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Aquatic Botanical Biodiversity: Freshwater Aquarium Plants

Aquatic plants do carry the other half of the marine ecosystem, and are good additions to aquariums simply because they make the marine life equation complete. But there are good signs lately which indicate that these plants are now used for more than just equating the animal-plant balance in an aquatic community. If you are interested in purchasing freshwater aquarium plants for your aquarium, then you might find this information quite useful.

Floaters
Floaters are a common choice in aquariums, because they add that style and elegance aside from the balance that they provide in the entire aquarium. Floaters, as the name suggests, thrive at the surface of the aquarium with their roots “floating” in the water, and are, by technical name, floating plants. One good example of a floater is the Fairy Moss, or the An Driccia.

Rhizomes
These plants are commonly described as having thick stems that stretch out inside the fish tank horizontally, with the leaves sprouting evenly at the stem. They are made to “run” over the substrate, much like how a normal plant grows on land. The Anubias and the African Fern are the commonly used rhizomes for aquariums. Aquarists start growing these plants by attaching them to the driftwood, and they spread along the substrate all by themselves.

Rosettes
These plants are characterized as looking like crowns, with roots that grow underneath them. These kinds of plants are very ornamental for a freshwater aquarium plant, because they present a shortened stem axis that tends to spread over its leaves beautifully. The downside is that they tend to need a good amount of maintenance and care. Some good examples of Rosettes are the Amazon Sword and the Sagittaria.

Stems
They are called this way because of their general appearance, which basically looks like a stem that is firmly rooted into the substrate. The leaves that can come in paired and multiple varieties, are found at the stem’s nodes.

Other Notable Aquatic Plants
The Java moss may well be considered as one of the most common aquatic plants. This is because it has a high tolerance rate for varied water pH levels, and can grow relatively fast, which makes it the ideal plant for beginners.

The Water Wisteria is a plant that can also grow quite quickly. It is a good plant to use in aquariums because aside from its aesthetic function as a plant, it also helps to keep the algae levels of the aquarium low. Be careful of the water nutrient sucking capability of this plant, though.

Cryptocoryne Becketti is a plant that can pose a challenge to the more experienced hobbyist. It is an amphibious plant, meaning it can grow well regardless if it is on land or underwater (but for its underwater survivability purposes, we shall still call this an aquatic plant). Like Rosettes, it’s a very good ornamental plant, as it gives a dazzling array of different colors, but it only works for those who are able to raise it well.

Sandra Gaffney is a freshwater aquarium expert. For more great tips on
freshwater aquarium
plants
, visit

http://www.myfreshwateraquariumsecrets.com/

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/aquatic-botanical-biodiversity-freshwater-aquarium-plants-1545354.html


Tropical Fish Aquarium and Plants

Javamoos.

Image via Wikipedia Java Moss

Author: Suzie Goldie

The home for your tropical fish should be as large as you can afford. Fish do better if they have plenty of space, besides, there are so many beautiful varieties that you’ll be sure to want to add more once you start.

But remember that the bigger the tank, the heavier it will be when full of water. Most aquariums come with a warranty against cracking and leaking, but that usually only holds good if they are on the recommended stand.

Since a stand of some sort is necessary to support the aquarium, so you must decide if you want it to be on a cupboard or table, or on a purpose built stand. If the table or other furniture used to hold the aquarium is not completely flat, it will stress the glass which may then crack and leak, causing a great deal of damage to carpets and flooring, not to mention the fish.

Make sure the floor is structurally strong enough to support the weight of the aquarium too. The neighbors won’t appreciate a fishy shower pouring through their ceiling. For optimum safety, be sure to read all the manufacturer’s instructions when setting up your aquarium. (more…)


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