| Live aquarium plants have a range of needs which | | | | where they can be found naturally in the world. |
| can only be met through continued maintenance | | | | 5. Research common problems - Different species |
| and an understanding of what is necessary to | | | | of plants not only will have different requirements |
| keep them healthy. There are a couple of | | | | where light, heating, plantation and nutrients are |
| important things to consider if you are keeping | | | | concerned, but may be prone to various |
| aquatic plants. | | | | deficiencies and problems. If you are aware of |
| 1. Choose a good substrate - This in itself will | | | | these, you will be able to react faster if things go |
| save you a lot of trouble further down the line. | | | | wrong. |
| Different plants have different need for nutrients | | | | 6. Combine plants with similar needs - If you are |
| and the more demanding your plants, the more | | | | keeping several different species of plants |
| important a good quality becomes to keep them | | | | together, then it is a good idea to keep plants |
| in top health. | | | | which have broadly similar needs. You are far less |
| 2. Understand basic water chemistry - When | | | | likely to experience problems this way and it |
| things begin to go wrong in the aquarium | | | | allows a little freedom when using fertilizers or |
| environment, the better you understand what | | | | changing other aspects of water chemistry. |
| makes up the water, the easier it is to respond | | | | 7 Research, research, research - This is perhaps |
| to in-balances. There are a wide range of | | | | the most vital aspect of aquarium keeping |
| nutrients found in the water and a lack of these | | | | generally, knowing what you are doing before you |
| leads to deficiencies. | | | | even get close to cycling or stocking the tank. |
| 3. Mimic natural light conditions - It is vitally | | | | The more you know, the easier it is to respond |
| important that plants receive enough light to be | | | | to problems which arise and the early you will be |
| able to photosynthesise properly and less | | | | able to spot them. |
| obviously, they also require a dark period in order | | | | The more that you can learn about the |
| to respire. Where possible, try to replicate the | | | | inhabitants of your aquarium and ways in which to |
| natural conditions of the plant. | | | | keep on top of maintenance, the better your |
| 4. Mimic natural heating conditions - As with | | | | aquarium should fare generally. The time and |
| lighting, it is important for plants to be grown in an | | | | effort taken in the start will pay off many times |
| environment close to what they would experience | | | | over in the long run. |