h conta ins a protective layer of f ilm; established and a slight algal growth has
decorative possibilities in t he aquarium. remove th is befo re varnishing. Also scrub lent them a weathered appearance.
Various length s of bamboo cane, placed
randomly amo ng dense planti ng, w ill Fake bark, ideal for hiding filters. Below: Artificial equivalents of natural decor
add a natura l and att ractive element to make safe, although initially expensive,
many aquascapes. In t ime, it begins to alternati ves for planted aquariums. Once
rot and w ill need replacing, but t his slow established, they can look very realistic.
decay can be reduced - and in some
cases prevented altogeth er - by coat ing
t he wood w it h a polyester resin or
varnishing it before use.

Preparing w ood
Woods such as bamboo, brushwood,
and cork bark wi ll need preparing before
use. Dry woods such as these may
conta in fungal spores and are prone to Artificial wood can lo ok
rott ing w hen w et. If they are placed in attra ctive in the
the aquarium w ithout prior treat ment right setting.
they quickly decay, producing bacterial
bloom s that w ill appear as a slimy fi lm
over the w ood and/o r cloudy water.
Fungal blooms (normally w hite or Realistic "rock"

96
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Aquascaping

Above: Blood fins and glowlight tetras wi ll done . It is usually better to use too Laying out a design
show better health and colors when kept in much, rather than too little silicone. Any Providing you have access to a good
a w ell-aquascaped aquarium with plenty of excess that can be seen from the front range of mater ials, it is sometimes
places to hide, such as these grani te rocks. of the aquarium can be removed later possible t o design and create a good
w ith a sharp kn ife. display on impulse, but results are ofte n
Fixing items If the background is quite steep and far better if you do some preplann ing.
Many types of decor, such as lava rock likely to collapse until fully secured, place Sketching out a rough design for the
or cork bark, can be used to create a the empty aquarium on its back while aquarium allows you to assess the
thr ee-dimensional background in the you fix the rocks in position . It is a good number of plants you will need and
aquarium . An almost vertical (rather idea to bui ld up larger backgrounds in check th e practical aspects of the display.
than sloped) background w ill need t o be stages, allowing each stage to set so Taking an overhead view, make a sketch
firmly fixed in place to prevent any rocks t hat you can check t hat everything is of t he aquar ium, showing all the
from falling and damaging th e glass fir mly secured before attac hing another filtrat ion, heat ing, and ot her equipment
panels of the aquarium. Silicone sealant group of rocks. Placing the aquarium on that will be present inside it and then
is ideal for fixing items to glass and to its back w hile fi xing rocks also gives you divide the space into foreground,
each other, although the items must be the opportun ity to create overhangs and midground, and background areas. This
fixed wh ilst the aquarium is dry. A good outcrops of rocks that can be used as sketch th en becomes the fra mework on
meth od t o use for creating a backdrop is plant ing areas and th at also produce w hich you can build up t he plant ing
to carry out a dry run first and work out interesting shading effects in the lights. areas and position the decor.
where you want each item of decor t o Silicone sealant can also be used to When deciding w here to place decor
be placed. Once this is done, clean and fix together smaller individual rocks to other than plants and designing the
dry the individual it ems of decor to create caves and hid ing spots for the display as a whole, a good rule is to
remove any dust before siliconing them aquarium fish or to f ix buoyant items to have one main focal po int to attract
securely in place. glass or rocks. Silicone sealant shou ld be interest and, using similar decor, a
In most cases, th e silicone will be used only on dry it ems and you mu st second, smaller area to provide a
applied in areas that will not be visible, wait fo r about three days before adding counterbalance . For example, you could
so it does not have t o be very neatly any wa ter to t he aquarium. comp lement a large, centra l group of

97
 cobbles and plants with a coup le of
smaller cobbles and plants elsewhere
in the aquarium .

