| Having an aquarium can be a source of great joy | | | | secondly, they provide the pet fish with a natural |
| and satisfaction. People who have fish as pet find | | | | source of food. Presence of live plants reduces |
| that they feel calmer and happier when they | | | | the growth of algae in the fish tank, but most |
| watch the aquarium. Fish make really great pets, | | | | importantly, live plants produce oxygen through |
| and do not make hardly any demands on your | | | | photosynthesis and continuously add it to the |
| time or any other resource. This is why they are | | | | water for the fish to breathe. Also, plants absorb |
| considered favorite pets in millions of houses. | | | | wastes of the fish like exhaled carbon dioxide and |
| Some Facts and Myths about Fish Tank Care | | | | ammonia; if allowed to accumulate in the tank |
| There are many myths surrounding the setting up | | | | water it can be hazardous for the fish's health. |
| and maintaining of the fish tank care. Let us look | | | | Keeping a Healthy Aquarium with Plants |
| into some of them: | | | | Certain considerations need to be taken into |
| Myth - you need to remove the fish from the | | | | account when letting live plants inhabit your home |
| aquarium before washing it or changing the water. | | | | aquarium. The following points are important to |
| Truth - the fish are actually stressed terribly | | | | consider: |
| when displaced from their environment, specifically | | | | Only select those species of plants for your fish |
| after being chased and caught in nets. | | | | tank that can stay healthy while completely |
| Myth - Changing the gravel is the best way of | | | | submerged. Make sure the plants you select are |
| having it cleaned or washing it under the tap | | | | able to survive well in the existing lighting |
| water. | | | | conditions and chemical nature of the tank water; |
| Truth - changing of gravel will actually harm the | | | | most plants are suited to live in pH values 6.5-7.5. |
| fish, as with time the gravel will house friendly | | | | Also, check about the suitable temperature range |
| bacteria that help in clearing the fish waste, which | | | | for the plants you select. Certain plant types, like |
| in the long run will actually poison your fish. | | | | sagittaria, are fast growing and tolerant of even |
| Myth - you need to wash the tank as often as | | | | hard water; thus, they are ideal for the first |
| you can; | | | | inhabitants of the fish tank. More sensitive plants |
| Truth - you should actually wash as rarely as | | | | can be added later for keeping diversity and giving |
| possible, because the longer you leave the | | | | the aquarium a natural lush and attractive look. |
| system by itself, the better the system works. | | | | For visual effects, you can use a combination of |
| You should have good filters attached to it and | | | | plants of varying sizes so as to impart an |
| ensure that the water is oxygenated well. | | | | impression of depth and contrast. Red plants, like |
| Myth - you should replace all the water from the | | | | ludwigia, bring a beautiful contrast against the |
| tank and replace it fully with new water every | | | | natural green of other species. Plants with tall |
| time you wash the tank; | | | | stems and those bearing adventitious roots need |
| Truth - you should actually replace only 20-25% | | | | regular pruning so as to keep the other plants |
| of the water, otherwise you will create an | | | | healthy against their overshadowing effects. |
| imbalance in the system and harm your fish. | | | | Fish tank care is something you learn with |
| Myth - you should abundantly feed your fish if | | | | practice. The aquarium will become a proper |
| you will be missing for a few days from the | | | | self-sustaining system, which will need to be |
| house; | | | | nurtured to stay so; in this case, fish tank care |
| Truth - you should never overfeed your fish; this | | | | will not involve cleaning, as much as maintaining |
| will not only cloud and pollute the water it will | | | | the right balance of this system. With time, and if |
| tempt the fish to overeat and kill them. | | | | your fish tank care is okay, you will need to wash |
| What Plants Do in a Fish Tank? | | | | and/or maintain the tank very rarely because the |
| Live plants are an essential presence in every | | | | system itself will take care of itself, just like in the |
| aquarium for many reasons. First, they add a | | | | nature. |
| natural and attractive look to the aquarium, and | | | | |