There are a wide range of aquatic plants available for aquariums and some are
easier to care for than others. Choosing the correct mix of plants should be
based on both aesthetic function and their ease of keeping in the aquarium. For
most aquariums, a little trial and error will be required. Even in the best
conditions some plants will do better than others. An aquarium is a dynamic
environment though, so plants can be continually added or removed as required.
Planting areas
Plants can be grouped as background, midground or foreground based on their size
and a mix of these plants often produces the best effect. Foreground plants such
as small Cryptocoryne sp. or grass-like plants such as Eleocharis sp. are ideal
for creating large areas of 'lawn' like vegetation towards the front of the
aquarium. Midground plants can be placed around other items of decor such as
bogwood or rocks and are best used in small groups. Background plants will grow
quite large and can be used in dense groups to give the aquarium a heavily
vegetated appearance. When choosing plants for the aquarium, make sure your
selection includes plants for all of these areas. It is often best to use groups
of plants and only a few different varieties rather than a large number of
individual plants.
The right mix
Plants are available in a number of different leaf forms and colours, to create
an interesting display a good mix of these should be used. Contrasting leaf
shapes look best when placed behind or in front of each other rather than next
to each other. Using this method, the foreground, midground, and background
plants should look distinctly different whilst plants within the same group
should have similar leaf shapes. A good method of creating subtle variations in
leaf shape or colour is to use different species of a related group. Using this
method, foreground plants could consist of a number of different Cryptocoryne
sp. whilst background plants could consist of different species of the similar
Cabomba or Myriophyllum sp.
Environmental requirements
Much like fish, different plants have different needs. Some are far easier to
keep than others. The plants you choose should all be suited to your aquarium.
If you do not have very bright lighting then plants with red leaves or light
green leaves may not be suitable, as these may require bright light. If the
water in your aquarium is quite hard, or has a high pH level, use only plants
suited to harder water. A good retailer should be able to help you choose plants
based on your aquarium conditions.
Quantity
There is no rule to follow when choosing the amount of plants and it is purely
up to the individual. It should be noted that if a large number of plants are
used then good lighting, fertilisation and abundant carbon dioxide is required.
The plants do not have to be bought all at once, and you can simply increase the
number of plants until the aquarium appears as desired.