Simple or diverse?
. There are many styles of aquarium
design, from barren rockscapes to
heavily and diversely planted " Dut ch-
style" aquarium s. You could be inspired
by such designs or simp ly use your own,
but in either case it is im portant to stick
to a single style wi th in one aquarium.
Whe n using rocks, select one or tw o
types and use t hem in various sizes,
rather t han mix several diff erent typ es of
rocks and individual pieces. The same
applies to wood ; it is usually bett er to
use one type tha n many.
Plant species, on the oth er hand, can
be used either singly, in small groups, or (Ele ocharis sp.), wh ich can be used to Above: An aquascap e should be suited to
in large groups. A stunning aquar ium cover most of th e aquarium floor. You the fish that inhabit the aquarium. These
can be created using on e species, two can also add one or two pieces of harlequins, gou ramis, and kuhli loaches will
species, or 30 species. A simp le " lawn " bogwood wi th Java fern (Microso rium all appreciate this heavily planted design.
aquarium can be created with only one p teropus), Java moss (Vesicularia
or tw o plants, such as the pygmy chain dubyana), or dwarf anubias (A nubias smaller plant for obvious reasons, but
sw ord (Echinodorus tenellus) or hairgrass barteri var. nana) att ached to them . plants can be grouped and placed in a
Alt hou gh simple in design, such an num ber of different ways to create an
Below : Not all plants are restricted to the aquarium can provide a stunni ng display. inte resting design. Although it is
substrate. Plants that root on rocks or wood, tempting to use many diffe rent species,
such as this Anubias barte ri, can become a Grouping plants it is of ten a lot easier and more effective
focal po int in the aquarium and add Individual plant species all have a place to use a limit ed number of species in
welcome variety to the display. in th e aquarium . Ta ller stem plants and larger groupings.
large-leaved species wo rk w ell as
background plants, Background planting The plants alon g
whi le smaller plants can th e back of t he aquari um should all be
be used in th e midground, tall-growing species, and groups often
w it h low-grow ing species in th e look bett er than individual plants. In the
for eground. How ever, there are larger aquarium, big-leaved plants, such
no set rules for w hat as many of the larger Echinodorus
constitutes a for eground or species, can be used either singly or in
background plant and it is often wel l-spaced groups. As they can look
better to mix up the areas a quite imp osing and often do not mix
little. Generally speaking, a well wi t h smaller-leaved stem plants, it
larger plant shou ld be may be better to complement them with
placed behind a large pieces of rock or wood . On th e
oth er hand, bushy stem plant s, such as
Cab omba, Limnophila, or
Myriophyllum species, make good
background plants whe n grouped
together and comb ine well w ith

98
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Aquascaping

adjacent, tal l but small-leaved stem occupy at least a th ird to half of the " carpet -forming " species. Small pieces
plants such as Rotala, Egeria, Bacopa, available space, assuming th at the of bogwood or small stones and pebbles
or Ludwigia species. midground is an undef ined area. add interest to t he f oreground .
In areas of water flow, such as Depending on the size of the aquarium,
tho se near the filt er outl et, the best one or tw o "carpet- form ing " species Raised areas We have seen how to
background plant s are those w ith long, can cover an open subst rate area create " streets" of plants graded in
narrow leaves. They are suit ed t o the w ithout intrud ing on the sw imming height from t he taller background to
constant disturbance and create an space. (You could use more in a larger the smaller mid-foreground specimens.
element of movement in the aquarium. tan k.) Plant groups of Cryp tocoryne A similar effect can be achieved using
Vallisneria and Crinum species are ideal. parva, C. willisii, Echinodorus tenellus, raised areas of substrate . Place large flat
Background planti ng can be exte nded and Eleocharis species here, leaving at rocks uprigh t in t he subst rate and build
around the sides of the aquarium t o least 3-4 in (7.5- 10 cm) betw een plants up substrate behind th em to create a
create a more enclosed environment and for growth. The counte rbalance rule can raised area. This allows you to use
a "b order" f or the display. be applied here; create one large group smaller plants toward th e mid and
of a particular plant and complement it backgro und areas and helps to def ine
Midground planting The " midg round" with a smaller gro up elsewhere. plants in th e fore gro und, in fro nt of the
is an undefin ed area - simply a mixing of The foregroun d of th e aquarium is a rock. This " terrace" effect can be
the foreground and background. Plants good site f or individual specimen plants, created a num ber of t imes in the same
that can be tr immed to variable heights eit her in th eir own space or among the aquarium, providing there is sufficie nt
are ideal here. Creating a "st reet" space. The deeper subst rate should
grouping of one part icular plant, w it h Below: The foreground, midground, and consist of a mixture of various-sized
taller specimens in the background, and background plants are clearly definedin this cobb les, topped w ith th e same substra te
others gradually becomin g shorter attractive and carefully designedaquascape. used elsewh ere in th e aquarium . The
tow ard th e fore ground is a very effective The use of different and contrasting leaf cobbles in the low er layers should help
and visually appealing method of shapes, along with sparingly usedrockwork, to prevent any major compact ion and
blending areas t ogether. Stem plant s help to define each area of the display anaerobic condit ions.
w ith many large or long leaves are
excellent for t his purpose and includ e
Alternanthera, Bacopa, Heteranth era,
Hygrophila, and Lysimachia species.
Plants that grow on wood and poroys
rocks also wo rk w ell in th e midground.
Anubias, Bolbitis, Fontinalis, Microsorium,
and Vesicularia can all be used in th is
way. " Specimen" plant s can also look at
home in the midground, providing they
have suff icient space. In most average-
sized aquariums, it is only practical to
have a few specimen plants.
The midground is also th e ideal spot
for using decor ot her than plants. Rocks
and w ood can be used to create a
divider betw een areas, but do not be
tempted to make dividers throughout
the aquarium display.

