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Aquarium decorating: matching fish to the plants they'll like |
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Aquarium decorating: matching fish to the plants they'll like
Choosing the right plants for an aquarium isn't difficult at all! Just keep these four things in mind.
There are several components to designing a successful tank. Naturally, the first decision that has to be made is whether the tank will house freshwater or saltwater species. Once that decision is made, it is necessary to determine what size the tank will be and varieties of fish will inhabit it. Only then will it be possible to select the variety of plants that will be used in the aquarium habitat.
Keep in mind that the aquarium is indeed a habitat. All components should work together to support the unit in a healthy manner. The water should be of the proper pH and temperature to maintain both plants and fish. If the aquarium is a marine tank, the water should also be of the proper salinity. The fish should not foul the tank beyond the filtration system's ability to clean the water, nor should they eat or uproot the plants beyond those plants' ability to recover. The plants should be able to remove nitrogen from the system and replenish oxygen without fouling the tank with decaying plant matter from dying back and without crowding the tank with excessive growth. If any of these components break down, the system fails. If the system fails, then the hobbyist can be left with an empty tank before he or she knows it.
There are a number of advantages to having live plants in an aquarium. Plants can assist the hobbyist with stabilizing the alkalinity or the acidity of the aquarium water. They exchange oxygen for nitrogen and may reduce the need for filtration. They provide a living environment for fish to shelter themselves in, creating surroundings more like those found in nature. The proper plants can also supplement the diets of herbivorous fish, provided that they are healthy and of the correct species for the fish to consume. Hobbyists who are interested in breeding their fish will find that live plants provide better cover for the baby fish to hide in than plastic plants might offer.
Some disadvantages do exist with live plants, however. Plants need about 10 hours of light to survive in the aquarium environment. In addition, many, if not most, aquarium hoods provide insufficient light to support plants in the environment. Those that do provide sufficient light, typically provide only enough to support a limited number of species. Some plants have large root systems. Uprooting them after they die might cause extensive disruption to the aquarium decorations or to the other plants. Finally, fast-growing plants may require fertilization to remain alive, which may cause some issues with maintaining aquarium pH.
When matching fish and plants for an aquarium environment, it is important to keep the following questions in mind:
- What is the natural habitat for the fish?
- What kind of "personality" do the fish have?
- What sort of behaviors do the fish display?
- What foods do the fish eat?
Habitat:
To successfully match the fish with plants, it is important to understand what kind of wild environment they normally inhabit. A species that normally inhabits shallow pools won't like tall, narrow-leafed plants that live in deep water. In addition, plants that live in cold water will not thrive in a tropical fish tank. All of the fish species that are chosen for any single tank should require the same conditions, in order to minimize the risk of death and disease. One thing to take care with: be certain that the plants chosen for an aquarium are actually suited to living underwater. At times, pet supply stores and aquarium shops sell plants that more suited to surface use. These plants will drown in just a few short weeks, potentially wreaking havoc in the aquarium ecosystem.
Personality:
Thick plants are best for aquariums that house species that like to hide. Community-minded fish like short, bushy plants around which to gather. Very aggressive fish do best with larger, sturdier plants with broad leaves. Because fish of different personalities can live in the same tank--although the situation sometimes makes things difficult--different plant groupings can house different species of fish. In this case, the aquarium should be large enough to provide significant space between plant groupings.
Behaviors:
Some fish like to dig. If diggers inhabit the tank, then select plants with deep or broad root systems. Anything with a shallow root system, or any cuttings that have not yet developed a root system, will be difficult to maintain with diggers around. Fish that build bubble nests to reproduce like floating plants, while certain egg-layers like plants with broad leaves to lay their eggs on. Broad-leafed plants also provide sufficient shelter for those fish that like to conceal themselves under leaves, hovering close to the bottom of the tank.
Foods:
Are the fish inhabiting the tank herbivorous? Make certain that the plants will survive being introduced to the aquarium. If the fish may eat the plants, then young (and tender!) plants, or plants with soft leaves should be avoided. If plants are intended to supplement the fishes' diet, then consider fast-growing species suited to the aquarium climate.
Choosing the right plants for the aquarium environment is not difficult, as long as a little advance research is done. Knowing details about the fish that have been selected is the first step to creating a healthy environment. By choosing plants that meet the fishes' needs and matching them to the ideal environment for the fish, it is possible to create an attractive and symbiotic ecosystem that will last for years to come.
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