| One of the greatest challenges in keeping | | | | idea to note if they have any specific nutrient |
| aquarium plants is knowing them well enough to | | | | needs. If they do have specific needs, make sure |
| be able to read the signs of ill health. With a little | | | | that there will not be a harmful affect on other |
| research, it is easy enough to know what kind of | | | | aquatic life by adding these nutrients to the water. |
| lighting and heating to provide, but understanding | | | | There are three common commercial fertilizers, |
| water chemistry is another matter entirely. | | | | KNO3 (potassium nitrate), K2SO4 (potassium |
| Water chemistry is the most complex aspect of | | | | sulfate), and KH2PO4 (mono potassium |
| live aquarium plant keeping, although plants will | | | | phosphate). They should provide all the |
| grow sick and die if they do not also have the | | | | macronutrients needed in the aquarium, it is wise |
| right levels of heating and light. The specific needs | | | | to check the level of different chemicals before |
| of plants for the various different nutrients, light | | | | and after using them. With both high levels of |
| intensities and temperatures varies from plant | | | | phosphate and nitrate in an aquarium, an algae |
| family to family and also from species to species. | | | | bloom is likely, sometimes overnight. Different |
| To make matters even more complicated where | | | | deficiencies will manifest in different ways in the |
| plants are suffering from a lack of nutrients, | | | | plants, from holes in leaf growth, to yellow and |
| deficiencies may manifest in subtly similar ways. | | | | twisted new growth. Although there is some |
| Phosphate and nitrogen deficiencies for example | | | | guesswork involved due to come deficiencies |
| are easily confused by leaves which turn yellow | | | | being very similar in affect, the more you know, |
| and die. | | | | the easier it is to identify. |
| The easiest way to know what is in your water | | | | Providing that you are using a good substrate and |
| is to buy a testing kit which will measure various | | | | good fertilizers, if you are not growing especially |
| aspects of water chemistry for you. You can also | | | | demanding plants, you should not have any |
| test for water pH and hardness, which should help | | | | serious problems. In some cases you may not |
| you stay on top of providing the right | | | | even need to fertilize. It is recommended that |
| environment for your fish and plants. When | | | | you test the water periodically to keep everything |
| thinking about keeping plants, it is a very good | | | | under control. |