Foreground planting The foreground

of the aquarium provides an open
swimming area. So that it does not
become an unde rwater jungle, it should

99
Placing plants in the aquarium
BACKGROUND Limnophila sessiliflora Vallisneria gigantea Cryptocoryne albida
Alternanthera reineckii Ludwigia arcuata Vallisneriaspiralis Cryptocoryne balansae
Ammannia gracilis Ludwigia brevipes Cryptocoryne beckettii
Anubias barteri var. barteri Ludwigia glandulosa MIDGROUND Cryptocoryne ciliata
Anubias congensis Ludwigia repens Alternanthera reineckii Cryptocoryne cordata
Aponogeton ulvaceus Ludwigia palustris Ammannia gracilis Cryptocoryne lutea
Bacopa caroliniana Microsorium pteropus Anubias angustifolia 'Afzelii' Cryptocoryne moehlmannii
Barclaya longifolia Myriophyllum aquaticum Anubias barteri var. barteri Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Blyxa echinosperma Myriophyllum hippuroides Anubias gracilis Cryptocoryne undulata
Bolbitis heudelotii Myriophyllum scabratum Anubias lanceolata Cryptocoryne walkeri
Cabomba aquatica Myriophyllum tubercula tum Aponogeton boivinianus Cryptocoryne wendtii
Cabomba caroliniana Najas indica Aponogeton crispus Didiplis diandra
Cabomba piauhyensis Nesaea crassicaulis Aponogeton elongatus Echinodorus amazonicus
Ceratophyllum demersum Nuphar japonica Aponogeton madagascariensis Echinodorus cordifolius
Ceratophyllum submersum Nymphaea lotus Aponogeton ulvaceus Echinodorus horemanii
Ceratopteris cornuta Nymphaea lotus var. rubra Aponogeton undulatus Echinodorus opacus
Crinum natans Potamogeton crispus Bacopa caroliniana Echinodorus osiris
Crinum thaianum Potamogeton gayii Bacopa monnieri Echinodorus parviflorus
Cryptocoryne balansae Rotala macrandra Bacopa rotundifolia Echinodorus quadricostatus var.
Cryptocoryne undulata Rotala rotundifolia Barclaya longifolia xinguensis
Cryptocoryne wendtii Rotala wallichii Blyxa echinosperma Echinodorus uruguayensis
Echinodorus amazonicus Sagittaria subulata Blyxajaponica Egeria densa
Echinodorus bleheri Shinnersia rivularis Bolbitis heudelotii Eichhornia azurea
Echinodorus cordifolius Spathiphyllum wallisii Cardamine Iyrata E1eocharis acicularis
Echinodorus grandiflorus Vallisneria americana Ceratophyllum demersum Eleocharis parvula
Echinodorus horemanii Vallisneria asiatica var. biwaensis Ceratophyllum submersum Eleocharis vivipara
Echinodorus macrophyllus Cryptocoryne affinis Eusteralis stellata
Echinodorus major Fontinalis antipyretica
Echinodorus osiris Gymnocoronis spilanthoides
Echinodorus parviflorus Hemianthus micranthemoides
Echinodorus uruguayensis Heteranthera zosterifolia
Egeria densa Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Eichhornia azurea Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Elodea canadensis Hydrocotyle verticillata
Eusteralis stellata Hygrophila corymbosa
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Hygrophila corymbosa 'Glabra '
Heteranthera zosterifolia Hygrophila corymbosa 'Strigosa'
Hygrophila corymbosa Hygrophila guianensis
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Crispa' Hygrophila stricta
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Glabra ' Lagarosiphon major
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Gracilis' Limnophila indica
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Strigo sa' Limnophila sessiliflora
Hygrophila difformis ~ Lobelia cardinalis
Hygrophila guianensis Ludwigia arcuata
Hygrophila polysperma Ludwigia brevipes
Hygrophila stricta Ludwigia repens
Limnophila aquatica Ludwigia palustris
Limnophila indica Lysimachia nummularia

