Freshwater

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Part III: Water, Chemicals, and Plants
Lighting
Tropical plants require a constant source of light during the day in order to
grow properly. Most tropical plants should receive at least eight hours of
light each day. Planted tanks require more intense lighting than fish-only
aquariums, but your fish probably won’t mind an opportunity to get a bit of
an extra tan now and then.
On the other hand, some plants such as the Amazon sword and the Java fern
prefer low lighting situations. Check the requirements of each species before
you buy so you get plants that will survive under the same lighting conditions.
You can use a plant-growth light, which provides the proper light spectrum
plants need. You can also control the amount of light your plants receive by
using a simple timer on your aquarium light so that peak intensity remains
the same each day.
One way to compensate for the different lighting requirements between plant
species, if you choose to mix them, is to place taller plants so that they shade
the shorter species that thrive in low-light levels.
Supplements
One of the most important supplements for plants is iron because plants use
it to produce chlorophyll, necessary for photosynthesis. Make sure you get
an iron supplement for your plant tanks. You can find them on most aquatic
Internet plant sites and in some fish stores.
Purchasing and Transporting Your Plants
If you’re fortunate enough to live in an area where the local pet shops stock a
wide variety of live plants, you need to know how to get them home safely. If possible,
always purchase your plants from a dealer (in town or on the Internet).
Taking from the wild
You can collect plants from small bodies of water, such as ponds, but take a few
precautions if you choose to do this. Make sure the plants in your area match
the water conditions that will be in your aquarium. Any plants you take from
the wild must be carefully cleaned in clear, cool water with a toothbrush to
avoid introducing disease and aquatic pests such as snails and parasites.