LED (Light Emitting Diode) aquarium lighting has become extremely popular in recent times, and with good reason. Unfortunately due to the different diameters, T-5 and T-8 tubes are not interchangeable unless you use an adapter. It’s recommended to use full spectrum (5000-7000K) bulbs. This allows you to fit more bulbs in your hood should you want a heavily planted tank. The bulbs are narrower in diameter, measuring just 5/8 of an inch instead of 1 inch like a T-8. These are a better choice than the older T-8 lights and have several advantages. If possible always choose the more modern T-5 version. If your fluorescent tube is three years old and your plants don’t look too great, replace it! There are two main types of fluorescent lights used in the aquarium hobby. Its main disadvantage is that the lights need to be replaced at least every year in order to be effective, perhaps even every nine months or so in order for your plants to thrive. Readily available, inexpensive and emitting little heat, fluorescent lighting is very popular. Today’s fish keeper is spoilt for choice with a wide array of different lighting types including: Fluorescent lighting: T-5 and T-8 Gone are the days when aquarists used to get by with grolux tubes that were designed for horticultural use. Matching suitable species to your tank’s lighting is a big step in the right direction. Some tanks simply don’t have what is needed for some more challenging species. Whilst this is sometimes true, it is not always the case. People often assume that plants will be fine whatever their tank is supplied with. Many popular models of aquarium offered for sale these days were designed with more thought towards interior design rather than the needs of aquatic plant species originating from half way around the world. It is important that you select species suited to your tank and as a beginner try and avoid those with challenging specific requirements. The list below, under the “plant species to start with” section, features a number of commonly available and affordable aquarium plants which are tolerant of a wide variety of water conditions and lower light levels. For more information, please see our guide to non-aquatic plants. If you add a species which is not suited to your aquarium set up you’re going to struggle to keep them healthy from day one.Īn even bigger problem is that many fish shops stock a range of plants which are actually bog plants, not at all suited to life in an aquarium and which can die in a matter of weeks if submerged under water permanently. Aquatic plants vary in shape, size and colour, as well as having different lighting, feeding and water parameter requirements. Often they have purchased plants from their local fish shop as part of a bunched deal, often they are not labelled up and so the purchaser has little or no idea what they have actually bought. Their interest tends to be their fish and plants are very much a second thought. More often than not, the beginner I ask struggles to give me a species name. If someone is struggling to grow their plants, I start with three questions to try and determine what their problems are. Plants need a combination of light, CO 2, micro and macro nutrients in order to survive. There are a few reasons why this can happen. I’m often asked by those new to the aquarium hobby why the plants they have bought have died. They also provide cover to help keep your fish stress free and provide natural boundaries for territorial species, as well as cover for small fry. As well as using up the carbon dioxide (CO 2) and ammonia (NH4) produced by your fish, they also use the nutrients needed for algae to grow, so they help reduce or even eliminate algal growth in your aquarium. Why do we keep plants in our aquarium? Apart from the obvious aesthetic benefits, live aquarium plants also improve the water quality in your tank. Why keep plants in your aquarium in the first place? Have you ever seen a well planted display aquarium and wished you could produce the same in your own living room? Do you buy plants which then seem to die off in a few weeks and don’t know why? Our guide explains some of the mistakes beginners often make and offers a few pointers on choosing the right species and how to care for them. A beginner’s guide to aquarium plants is something that most of us with established tanks would have found very handy when first starting out in fishkeeping! Hopefully our version here will help you find your aquatic green fingers.
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