Many macro and micro nutrients nutrients are needed for
plants so that they can produce pigments (mainly chlorophyll) to use during
photosynthesis, and most plants also need a harder water.
Macro nutrients:
Macro nutrients are needed in large quantities and are essential
to keeping healthy, beautiful plants. Following is a list of Macro nutrients:
Oxygen: All organisms, including plants, need oxygen to breathe. Plants can take
it up in the form of water, carbon dioxide, and as dissolved elemental
oxygen. Most of the oxygen they take up is through respiration and through
their roots. They also release oxygen during photosynthesis, which helps
provide it for the fish.
Optimum oxygen levels in the water are usually between 5
and 7 mg/L, and can be achieved by having a healthy population of plants
that produce oxygen (with proper lighting supplied) as well as a healthy
population of fish.
An oxygen gas equilibrium also occurs between the air and
water, and so oxygen will be dissolved into the water from the air or
vice versa if there is a deficit or surplus. However this is a slow process
and if the fish and plant populations aren't at an optimum level or if
too much or too little light or nutrients are supplied, an oxygen equilibrium
will never be reached.
If you suspect that the oxygen level is off, test kits are
available in many pet stores to check the levels.
Carbon Dioxide: Carbon dioxide is an extremely important plant nutrient. Plants need it
for their photosynthesis processes to provide themselves with food and
energy, and therefore they must have carbon dioxide to survive. Plants
can take it up through their roots, but most of it is taken in by their
leaves directly from the water. It is present in water due to the breakdown
of organic waste and also by the respiration of both plants and fish.
Test kits are available to test the levels, and normally
some type of carbon dioxide addition is needed in the water. There are
carbon dioxide fertilizing devices that can release small amounts of carbon
dioxide continuously over time if there is a deficiency.
Nitrogen: For aquatic plants, nitrogen is an extremely important nutrient in carrying
out photosynthesis. It is used mainly to synthesize nucleic acids and
proteins. Unlike land plants they cannot use large amounts of it in the
form of nitrates, nor can they take it up in its elemental form. Instead,
they mostly take it up as ammonium, which only exists in water with a
fairly low pH. You must be careful that the pH does not change quickly
from low to high, since ammonium will be converted to ammonia by bacteria
in the biological filters and cause harm to the fish.
To make sure the correct amount of nitrogen is available,
perform water changes on a regular basis and add fertilizer regularly.
Another important factor is to make sure that the aquarium has a properly
working biological filter to reduce the ammonia that may occur.
Nitrogen test kits are available in pet stores to help you
determine what level of nitrogen you have in your aquarium. Healthy nitrate
levels are usually around 25 mg/L.
Potassium: Potassium often creates problems if there is not enough of it available
for the plants. It serves several functions, including photosynthesis,
producing proteins, aiding seed and root development, and battling diseases.
It affects the overall appearance of the plant because if it is not taking
in enough potassium, it becomes weakened overall due to the fact that
potassium is needed in so many functions throughout the plant. To ensure
there is enough potassium for the plants make sure to fertilize regularly.
Different fertilizing methods are available, such as liquid drops and
slow releasing bottom fertilizers.
Calcium: Calcium, for the most part is available in the correct amounts in aquariums.
It is needed for cell growth and structure in plants but there is usually
enough in the surrounding water. You should be careful if you are using
only reverse osmosis water or natural rainwater because these may not
have enough calcium in them. The best remedy to low-calcium water is to
use substrates that contain some calcium, such as gravel-based substrates,
and to use tap water as the main water supply.
Magnesium: Magnesium is important for producing chlorophyll for photosynthesis, as
well as to activate certain enzymes. Levels should be around 5 to 25 mg/L.
Most hard tap water has sufficient magnesium levels but if you live in
a soft water area you may want to consider using nutrient-rich substrate
additives or liquid fertilizers. Too high of magnesium levels can cause
problems with the plants taking up other nutrients however.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus is needed to keep the roots and flowers of plants healthy and
also to make enzymes and other important compounds. Plants need their
phosphorus in the form of phosphates. They do not need large amounts of
it, so generally you do not need to worry about a deficiency of it in
the water, however a surplus can be a problem. Surpluses often occur due
to large amounts of uneaten fish food and this often creates algal blooms.
The best remedy to this is simply to do regular water changes.
Sulphur: Sulphur is used (once again) for producing chlorophyll to be used in photosynthesis
and also to produce proteins and amino acids. It is taken in the form
of sulphates and is usually present in sufficient quantities in aquarium
water. It can be added by using soil-based substrates or fertilizers.
Carbon: Carbon is needed to build the basic structure of plants. It is mostly
taken up in the form of carbon dioxide, which is broken down during photosynthesis.
See carbon dioxide above for further information on how to keep correct
levels of it in your aquarium.
Micro nutrients:
Micro nutrients are needed in very small amounts and so
are generally not as big of a problem as macro nutrients.
Usually, the normal aquarium environment provides the necessary
doses of these nutrients for plants to stay healthy. They are needed
in plants to help in many different jobs, such as cell structure, enzyme
synthesis, photosynthesis, respiration, regulation of metabolism, and
several other functions.
If you do find that it seems that there is a deficiency
of one of the micro nutrients, ways to increase it include fertilizing,
using nutrient-rich substrates, and using tap water when changing the
water.
Several micro nutrients include: Sodium, Copper, Boron, Nickel, Chlorine, Zinc, Manganese, Iron, and Molybdenum.
Author: Jasmine Brough.
