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The Purpose of Plants in the AquariumHaving plants in aquariums is one of the most beneficial things you can do to make aquariums healthier, more stable, and simply more beautiful.Besides providing a more physically enriched environment, aquatic plants perform important natural functions; they produce oxygen which the fish breathe, absorbe the carbon dioxide that fish produce, and they help in the breakdown of waste materials. Plants use several things in a process called 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. Photosynthesis only occurs during the daytime however (when sunlight is available), and so proper lighting must be supplied. 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, the process of taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, but this occurs continuously day and night. 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.Author: Jasmine Brough. 
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