Do you have yoyo loach as one of your aquatic pets? Regardless of the aquatic creatures that you have in our aquarium, it becomes a standard to add some decorations to make it more alive and beautiful. At the same time, to give that “authentic” experience for your pets that they’re living in their natural habitat.

Aquatic Plants

It is therefore without a question that you’ll be using aquatic plants in your aquarium. While they look harmless, they should be given proper maintenance to avoid causing negative effects both in the aquarium and your pets.

Care Tips

Plants for freshwater aquarium are vital addition to the overall habitat. While there are those who prefer plastic plants, adding live aquatic plants do offer environmental benefits compared to its synthetic counterparts. Some of these benefits include:

• Producing oxygen
• Absorbing carbon dioxide
• Helping in controlling the growth of algae
• Improving water quality and;
• Providing renewable food source

If you have opted to include live plants as part of your freshwater aquarium, always remember that thriving plants indicate thriving fish.

Choosing the Appropriate Freshwater Aquarium Plant

By definition, aquatic plant is a type of plant that survives even when submerged completely underwater. However, you have to know as well that different aquatic plants will demand different level of care. But for freshwater aquarium plants, the most suggested options are:

• Echinodorus
• Sword plants
• Anubis and
• Anarchies

This is all because of the simple fact that they’re easy to care and maintain.

Other examples that you may want to consider are Cryptocoryne, Ludwigia, Microsorium, Vallisneria, Hygrophila and Bolbitis. In the selection process for your plant life, always remember to assess the compatibility with your fish as well as water condition.

Determining Freshwater Aquarium Plant Substrate

Live freshwater aquarium plants either have loose or potted bunch. Even though plants grow often in aquatic substrate, optimal condition for aquarium plants are to 2 to 3 inches of laterite or a combination of rock and soil that is rich in aluminum and iron and covered with at least an inch of bigger substrate similar to gravel.

If you will not be using laterite, then make it a point to provide fish-safe food additives, fertilizers and supplements. Some aquatic plants may benefit as well from CO2.