100
 PRACTICAL SECTION
Aquascaping

Microsorium pteropus Cryptocoryne willisii Vallisneria tortifolia

Myriophyllum aquatieum Didiplis diandra Vesieularia dubyana
Myriophyllum hippuroides Echinodorus bolivianus
Myriophyllum scabratum Echinodorus opaeus SPECIMEN
Myriophyllum tubereulatum Echinodorus quadricostatus var. Anub ias barteri var. barteri
Najas indica xinguensis Anubias barteri var. nana
Nuphar japonica Echinodorus tenellus Anubias congensis
Nymphaea lotus Eleocharis acieularis Anubias gracilis
Nymphaea lotus var. rubra Eleocharis parvula Apon ogeton boivinianus
Nymphaea stellata Eleocharis vivipara Aponogeton crispus Above: A close view of the
Nymphoides aquatica Eusteralis stellata Aponogeton elongatus floating leaves of Salvinia natans.
Potamogeton crispus Fontinalis antipyretica Aponogeton madagascariensis
Potamogeton gayii Glossostigma elatinoides Aponogeton ulvaceus Eleocharis vivipara
Potamogeton mascarensis Hemianthus callitrichoides Aponogeton undulatus Fontinalis antipyretica
Rotala macrandra Heteranthera zosterifolia Azolla filiculoides Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Rotala rotundifolia Hydrocotyle leucocephala Bolbitis heudelotii Microsorium pteropus
Rotala wallichii Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Cardamine Iyrata Nuphar japonica
Sagittaria platyphylla Hydrocotyle verticillata Crinum natans Nymphaea stellata
Sagittaria subulata Lagarosiphon major Crypto coryne balansae Vesieularia dubyana
Saururus cernuus Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae Cryptocoryne siamensis
Shinnersia rivularis Lobelia cardinalis Cryptocoryne undulata FLOATING
Spathiphyllum wallisii Lysimachia nummularia Echinodorus amazonieus Azolla caroliniana
Vallisneria americana Marsilea hirsuta Echinodorus bleheri Azolla filieuloides
Vallisneria tortifolia Micranthemum umbrosum Echinodorus cordifolius Ceratophyllum demersum
Nymphoides aquatica Echinodorus macrophyllus Ceratophyllum submersum
FOREGROUND Potamogeton mascarensis Echinodorus major Ceratopteris cornuta
Anubias angustifolia 'Afzelii' Sagittariaplatyphylla Echinodorus osiris Eichhornia crassipes
Anubiasbarteri var. nana Sagittaria pusilla Echinodorus uruguayensis Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Anubias gracilis Samolus valerandi Eichhornia azurea Lemna minor
Anubias lanceolata Saururus cernuus Eichhornia crassipes Lemna trisulca
Aponogeton crispus Limnobium laevigatum
Aponogeton madagascariensis Ludwigia helminthorrhiza
Aponogeton undulatus Micranthemum umbrosum
Bacopa monnieri Najas indica
Bacopa rotundifolia Nymphoidesaquatica
Blyxa japonica Pistia stratiotes
Cardamine Iyrata Riccia fluitans
Cryptocoryne albida Salvinia auriculata
Cryptocoryne affinis Salvinia
Cryptocorynebalansae oblongifolia
Cryptocorynebeckettii Salvinia minima
Cryptocoryne ciliata Salvinia natans
Cryptocoryne cordata Trapa natans
Cryptocoryne lutea
Cryptocoryne moehlmannii Vallisneria to rtifolia, a
Cryptocoryne parva compact species that
Cryptocorynepontederiifolia will provide interest in
Cryptocoryne siamensis both the midground and
Cryptocoryne undulata foreground areas of a
Cryptocoryne walkeri planted aquarium.

