Freshwater

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Part III: Water, Chemicals, and Plants
www.aquariumplants.com
www.freshwateraquariumplants.com
If you don’t have a computer, borrow your neighbor’s for a while (tell her
you’re doing international biological research).
What Live Plants Do for Your Aquarium
You can use live plants to enhance the natural look of your freshwater aquarium,
and they can be very beneficial and beautiful at the same time. Plants
can produce a calming affect (both for you and your fish) and help maintain a
natural, biological balance in your aquarium. Don’t get us wrong. Many hobbyists
aquascape their aquariums with artificial plants and are perfectly
happy with the outcome. Then again, many hobbyists use plastic plants
because they don’t have the knowledge to maintain live aquatic plants successfully,
or don’t have the time to care for them.
Certain species of fish destroy any live plants you may put into your tank, so in
certain situations artificial plants are much more beneficial than the real
McCoy. Artificial plants are only slightly less costly than live plants, so don’t let
cost alone affect your decision. If you really want live plants but are on a limited
budget, just start out with a few and add them when you are able to grab a
bit of aquatic “mad money.” (See Chapter 17 for a lot more on plant species.)
If you do choose to use artificial plants, try not to get too carried away in the
color department. Plastic plants are manufactured in every color under the
sun. If your tank ends up with shocking pink plants on one side, black in the
front, and red and green striped ones in the back, your fish may think they’ve
crash-landed at Woodstock. They may die from sheer fright or become colorblind
(okay, just kidding). Even though they pose no real physical danger,
loudly colored plants can keep your fish from spawning on a continual basis
and may cause them to hide in the corners of your aquarium.
A well-planted aquarium:
Offers good shelter for pregnant females who want to escape from
aggressive mates
Supplies shade and cooler temperatures during the warmer months
Helps protect small and shy fish from bullying tankmates
Provides a safe refuge for all your delicate and long-finned fish that may
otherwise end up on the aquatic lunch menu