Live plants in aquarium....???

Question

Does having live plants in a fish aquarium decrease the buildup of toxic gases?
I have a 29 gallon tank with approximately 20 fish (all small fish).

Answer 1

Plants are highly desirable in many aquariums for a number of reasons. Obviously, plants look good and provide a natural environment with shelter and an additional food source for fishes. When they are healthy and growing, they also absorb nutrients, add oxygen, and remove carbon dioxide. A well-planted aquarium also promotes breeding behaviour in many species and may increase disease resistance. However, most of these benefits only occur when plants are healthy and growing. To achieve this, you need to provide specific conditions and may also need extra equipment. Also, plants do not take the place of a good filter, in fact, better filtration promotes better plant growth, and regular maintenance is still needed, although this need not be excessive. Finally, not all fish are plant friendly, so your choice of fish may preclude having live plants in the aquarium (or, conversely, your choice of plants may restrict what fish you have).

So should you bother with live plants? It all comes down to the type of aquarium you wish to set up! A beautifully planted aquarium can be a very rewarding experience, and is something nearly every serious aquarists aspires to at some stage. Of course, not every aquarium will support live plants eg, brackish tanks, or where plant-eating fish are to be kept. Additionally, some fish prefer a rocky landscape, and some may dig and uproot plants. It should be made clear that there is nothing wrong with artificial decorations, or with using a mix of live and plastic or silk plants, or having a tank with a rocky aquascape - these can all be attractive and appropriate set ups. However, if you are keeping plant friendly fishes (eg most small tropicals) or if you simply enjoy the green look, then having a planted aquarium is certainly highly recommended.

Requirements of live plants

All aquatic plants have the same basic requirements, which are outlined below, although some are easier to grow than others. There are some plants that you can grow with just the basic requirements, ie water, light and nutrients (many of which are provided by wastes from the fish) but for others, or for the most luxurious plant growth, you will need to provide extra care, additional lighting, or better fertilisation.

The main requirements of plants are:

Suitable substrate
Proper aquarium lighting
Optimum nutrient balance
Carbon dioxide
Suitable fish population (including algae eaters)
Good water quality
It should be noted that algae are a type of plant and so the factors which determine plant growth are also those that influence the growth of algae. Algae however are opportunistic, and can grow where conditions are not optimal for plants. If plants are provided with a good environment for growth they will often out-compete the algae, but if the conditions are not perfect, the growth of algae will be promoted instead. Some tips for controlling algae growth in planted aquaria can be found here.

Answer 2

What do you mean by toxic gases? In a way, yes; if you have sand, for example, and you do not stir it up, it can develop hard plaques under which gases get trapped and, when released, can kill your fish. The roots of the plants help keep the substrate refreshed. On the other hand, if you have rotting roots, the opposite can take place, with the rotting material building up within the substrate.

All in all, plants don't have a huge effect on water chemistry and cleanliness. They are great because they absorb nitrates and make use of some fish waste, but they do not replace weekly water changes or gravel vacs, and will not make up for overstocking - but your tank doesn't sound overstocked, unless all your fish are baby oscars ;)

Answer 3

The answer in reality is no. Yes they will use up nitrates, and CO2, but you'd need x10-20 the mass of fish in healthy growing plants to make a big difference in your tank. They don't hurt, and look nice, but not much beyond that. You still need to have a filter, and do regular water changes.

Answer 4

hi, Like 8 interior the corner stated-many so noted as aquarium flora are merely conventional flora that seem effective underwater yet they do no longer commonly final long adequate to make certain themselves. previously I knew approximately this i replaced into conned into procuring various which incorporates a Peace Lilly & a Variegated Dracaena (Dragon Plant). actual, the Dragon Plant has achieved o.k. in a pot on my windowsill for over a twelve months now! in spite of the indisputable fact that, in the experience that your aquarium flora are rather aquatic inclusive of Vallis or Elodea i'm afraid they'll die out of water for any length of time.

Answer 5

they get rid of the high nitrate levels which are all the toxics like fish poo