Dry it and keep it in a cool dark place for at least three months. If there are multiple distinct bulbs, separate them. When you see this type of plant go into decline remove the “bulb” from the aquarium (sometimes there will now be two or three bulbs when you dig it up from the substrate). The plant has not died, it is dormant in nature, it would stay dormant through the dry season, storing its energy until the next rainy season. Once a “flower” has been produced, the plant will go into decline and seem to die. They will grow and put out leaf after leaf from the base at a central core until finally, they produce a flower of sorts in the center of the core. One drawback is that they have a definite growing season. These plants, also available in aquarium stores from time to time, are easy to grow and can be very attractive. The Madagascar Lace is a prime example of this type of aquatic plant. Dry and seemingly dead, under the substrate, once planted underwater, these “bulbs” will quickly sprout and grow very fast under the right conditions. Even well-established aquariums should be supplemented with extra plant nutrients for maximum benefit to the community aquarium as a whole.īulbs can be dried from some aquarium plants and planted. A new aquarium must be supplemented with live aquarium plant food which is widely available in pet stores. To provide sufficient food for the live aquarium plants, a well-established freshwater aquarium will have some nutrients in the substrate.“Dirt” or “pond mud” can breed harmful bacteria unless sterilized, and if sterilized, the loam is of little or no use to plants. Never use dirt or loam soil of any kind in a freshwater community aquarium environment. Fine gravel, specially designed terracotta gravel, or sand works best for a live plant environment. The proper substrate keeps live plants anchored and provides a fertile area for root growth.Sufficient lighting simulates the positive properties of the sun for plant photosynthesis. The deeper the tank, the stronger the lighting system needed.Live aquarium plants need three basic things to stay healthy and provide important benefits in the aquarium environment. Live aquarium plants have natural infusoria and other essential algae clinging to them or growing from them that feed the newborn fry of many species. When breeding many species, live aquarium plants are essential surfaces for the deposit and fertilization of eggs. For shoaling fish, plants give the group the currents and eddies they instinctively seek out in the wild. Live plants allow smaller, shyer fish to evade larger or aggressive tank mates or overeager potential breeding partners.

In a well-planted aquarium, fish can find shade from glaring light, privacy from things outside of the tank that startle them, and a natural safety in times of stress. Unlike plastic plants, live plants will remove carbon dioxide from the water, utilize nitrates, and add oxygen.

This is no doubt because live aquarium plants are a key part of creating a natural or close-to-natural environment for most freshwater aquarium fish. Studies find that the majority of freshwater community aquarium fish prefer live aquarium plants to their plastic counterparts. Research shows that live plants are much more than decorations for freshwater fish.

Fish bowl with live plants