The amount of CO2 available from fish respiration is, however, not enough to sustain heavy plant growth. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of fish respiration and is used by the plants as a nutrient source in the process of photosynthesis. In addition to iron and other basic elements, compounds, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are essential for the growth of plant cells. Gravels with a high iron content are available in some fish shops under various trade names. If good plant growth is to be a major focus of your aquarium, the substrate should be high in iron as well as other basic elements. SubstrateĪlthough light quality and quantity are important in growing beautiful aquarium plants, the quality of the substrate is also important. This is a difficult problem in small aquariums, especially with goldfish, which prefer cooler water. Regular incandescent lights will promote good plant growth, but keep in mind that they put out a lot of heat. This, of course, is done with a lighted aquarium hood. Natural sunlight must, therefore, be supplemented, especially during the winter, by artificial light. This is more than the sun provides during the winter in a temperate climate like that of the United States. This means they require about 12 hours of light a day. As we said before, however, most aquarium plants are tropical species. Natural sunlight is one of the best sources of light for aquatic plants. Without light of sufficient intensity and duration, aquarium plants will die. Light conditions are also critical to the survival of aquarium plants. The extremes are mentioned here only because water in an aquarium tends to become more acidic over time, especially if a careful maintenance program is not followed. The latter is the condition of most city water supplies and is the pH value at which both goldfish and most aquatic plants thrive. Most of the plants that grow well in very alkaline water – water having a pH value over 8.0, also thrive well in water that is slightly acidic (pH value of 6.8), neutral (pH value of 7.0), or mildly alkaline (pH value of 7.2 to 7.6). these kinds of acid-loving plants, including most of the Cryptocoryne species, should be avoided. Because goldfish do not do well in such water. Some plants only grow well in acidic water – that is water having a low pH value such as 6.2, for example. If your goldfish aquarium is being maintained at room temperature – about 70☏ – the plants you choose should be those species that do best at temperatures of 65☏ to 70☏. Some are flexible in their temperature requirements, but many are not. Most of the aquatic plants available to the aquarium hobby are tropical species. Requirements for a goldfish planted tank Water parameters These are best avoided until the aquarium has been established for about six months. On the other hand, plants that lack heavy rhizomes, such as the common and decorative species Vallisneria, most of the Hygrophila, and Myriophyllum (parrot’s feather), will not do well in an aquarium that has not had a chance to build up a concentration of minerals in the water or the gravel bed. There are several manufacturers of plastic plant replicas whose products so closely resemble the real thing that without close scrutiny most people looking into an aquarium can’t tell the difference. The easiest, although expensive, way to solve the problem of dying plants in a newly set up aquarium is to use plastic fake plants. Do I need to put live or fake plants in a goldfish tank? You will have to decide whether to try growing them or to use plastic plant replicas. However, there are some plants that can do well in a new aquarium. Plants not having a large self-contained storehouse of nutrients will die of starvation in a few weeks in a newly set up aquarium. This is because the water and the gravel in a new aquarium being defined here as any aquarium set up for less than six months – has not had time to build up a supply of nutrient materials. I agree that if you don’t have the right kind of plants it isn’t easy. Many fishkeepers find that growing plants in a newly established aquarium is rather difficult. Live Plants or Plastic Plants (Fake plants)? Having fish reproduce is indeed one of the more pleasurable aspects of aquarium keeping, even if you don’t raise the fry – baby fish. In addition, a planted background, more so than a bare tank, is likely to help trigger spawning in mature goldfish.
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