Will buying plants for my aquarium make the water nasty and have lots of algae?

Question

I have a 10 gallon tank w/ fish and filter.

Answer 1

No quite the opposite dear.

Plants can and do improve water quality, they add oxygen during the day (although they can use oxygen at night, so male sure you properly connect a CO2 system so that CO2 is not added all night).

Proper nutrients are important to out-compete algae including minerals such as calcium (to buffer photosynthesis during the day)

Here is a source of my planted aquarium information that I recommend:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumPlants.html

Answer 2

Live plants would be very beneficial and would compete with algae for food in the tank, thereby eradicating nuisance algae.

However, many live plants have specific lighting needs so research the plant before purchasing it for your tank. Some plants have minimal lighting requirements and could live under standard aquarium lighting, but most others will need stronger light in order to thrive. If the plant is not receiving adequate light, it could wither away and that could make your water nasty and decomposing matter in the water could encourage nuisance algae growth.

Just do your homework. Research aquarium plants. Find the one you want. Be sure you have adequate lighting for it before putting it into your tank. So long as its needs are being met, it will help keep your tank clean and also aid in oxygenating the water for your fish. :)

Answer 3

No, buying live plants for your aquarium will actually help to ward off algae.

Algae grows when there is leftover food, fish poop or other kinds of biological waste in your tank. This stuff will become nitrates, which algae feeds on to grow. By introducing live plants, especially fast-growing ones - hornwort, water sprite, cabomba - they will be able to use up the nitrates to grow before the algae can.

You can also ward off algae by making sure your tank doesn't get more than 8 hours of light daily. Too much light will let the algae photosynthesize which will further spur on its growth.

Answer 4

No, plants are very benefical to a aquariumn.
Whats causes Algae, is 2 things, to much light albeith sunlight or tnk lights (left on to long.) or not enough enough light. You always gets some algae build up, but if you keep your tank clean, it should be no problem.
Plants are good for the water, fish to hide in and nibbble at.

Answer 5

Well only if the plants go down and bring up algae but all you would have to do is clean the tank once and put the plants in their and the filter will pick up the littler hard to get pieces of algae.

Answer 6

no, live aquarium plants do great things for the water. They help act as a natural filter and provide extra oxygen to the water.

Not all aquarium plants need to be scary. what i mean is, they arent as hard as some people think they are. While some plants do better in high lighting and co2 systems. plants like java ferns, moss, some swords ... will do fine in general set-us.

look into java ferns for a 10 gallon.

Answer 7

Actually it will do the opposite. When you put in live plants they use the nutrients from the water and fish waste, making the tank cleaner, and 'eating' up the nutrients that allow algae to thrive.

Answer 8

No, the plants will actually help you, they provide oxygen on day time, they absobr nitrates and phostphates. Yes, I have heard that they turn the water green, but this is probably because of too much sunlght. Plant also actually help since they absorb all the nutrients that algae need to survive.

Answer 9

I have a 5 gallon tank and fake plants. Having fake plants dont build up algae I think but get a plecostomus to suck up the algae if you dont want it. Good luck ;)

Answer 10

Live plants help to remove nitrates from the water,and in a 10 gallon,you will need all the help you can get in doing this.They will not incourage algae growth.