101
A paludarium
In a paludarium, th e design foc uses on a Pockets of soil in the
combinat ion of above- and below- water rockwork support terrestrial
environments. A typical paludarium w ill or marsh plants.
be no more t han a th ird to half f ull, so
you w ill need a relative ly t all aquarium to
ensure that th ere is eno ugh space above
and below the w ater. The plant s can be
a mixture of aquatic, te rrestrial, and Plant list Use silicone sealant to fix rocks
marsh species, but all sho uld do w ell in 1. Acarus gram ineus var. pusillus together and to the glass to
moist conditions . Mosses and ferns are (Dw arf Japanese rush) create a stable display.
part icularly suited to paludariums. This 2. Anubias lanceolata
example f eatu res only aquat ic and marsh (Narrow-leaved anubias)
plants. The most vit al part of the 3. Cryptocoryne spp.
construction is ensuring th at t he 4. Anubias barteri var. nana Fill the tank only a
rockwork is secure, so anchor it all firmly 5. Lysimachia nummularia third ful! to allow
with silicone sealant before fi lling the (Creeping Jenny) space for the non-
tank . Good ventilat ion is also importa nt 6. M icrosorium p terop us (Java fern) aquatic plants.
to prevent th e air f rom overheat ing and 7. Ophiopogon japo nicus 'Variegatus'
damaging plant leaves. Use an air pump
to create small currents of moving air
above t he water.
(Variegated f ountain plant)
8. Spathip hyllum wallisii (Peace lily)
9. Syngonium podophyllum
/
(Stardust ivy)
Below: A palludarium focuses on decor and
plants rather than fish, but the combination
makes such displays extremely effective.
Tank d im ensions

I r
18 in (45 cm) 1\
'I'-.. 1 ../ /

Waterleve!
30 in
(75 cm)
I \
"r--... //

\
<, 1/
( 24 in (60 em) )

102
 PRACTICAL SECTION
A quascaping

Acarus gramineus var. pusillus Syngonium podophyllum Anubias lanceolata Ophiopogon japonicus 'Variegatus'
(Dwarf Japanese rush) (Stardust ivy) (Narrow-leaved anubias) (Variegated fountain plant)

Lysimachia nummularia
(Creeping Jenny)

Long, branch -style

bog wood adds to the
riverbank appearance
of the display and also
provides a medi um for
growing plants.

Microsorium pterop us
(Java fern)

The water depth is only

a quarter to a third of
the aquarium depth,
but this is sufficien t to
sustain emerging and
foregro und plants.

Anubias barteri
var. nana

There are few plants in the

substrate so nutrient-rich
additives or heating cables
are not needed. A simple
pea-gravel or lime -free
substrate is adequate.
Spathiphyllum wallisii (Peace lily) Cryptocoryne spp. Sphagnum moss covering the rocks

10 3
An open-topped aquarium Nymphaea lotu s var. rubra
Pistiastratiotes (Red tiger lot us)
The w ater surface of an aquarium Echinodorus (Wat er lettuce)
w it hout a hood can be used as an grandiflorus (Large-
extension of the display. Floating plants f lowered Am azon
and leaves produced above the wate r swordplant)
add an extra element. If the aquarium
is large enough , you can also include
bogw ood and houseplants. An open-
topped aquarium must be illuminated
wi th pendant -type lighting . If plants are
to grow on or above the wate r surface,
allow enough space (at least 18 in/45 cm)
betw een th e light and t he water surface
so t hat t he leaves do not overheat.
For the same reason, provide good
ventilation . If t he light source is very hot,
it may be worth carefully position ing a
small fan to create a cooling air current
above t he aquarium.

