Live plants play a vital role in elevating the aesthetics and overall health of your freshwater aquarium. In this guide, we'll dive into the numerous benefits of incorporating live plants into your aquarium, and why keeping a planted tank is an exciting endeavor that provides years of enjoyment.
The Beauty
It is hard to ignore the beauty that live plants provide. From swaying fronds to delicate leaves, the visual appeal of live plants adds depth in your aquarium, creating a vivid and captivating environment. The presence of a lush and thriving planted aquarium can even have therapeutic effects, promoting relaxation and stress relief.
Water Quality
Live plants contribute significantly to maintaining water quality by acting as natural filters. Through photosynthesis, plants consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping to oxygenate the water for the benefit of fish and other inhabitants.
Filtration
Live plants provide filtration that removes carbon dioxide, ammonia, nitrates, fish waste, and decaying matter from the habitat. They also increase the production of helpful bacteria in a new aquarium.
Happy Tank Inhabitants
Live plants create natural hiding spaces that help fish and other inhabitants feel safe in your aquarium. Hiding places promote a sense of security which can reduce instances of aggression or anxiety. Many species enjoy exploring and interacting with the vegetation, using it for foraging, nesting, or as a territory marker. When fish feel safe, their color and activity is enhanced. Live plants also provide surface area for algae eaters and grazing fish to pick food from, and they can even encourage specific types of fish to spawn.
Less Algae Growth
A plant system in an aquarium can help prevent algae growth because of the high nutrient demands. This increases the visual appeal and overall health of the aquarium. It is still important to develop a maintenance schedule to eliminate algae, but the introduction of live plants greatly reduces the time needed to clean the tank.
Keeping a planted tank is a holistic approach to creating a balanced, healthy, and beautiful underwater world. The PNW Custom Micro Reef (40oz) and Small-In-One (1G) are both great options for setting up your first planted tank. They come with everything you need to get started, and their small size allows for experimentation, aquascaping, and a close-up view of tiny tank inhabitants such as shrimp.