Freshwater Aquarium Plant:How Do I Choose

The freshwater aquarium that you choose for your fish is probably the only home they will ever know. Every aquarium owner wants to give his or her fish the best habitat and make the aquarium attractive too. The first thing that comes in mind should be the plants.

The Dilemma

When it comes to choosing plants, the toughest decision is to use live or artificial plants. This debate has been ongoing for quite some time now, with both sides repeatedly presenting the advantages of each.

Live Plants

Live plants can be the best thing for an aquarium. One of the most important advantages of live plants is that they give a major boost to the oxygen level in the water. They reduce the carbon dioxide too, but this is only true for daytime. As you know the respiratory pattern of plants change at night and they start giving off carbon dioxide.

Another plus for live plants is that they protect the against algae growth, while also helping absorb the numerous toxins that develop in the water. Apart from this, they can also be a magnet for bacteria that is beneficial to the fish and the aquarium habitat as a whole. The down side of this is that they can also be the cause of parasites, as live plants provide them with a breeding ground. The parasites can lead to many illnesses amongst the fish and are responsible for most fish deaths. Moreover, live plants die and decay too. Another point is that live plants require sunlight throughout the day, making it necessary that the freshwater aquarium is placed in a place that catches sunlight.

If you have gone through these steps and still want live plants, you will be better off going with plants like Glossostigma Elatinoides, Limnophila aromatica, Myriophyllum elatinoides, and Alternanthera Reineckii.

Is Artificial The Way To Go?

It is true that live plants pose problems and that's why many people find it better to go with artificial plants. Today, artificial plants are giving live plants a great run for their money, at least as far as appearance is concerned. They do not create any mess at all and are easily removable. They also remove the threat of parasites and there is no need for sunlight. However, artificial plants are not a source for oxygen and do not absorb carbon dioxide. They are not an alternate food source either and a cheap artificial plant, with hazardous chemicals, can be extremely dangerous.

While this makes it clear both live and artificial freshwater, aquarium plants can be beneficial for your tank, the decision lies with you. If you love your fish and want to spend some time doing all the cleaning and such stuff, you should go for live plants; otherwise, artificial plants are better.