Recommended equipment
Because this aquarium is designed to be
viewed from many angles, large and bulky
internal filters may not be ideal. External
filters will be far less restricting . Many of the
p lants (including the floating species) produce
leaves above water and obtain carbon dioxide
from the atm osphere, and the submerg ed
plants are all relatively hardy sp ecies, so an
elaborate carbon dioxide system is not
essential. Carbon dioxide is still required, but
a small, internal tablet or powder-based
system w ill be adequate.

Echinodorus tenellus
I (Pygmy chain The substrate consists of a layer of sand, followed

'----~
swordplant) by a nutrient-rich layer and a lime-free top layer. A
heating cable is ideal for the foreground "Iawnlike"
plants, which will spread rapidly wi th the aid of
available nutrients in the substrate.

104

>", • .. "-
- . '" ""- ~ ~ _ ,_"J.!.-.:.,;. ....... ~ ....
 PRACTICAL SECTION
A qua scaping

Anubias congensis
(Congo anubias)

Plant list
1. Anubias congensis (Congo anubi as)
2. Cabo mba piauhyensis (Red cabomba)
3. Cryp tocoryne pa rva
4. Echinodorus grandiflorus (Large-
flo wered A mazon sword plant)
5. Echinodorus ten ellus (Pyg my chain
swordplant)
6. Nuphar j apo nica (Spatte rdoc k)
7. Nymph aea lotus var. rubra (Red ti ger
lotus)

Floating plants
Pistia stratiotes (W at er lettuce)
Salvinia auriculata (Salvin ia)

SUITABLE FISH
Choose surface-dwelling fish for
movement when seen from above.
Flo ating plants and tiger lotus leaves
provide cover for hatchetfish
(Carnegiella, Gasteropelecus and
Thoracocharax spp.), livebearers, and
go uramis. Small algae-eating fish,
such as Otocinclus, will browse on the
leaves of Echinodorus tenellus. (Larger
algae-eaters may damage the thin
tiger lotus leaves.) Small Corydoras
catfish will rem ove debris from the
smaller-leaved foreground plants.
Tetras and small rasboras make
Nuphar japonica Cryptocoryne parva good shoaling groups among the
(Spatterdock) vegetation. For a mo re showy effect,
choose larger fish, such as angelfish.

105
 A low-light aquarium
Salvinia auriculata (Salvinia).
As we have seen, the correct light ing is Floating plants cast welcome Egeria densa Hygrophila
vita l for t he continued growth and shade on the plants positioned (E lodea) corymbosa
health of aquarium plant s, but in some benea th them in the aquarium .
sit uat ions, providing suitab ly intense light
may be costly or impractical. Luckily for
the aquarist, t here are plants t hat th rive
in shady streams with little natural light,
and these have adapted to grow in
relatively dim cond itions. Indeed, some
of them w ill not do we ll if given too
much light.
One limitati on of low light conditions
is th at suitable foreground plants are
hard to obtain . Because foreground
plants are low grow ing, they do not
receive as much light as taller plants
nearer the water surface. This means
that most foreground plants require a
more intense light source in the
aquarium . The except ions to thi s rule are
many Cryptoco ryne species, w hich come
from shallow streams, often shaded by
terrestrial vegetation.
M any slow -growing plants, such as
Java fern (Microsorium pteropus) or
Anubias sp.. can be kept in low -light
condit ions. Slow-growing plants
generally have a slow metabolis m, so
they have less need of light energy. The
plants in this display can be kept in a
tank w it h one or tw o f luorescent tubes.

Tank dimensions

'1'
12 in (30 em)
-i-

I15 in Cryptoco ryne affinis The background, floating, and wood-rooted plants take
(38 em) most nutrients from the water, and the foreground

~ '----_--I
cryptocorynes will do well with liquid fertilizers and CO2 .
Substrate is, therefore, relatively unimportant in this
<'--- - - 42 in (105 em) - - -- - - 7 aquarium and a simple small-grade lime -free or pea
gravel substrate will suffice .

106