All of us who own tropical fish tanks are on the lookout for new plants. Plants not only provide a balance in the environment but also provide hiding places for the fish. There are two types of plants that are available; cutting plants and floating plants. You will find the description and requirements for a few plants in this article.
Rotala is a cutting plant. It has soft, red leaves. It needs bright light for its growth. The suitable temperature for it ranges between 22 to 28 degrees Celsius. A pH of around 5 is needed for Rotala. It grows until it has leaves which float on the water surface.
Giant Hygrophila is another cutting one. It is also called Indian Water Star. It has broad leaves. It provides great shelter to the fish and also provides sites for spawning. It needs intense light and hard water for its growth. A temperature of 20 to 28 degrees Celsius is and pH of 5 to 7 is needed for Giant Hygrophila. It is a plant that will grow very quickly and requires trimming at a regular basis.
Among floating plants, the Butterfly Fern is very famous. It is also called Eared Watermoss. It does not require much maintenance. This plant is used by bubble nesters for their nests. They are also a shelter for the fry. A problem with floating plants is that they can block the sunlight for other plants and fish so they should be trimmed.
Another famous floater is Java Moss. It gets attached to driftwood, rocks and roots. It does not have any special requirements. Low light is favorable for its growth. A temperature of 21 to 24 degrees Celsius helps in its growth but the temperature can rise up to 32 degrees without any harm to the plant. You will have to tie the plant with a rock at first. Afterwards it forms its own attachment sites. This plant also provides sites for spawning to take place. You just need to keep it free from algae.
All these plants if included in your tropical fish tank will surely make it a treat to watch for the viewers.
| tropical fish tank |
No comments:
Post a Comment