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About Planted Aquariums
Adding Aquatic Plants For a Healthy Aquarium

Madagascar Lace Plant Aponogeton madagascariensis Photo © Animal-World

  Plants in the aquarium provide many benefits. They are beautiful, and they keep the aquarium healthy and lively!

   Planted aquariums are fun! They offer a whole new dimension to the fish keeping experience. With freshwater aquarium aquascaping you can create an individual, one-of-a- kind, aquarium design. You will also be providing a natural balance to the aquarium and all sorts of benefits for the tank's inhabitants.

• Why Start a Planted Aquarium?
  Enjoyment and fun are the best reasons, but a plant rich environment also makes for happy healthy fish.
  
  
• Vital Functions of Aquarium Plants
  The purpose of plants in the aquarium go well beyond the enjoyment of the aquarist and the inhabitants! There are vital functions that aquarium plants perform that are for the actual well-being of the aquarium!
  
  
• Steps to Creating a Planted Aquarium
  Starting a planted aquarium offers a whole new dimension to aquarium keeping and hours of fun. There are some things to learn a little bit about, like how to design the aquarium and what equipment you'll need. You'll also want to learn about the types of plants and their care.
  

Why Start a Planted Aquarium?
   Perhaps the most exciting aspect of keeping plants in your aquarium is the addition of a natural decor. Aquarium plants are very pleasing to look at and they offer hours of enjoyment for the hobbyist. With freshwater aquarium aquascaping you create a uniquely designed aquarium.
   For the fish and other tank inhabitants, aquarium plants provide many benefits. They create a comfortable 'homey' environment, they offer hiding places for fish, and they can serve as food source for a variety of aquatic animals.

Vital Functions of Aquarium Plants:
   Having plants in aquariums is one of the most beneficial things you can do to make aquariums healthier, more stable, and simply more beautiful. Aquatic plants provide a physically enriched environment, but they naturally perform three other very important functions as well that help keep the planted tank in balance.

• Aquarium Plants produce oxygen:
    Plants go through two photosystems that are necessary to their survival. The first system is photosystem I, or photosynthesis, and is the most practical for the average hobbyist to understand.
  
  
   Photosystem I:
     Photosynthesis is called 'light dependent'. Plants use several things in the process of photosynthesis to provide themselves with food and energy. These include light (normally sunlight), water, and carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, oxygen is released as a by-product, which is then breathed in by the fish. It only occurs during the daytime (when sunlight is available), and so proper lighting must be supplied.
  
   Photosystem 2: Provided courtesy of Hannah Roberts.
    "The other photosystem is called 'light independent', or otherwise known as the Calvin Cycle. It is not necessary for light to be present throughout the Calvin Cycle, although it is often coupled with Photosystem I. The net equation for the Calvin Cycle is: 3CO2 + 6NADPH + 6ATP -> glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate + 6NAD+ + 9ADP + 8Pi. This reaction is crucial to plant growth. The glyceraldehyde created is used either in the chloroplast in starch synthesis or it is exported to the cytoplasm where it is used in the synthesis of sucrose or other metabolites. The other products are used in continuing Photosystem I and the electron transport chain.
     "During photosynthesis oxygen is released as a by-product, which is then breathed in by the fish. Photosynthesis only occurs during the daytime however (when sunlight is available), and so proper lighting must be supplied."... Hannah Roberts.
  
  
• Aquarium plants absorb carbon dioxide:
     Because they also absorb the carbon dioxide that fish breathe out, plants help keep the concentration of carbon dioxide in the water down. Plants also respire. This is the process of taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. This occurs continuously day and night.
  
  
• Aquarium plants breakdown waste materials:
     Lastly, aquarium plants help in general maintenance of the water. They can help keep the water clean by absorbing waste materials emitted by the fish, as well as harbor bacteria on their surfaces that absorb waste material as a food source. Some plants can even keep the waste material on the bottom of the aquarium from decaying by emitting small amounts of oxygen from their roots.

   In all these respects, aquarium plants greatly improve the aquatic environment and enhance the survival of fish. Setting up a planted tank is fun, creative, and rewarding!

Steps for Creating Planted Aquariums:
  Setting up your planted aquarium starts with your aquarium design. How do you want your aquarium to look? Then want to learn about the different types of aquatic plants and how to keep them, and also the equipment needs of a planted aquarium. These articles give in depth information for each of the stage, from getting started, to plant care, to growing new plants!

• Getting started:
  Learn how to design a beautiful aquarium aquascape and how to add your aquatic plants.
  Selecting Aquarium Plants for the Aquascape Aquarium - Aquarium Design and Types of Aquatic Plants.
  
  
• About Aquatic Plants:
  Learn about the different types of aquatic plants and how each will fit into your aquascape design.
  Aquarium Plant Description and Structure - Plant Types, Parts of a Plant, and Plant Growth
  
  
• Planted Aquarium Equipment, Substrates, and Water:
  The planted aquarium is very similar to a fish only aquarium, but with a few special needs for aquatic plants.
  Setting Up a Planted Aquarium - Lighting, Heating, and Filtration For Live Aquarium Plants
  Aquarium Plant Substrates, Planting Mediums for Freshwater Aquarium Plants.
  Aquarium Plant Water Maintenance, Water Hardness, pH, Macro-nutrients, Micro-nutrients
  
  
• Maintaining Aquatic Plants:
  Long term plant care for aquarium plants and watching for potential problems.
  Aquarium Plant Feeding and Maintenance, Plant Food and Aquarium co2 Systems
  Aquarium Plant Diseases and Parasites, Aquarium Snails and Other Problems
  
  
• Aquarium Plant Propagation:
  Once aquatic plants are established and growing well, you can propagate them.
  Propagation of Aquarium Plants, Types of Plant Propagation

Author: Jasmine Brough

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