Unpretentious aquarium plants: nias, elodea, hornwort, kabomba

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Aquarium plants not only decorate the aquarium, but also bring certain benefits. But in order to achieve a positive result, you should choose the right specimens, namely unpretentious aquarium plants. Having successfully coped with the task, aquarists get a beautiful glass pond that does not cause much trouble.

Conditions for plants in the aquarium

Today, there is a great variety of aquatic vegetation, which was imported from different countries. Conventionally, they can be divided into two groups:

1. Cranky, which require special handling and often die due to lack of fertilizer or carbon dioxide, or simply do not suit the microclimate of the aquarium.
2. Unpretentious aquarium plants - they are ideal for the first experience due to the ability to quickly adapt to any conditions and at the same time grow rapidly. In addition, such plants are quite inexpensive and will not hit the family budget.

What do simple plants need?

For the first timeunpretentious aquarium plants just need to be shortened by cutting off the tops. Usually such manipulations are carried out 1-2 times a month. It all depends on the intensity of growth. Later, special complex top dressings are introduced and lighting is added, because it is often not enough.

Sometimes, in order to speed up and improve the absorption of minerals, it will be necessary to supply carbon dioxide to the water. This is the end of care.

The benefits of plants for the aquarium

With a minimum of effort, you can achieve not only a beautiful appearance of the aquarium, but also bring some benefits to the water world.

1. Air saturation. In photosynthesis, the task of plants is to consume carbon dioxide from water and release oxygen. Thanks to this, if the correct proportions of the number of fish and plants are observed, the use of an air compressor can be eliminated. As a result, noise effects are significantly reduced, the number of wires is reduced and the naturalness of the reservoir is created.
2. Inhibition of algae growth. Fast-growing aquatic plants, during their development, take nutrients from algae, as a result of which the latter slow down their growth.
3. Water purification. In the process of life, all the inhabitants of the aquarium pollute the water with nitrates, nitrites and phosphates. And aquatic plants, on the contrary, use these substances for their development. Thus, a certain balance is achieved: the fish clog, and the plants are cleaned. In addition, the need for frequent cleaning of the soil is significantly reduced.
4. Alert about problems in the aquarium. Sensitively reacting to changes in the aquatic environment, plants signal the situation in the aquarium. Each plant has its own set of signals, but in general, such changes can be observed: growth retardation, yellowing and decay, which indicate clogging of the soil layer, lack of light and unfavorable water composition.
5. A haven for underwater inhabitants. Plants create a kind of home comfort for fish and other aquarium inhabitants. In addition to providing comfort, plants provide a comfortable environment for laying eggs and raising offspring.
6. Extra power supply. Many fish are not averse to eating plants. Other inhabitants, such as snails and shrimps, eat the fading parts, stimulating the development of plants, and in the process saturate themselves and increase their numbers. As a result, they clean the walls of the aquarium from plaque much more intensively.
7. Facilitation of care. Upon reaching a certain symbiosis in the aquarium, you can safely go on trips, leaving your pets without daily feeding. The fish will be able to feed themselves for 1-2 weeks, and the microclimate of the tank will not be affected.
8. Aesthetic satisfaction. Aquarium plants serve as a wonderful background and effectively fill the aquarium. Some do not even breed fish, but create water herbalists that can revive any interior.

A beautifully filled aquarium is a piece of living tropical nature in the house, looking at which a person rests his soul and calms the nervous system.

Criteria for selecting plants fornewbies

What properties should unpretentious aquarium plants have in order to successfully establish an aquarium?

1. Undemanding species can adapt to wide ranges of water composition. Both 5 degrees of hardness and 25 are suitable for them. Beginning aquarists usually do not measure these indicators and do not know at what level of hardness plants live. The same applies to water temperature.
2. Lighting. Simple plants are able to grow in low light, however, in this case, their growth will not be so rapid, and their appearance will not be so bright.
3. Such plants are resistant to sudden changes in living conditions. It often happens that a new purchase is forgotten for a long time, as a result of which the water can change its composition and become contaminated. Remembering, the owners begin to clean the aquarium and change a large amount of water. Such jumps in the composition of the aquatic environment can survive only the most unpretentious and persistent specimens.
4. Irregular care. Unpretentious species are able to independently provide the conditions for their survival for a long time. For two months, such plants can live without damage to their he alth and not die due to overgrowth, shading, thickening, lack of nutrients and other parameters that depend on care.

The peculiarity of unpretentious plants is that they die slowly. And if you react in time and take appropriate measures, you can save aquatic vegetation.

What are aquarium plants

All aquariumplants are distinguished by group membership, in accordance with the conditions of detention:

1. The first group includes plants that grow at the bottom of aquariums or near the surface of the water surface. For the vital activity of such vegetation, all the necessary components are contained in water, but they consume light from the outside. The most unpretentious representatives of this group are mosses, which have a primitive structure.

2. The second group includes plants that float in water and on its surface - representatives of the Bladderwort, Hornwort families and the duckweed subfamily.

3. The third group is formed by vegetation from the Salviniaceae and Pontederiaceae families, which floats on the surface of the water mirror. They have air cushions in their leaves that serve as a kind of floats.

4. The fourth group is represented by a number of plants that are attached to the ground:

• capable of blooming under water, and not tied to the presence of air;
• underwater plants that produce flowers no higher than the water level.

5. The fifth group includes such plants that take root at the bottom, and bring leaves and flowers to the surface. Moreover, the leaves can be both immersed and floating. These include water lilies, water chestnuts.

6. The sixth group includes marsh and coastal plants that take root at the bottom and rise quite strongly above the water. Such plants can grow well without water, but on well-moistened soil.

