Do you need plants in an aquarium?

How many types of aquarium plants are there? They are almost impossible to count! A huge number of different shapes and colors allows you to create an aquarium design for every taste, emphasize the color of aquarium inhabitants and even simplify the care of the aquarium!

Plants in an aquarium do not complicate the care of it, as it may seem, but, on the contrary, help to maintain optimal water parameters. They saturate the water with oxygen, serve as natural healers of the aquarium and work for the benefit of its inhabitants.

Beginning aquarists are wary of planting plants because of the risk of algae growth. But does this risk really exist? Contrary to popular belief, plants do not provoke the growth of algae, but, on the contrary, help to fight them. And this happens naturally: by reducing the amount of nitrogen compounds, including nitrates – the food of algae.

Another function of plants is nutrition. Algae and protozoa from the leaves of plants serve as a food base for aquarium inhabitants. The third important function is that plants will save your pets from stress. It is thanks to plants that fish and invertebrates have places to hide and relax, which is very important for a healthy life of aquarium inhabitants.

Now we definitely know what the plants in the aquarium should be! But not everything is so simple. Be careful: not all fish are suitable for the same plants, and certain types of fish with plants do not get along at all. Read this information before planting your aquarium. 

For beginners, I recommend starting with the most unpretentious plants. It:

• vallisneria, 

• echinodorus,

• anubias, 

• rustle, 

• elodea, 

• hornwort, 

• limnobium. 

All of them look spectacular, decorate the aquarium and serve as a shelter for fish. The main thing is that they fit exactly your aquarium inhabitants.