First of all, why bother with live plants when it is easier to opt for an artificial planted aquarium. Besides appearing a lot more natural they bring the incredible property of greatly improved water quality which in turn merits the wellbeing of your fish.

Plants produce oxygen and readily absorb carbon dioxide and ammonia which are by products of fish waste. They also reduce algae growth by competing for nutrients and make a big difference to the appearance of your aquarium. Fish tend to thrive when they enjoy some shelter from plants and seem to acclimatize more easily in this more natural environment.

It is worth noting that plants require different conditions and while some will tolerate sub-standard conditions others warrant suitable lighting and sufficient oxygen to flourish. Factor in overall compatibility of plants and fish together with the size of your aquarium. It is time well spent when some initial research is carried out on the suitability of your chosen fish in relation to the variety of plants required to achieve a desired aquascape. Bear in mind that some fish will ravish certain plants and quickly make them unsightly.

Aquascaping allows the aquarist to be creative and design the layout of their aquarium to obtain a desired affect. A well planed design with beautiful healthy plants and fish with optimal water quality will help ensure that your aquarium is a success and appealing to view.

Once the selection of plants and fish have been made it is necessary to take due consideration on the fish tank size and equipment to avoid any undue disappointment later on. Seek advice on plant arrangement and work on having a foreground, mid-ground and background to your aquarium for maximum affect.

Before planting out your aquarium it will be handy to have the best possible grade substrate and nutrients to aid the plants growth and help them establish. I recommend opting for a good quality aquarium gravel pact full of the required nutrients to kick start growth. This will provide an excellent start and should only require some gravel root tabs for some additional supplementation. This can always be enriched with both liquid and dry fortified fertilizes at a later stage for added support.

We touched on carbon dioxide earlier on now need to focus on the other fundamental requirement for healthy fresh water aquarium plants. All aqua floras must have adequate CO₂ and lighting levels to facilitate a natural process called “photosynthesis”. Aquarium plants utilize light and CO₂ to produce sufficient food and rely on them to thrive and grow into lush aquarium vegetation.

We have discovered that carbon dioxide and proper sufficient lighting is essential for optimal plant growth and need to allude to the different systems available for selection. I am assuming that the reader wants to maintain simplicity and render their chances of success as very favourable. With this in mind we will mention the systems available which ought to ensure the very best results.

When considering Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) there are both DIY methods and fantastic highly effective pressurized CO₂ systems which will greater enhance your results. Of equal importance to your plants is lighting and it is evident that the best all-purpose solution available at present is T5’s because they provide efficient lighting without emitting excessive heat.

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When planning and maintaining a successful aquarium, much depends on knowing and following the correct procedures based on the collected experience of expert aquarists and seasoned enthusiasts.

Good Preparation Today Will Mean Less Frustration Tomorrow

Having installed your tank with all the necessary equipment to establish the optimal environment for your preferred aquarium, the next obvious step towards success is selecting compatible species. There are some very good compatibility Charts available online which will assist you in making the right selection. It is quite crucial to do due diligence at this stage in order to benefit from effortless assimilation of all tank inhabitants. It is also worth bearing-in-mind that these charts serve merely as a guideline, and there may be exceptions whereby a particular fish may show oddball traits.

It is paramount to undertake this selection process with care and keep a high regard for the wellbeing of the new fish and the health of the more sensitive fish. These fish tend to deteriorate quickly when stressed and are prone to disease. We need to take every effort to detect any signs of, and eradicate dis-ease. I highly recommend having a hospital/quarantine tank available to help acclimatize newcomers and quarantine sickly fish. This will greatly aid you in controlling any spreading of disease and help facilitate the recuperation of the diseased fish.

It is well worth ensuring that Optimal Water Conditions are maintained to provide a healthy environment for the tank inhabitants. You will experience less aggressive behaviour when your aquarium provides sufficient shelter for fish to hide in and allow them to avoid unnecessary harassment. When you add small fish to your aquariums you may discover that it is better to add several fish at once to avoid any bullying. This simple step will diminish the chance of any one fish being picked-on by a territorial fish.

Some aquarists suggest  slightly unsettling established fish by making subtle adjustments to their surroundings in order to help facilitate the integration of newcomers . You may find by shifting some decorations in the tank that established fish with territorial tendencies become more excepting to newcomers. It places all the fish on a more equal footing sociologically speaking. You may also want to ensure that the established fish have fed reasonably well and are therefore more satisfied with their lot. A satisfied fish is usually more excepting and therefore less aggressive. I guess we do share similar traits with our aquaria after all.

A final tip: By keeping a log-book on your selections and making short notes on any findings this will prove immensely beneficial to you down the track. This book can also be utilized for a straightforward maintenance schedule and a log for recording water quality readings.

I wish you every success with your selection and acclimatization process.

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