Some types of hardy plants

1. from plants,that float on the water surface, choose:

• Caroline Azolla.
• Pistia.
• Salvinia floating.
• Ricciu floating.

2. Of those located in the water column:

• Canadian Elodea.
• Guadalupe naiad.
• Submerged hornworts.
• White-headed calcifolia.

3. Of the plants that form the middle and background of the aquarium, recommend:

• Ludwig.
• Bakopu.
• Wallinseries.
• Hygrophila.
• Cryptocoryne.

4. Beginner aquarists are recommended to choose:

• Lobelia.
• Cryptocoryne.
• Staurogyn.
• Hadeotis.
• Hygrophila.

5. For decoration of pebbles and snags, they usually offer:

• Anubias.
• Monosalene.
• Ferns.
• Moss.

If there is little experience in keeping an aquarium, then it is advised not to purchase plants with small dissected leaves and bright red colors.

Aquarium plants, the description of which will help determine the choice for a particular tank, can revive the pond and clearly fit into the interior of the room.

Ludwiga

Ludwigia is an aquarium plant from the Cyprus family. The most common in aquariums is Ludwigia creeping, arcuate and marsh. Regarding the care of such a plant, experts do not agree. According to some, this is an absolutely unpretentious and low-maintenance plant that grows well. According to others, to care for ludwigiasome experience and skill is required. However, it is known for certain that if a plant is placed in relatively favorable conditions, it will quickly adapt to new conditions and will actively grow and develop.

Ludwigia grow up to 36 cm and bloom profusely with small green flowers. And creeping ludwigia also forms flowers with yellow petals.

Ludwigia is an aquarium plant that will add uniqueness to any aquarium, and a huge selection of varieties to satisfy all tastes.

Kabomba

Kabomba is an aquarium plant that is ideal for beginner aquarists. Having a spectacular appearance, it is distinguished by the simplest conditions of detention. Kabomba actively absorbs carbon dioxide and nutrients, inhibiting the development of weeds that pollute the aquarium.

For successful rooting, you should acquire a medium-sized bush, which is placed in the ground and rolled with a stone. The best place is near the wall of the aquarium. Fluffy kabomba does not need additional fertilizers. And in the spring it picks up color, releasing pretty yellow flowers. To give a more fluffy look, the plant should simply be pinched. Kabomba is an aquarium plant that is represented by several varieties: caroline, water, red, furkata and pleformis.

Hornwort

Hornwort, whose keeping in the aquarium brings invaluable benefits, is a fluffy green plant,the leaves of which resemble needles. This plant is also called a natural filter, because its green parts actively absorb all the dirt. In connection with this ability, the hornwort should be periodically removed from the water and washed. The pieces of twigs that are separated in the process can become new young specimens.

A useful plant is a hornwort: keeping in an aquarium does not cause much trouble, the release of a large amount of oxygen quickly oxidizes organic residues and purifies the water, and hornwort promotes the active growth of young animals.

Elodea

Elodea is an aquarium plant, which is also called "anacharis", it is very unpretentious and has a fast growth rate. And the incredible rate of reproduction gave rise to the fact that the plants were nicknamed "water plague". If you give the elodea complete freedom, then it can reach up to three meters, consuming nutrients with amazing speed and having a detrimental effect on neighboring vegetation.

In appearance, elodea resemble tropical vines. They have long stems that are covered with bright green oblong leaves.

Elodea is an aquarium plant that can grow both in the bottom soil and just floating in the water. All she needs is regular pruning. Otherwise, it will take up the entire space of the aquarium.

Nayas

Nayas is an aquarium plant that in a favorable environmentgrowing quite rapidly. The plant has thin branched shoots that can reach a meter in length and are covered with leaves growing in bunches. This plant looks very impressive in the background. Nayas creates favorable conditions for spawning fish, because it can do without soil.

Nayas is an aquarium plant that feeds on the elements contained in the water. Therefore, the soil and its composition are of little importance. Along with this, the plant regulates the microclimate of the aquarium, saturating the water with oxygen.

Alternanter Reineck

The plant is characterized by spear-shaped leaves that are red in color on the inside of the plate and at the tips. This color is characteristic of young foliage. Mature leaves are green in color. Greenish-yellow stems complete the picture.

Reinecke's Alternantera pink leaves does not require special care and is easily propagated by cuttings. This varietal group stands out against the background of green bushes, emphasizing the individuality of the aquarium and its inhabitants.

Indian Limnophila

Aquarium plant has a straight, slightly branched stem, which reaches half a meter in height and is covered with pinnate, strongly dissected leaves. A feature of the Indian limnophila is that it can have a different color depending on the light: in the shade - green, in the sun - brick.

Indian limnophila blooms over water. plant throws outpinkish buds. However, in order for the plant to grow well, you need to make a little effort. It needs clean water, which has a hardness of 10 degrees and a temperature in the region of 24 degrees.

Ambulia

Ambulia is an aquarium plant that is a type of limnophila. This plant very effectively decorates the aquarium, creating soft fluffy thickets of rich green color. The plant grows actively at a water temperature in the range of 26-27 degrees. If the temperature is below 22 degrees, then the ambulia will slow down its growth. A plant needs a large amount of light, because if it is lacking, it will lose its fluffiness. Regular water changes will also benefit ambulia.

Often an aquarium without living vegetation resembles a prison cell for fish, so it should be planted. Unpretentious aquarium plants will not only decorate an artificial reservoir, but also provide an optimal microclimate for its inhabitants. And the owner will be relieved of the lion's share of the hassle associated with care.