Free Tracked 24 Shipping on all Snails, Plants & our Special Wildlife Pond Bundle!
Free Tracked 24 Shipping on all Snails, Plants & our Special Wildlife Pond Bundle!
Discover a new world of aquatic beauty, as we dive into the fascinating realm of unconventional aquarium plants.
Aquarium enthusiasts often focus on underwater plants to create beautiful aquascapes. However, unconventional aquarium plants offer a new dimension of possibilities, both aesthetically and functionally. Below, we will explore the world of unconventional aquarium plants, their unique features, and how they can bring diversity, beauty, and functional benefits to both hobbyists and professional aquarists.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Below are some lesser-known aquarium plants with our Hidden Gems section. Some of these in our list thrive in more subdued lighting conditions, offering a unique touch to your underwater paradise while adding diversity and visual interest to your aquascape. Hopefully some of these plants listed here in our guide give you some inspiration to play around, try something you haven’t yet and perhaps unleash your aquatic green-thumb! You can also have a look at the article “Unconventional Aquarium Plants: Beyond the Water’s Surface“, where we touch base on some other, more unconventional plant ideas for your aquarium or pond.
Â
Â
Â
1.) Choose the right substrate: Opt for a nutrient-rich substrate that supports plant growth, such as aquatic soil or specialized plant substrates.
Â
2.) Ensure adequate depth: Provide a substrate depth of at least 2-3 inches to accommodate plant roots.
1.) Rooted plants: Gently insert the plant roots into the substrate, ensuring they are properly anchored.
2.) Rhizome plants: Attach plants with rhizomes, such as Anubias or Java Fern, to rocks or driftwood using thread or glue.
3.) Stem plants: Plant individual stems into the substrate, allowing enough space for growth.
1.) Lighting: Provide appropriate light levels based on each plant’s requirements, adjusting duration and intensity as needed.
2.) Nutrients: Understand your plants’ nutrient needs and supplement with fertilizers if necessary.
3.) Pruning and propagation: Trim overgrown plants to maintain their shape and propagate healthy cuttings to encourage growth.
1.) Rooted plants: Gently insert the plant roots into the substrate, ensuring they are properly anchored.
2.) Rhizome plants: Attach plants with rhizomes, such as Anubias or Java Fern, to rocks or driftwood using thread or glue.
3.) Stem plants: Plant individual stems into the substrate, allowing enough space for growth.
We should mention, you don’t always have to “plant” your plants. You could choose to do what we have done with many of ours, which is to leave them free floating in the aquarium. This can give a neat look and they grow just as well as planting them and tend to naturally stay together and create good areas for fry and fish to use.
Plants provide shelter, hiding spots, breeding grounds, and food sources for fish and invertebrates. Besides loving the look of a planted tank, we like having bunches of plants everywhere for the fry to hide in and to feel safe. Most newly born fry don't have the best swimming capabilities yet and they need to take a first gulp of air for their swim bladder, so plants give them a resting spot to lean on until they do this and start becoming stronger swimmers as a whole.
Aquatic plants absorb excess nutrients, control algae growth, and produce oxygen through photosynthesis. We have experimented with having tanks with and without plants - the results were the water clarity and overall tank health was far superior in the tank setups with plants. It gives the water a "crystal" like appearance.
Aquarium plants create a natural-looking environment and add visual interest to your aquascape. With all the shades of green (as shown in below photos), reds, yellows and even some purple, you can make your tank exactly how you dream it to be!
Floating plants are a fascinating and versatile addition to any aquarium, offering numerous benefits while creating a distinctive look. For some reason, I always feel that when a non-hobbyist sees a tank setup with floating plants, they are that much more amazed and fascinated with it! These plants float on the water’s surface, with their roots submerged and leaves floating freely. Let’s explore some awesome floating plants with the advantages they provide.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
When incorporating floating plants into your aquarium, it’s essential to monitor their growth and prevent them from covering the entire water surface. This can reduce light penetration and oxygen exchange, potentially impacting the health of your aquatic life. Regularly thin out your floating plants to maintain balance and ensure a thriving, diverse aquarium environment.
Aquarium plants play a crucial role in establishing a healthy and visually appealing underwater environment. By exploring both popular and lesser-known plant species, you can create a stunning aquascape that caters to your specific needs and preferences. Proper planting techniques and care are essential for ensuring the well-being of your aquatic plants, ultimately leading to a thriving and beautiful aquarium. Embrace the world of aquatic plants and transform your fish tank into a lush, vibrant underwater oasis.
Generally, low-light plants can grow under standard aquarium lighting, while high-light plants may require specialized LED or fluorescent lighting. Research your plant species’ specific needs to provide the appropriate light intensity and duration. We use just basic, inexpensive LED strip lights on our setups. We use alot of AllPondSolutions products such as this exact light, and if you wish to have a full spectrum LED light, we have one similar to this one.
Absolutely! As discussed above, none of our tanks use CO2 and they do so well, I don’t see us changing that any time soon. At some point down the road we may attempt it just to say we have, but for the moment, we produce the most beautiful looking plants that thrive without it.
Some terrestrial plants, like Pothos and Peace Lily, can adapt to grow in an aquarium with their roots submerged and leaves above the water’s surface. Have a read through “Unconventional Aquarium Plants: Beyond the Water’s Surface” which talks about and goes into more detail on this subject. Definitely a must read if you have interest in the plant world and finding other aquatic plants that not everyone else has going.
Most aquarium plants are safe for fish. However, always ensure plants are free of pesticides or harmful chemicals, and avoid species that may be toxic to your specific fish species. We grow all our plants submerged and without chemicals and pesticides. Have a look, we have made sure to offer plants that are perfect for beginners and experts!
To create depth and visual interest, use a mix of plants with varying heights, leaf shapes, colors, and textures. Arrange plants in groups, with taller plants in the background, medium-sized plants in the midground, and short, carpeting plants in the foreground. You can read more about this topic in “Aquascaping with Aquarium Plants: Background, Midground, and Foreground“, where we go into detail about these exact specifics.
Yes, some plants, like Java Fern and Anubias, can be grown without a substrate by attaching them to rocks or driftwood. We also have chosen to let alot of different species grow “free floating” to see how they do, and they have always thrived with doing that. Additionally, floating plants don’t require a substrate, as they grow on the water’s surface.
To promote healthy plant growth and prevent melting, ensure proper lighting, and nutrient levels. Gradually acclimate new plants to your aquarium conditions and maintain stable water parameters.
Yes, most aquarium plants can be propagated. Methods depend on the plant species and may include dividing rhizomes, cutting and replanting stems, or separating daughter plants from the mother plant.
A balanced ecosystem involves maintaining stable water parameters, providing appropriate lighting and nutrients, and incorporating compatible fish and invertebrates that contribute to the overall health and harmony of the aquarium. Regular water changes and maintenance are also essential.
Fertilizers can help provide essential nutrients for plant growth. However we have grown plenty of beautiful plants without the use of fertilizer. Research your plant species’ needs and consider using liquid fertilizers or root tabs as needed.
Maintain a balance between lighting and nutrients. Avoid overfeeding and overstocking, perform regular water changes, and incorporate fast-growing or floating plants.
Ready to be in the know? Join our newsletter to get all the latest updates, discounts, tips, and offers delivered straight to your inbox.
Ready to be in the know? Join our newsletter to get all the latest updates, discounts, tips, and offers delivered straight to your inbox.
Copyright © 2023 – AquaManLife.com – Site designed, developed & maintained by Silky Web Design & Media.