In the nature ecosystem, aquatic plants act as a source of oxygen for aquatic fauna. Aquatic plants also help to transform harmful chemical to less harmful chemical used as nutrients for plants. Each aquatic fauna is dependent to aquatic plants. The existence of aquatic plants in the ecosystem help reducing the stress for aquatic fauna. From this reason, the idea of aquatic plants keeping is arise.
Aquatic plants grow in a very wide condition, and are well distributed across planet earth. Some grow along the river banks, lakes, paddy field, wetlands, etc. Thus each plant requires different specifications in order to live and reproduce.
Some plants require specific requirements, we call them 'expert-level' plants. Some plants are able to live in a wide variety of condition and adaptable to different specifications, we call them 'beginner-level' plants.
We classify difficulty level of plants by water chemistry demand and lighting demand. Some plants demand acid-soft water while other plants demand alkaline-hard water. Every plant's demand are according to their natural habitat. (pH level is to classify acid-alkaline water, and GH/TH is to classify soft-hard water).
MY FIRST PLANTED TANK
If you want to begin your first planted tank, we recommend you choosing the beginner-level to easy-level aquatic plants. These plants can tolerate wide variety of water condition, adapt to low light, and require minimum maintenance, thus minimizing cost.
EXPERT AQUARIST
If you want a bright looking, carpet-like grass, and bright red-green plants in your planted tank, we recommend you to choose medium-level to expert-level aquatic plants. These plants require higher light intensity, more nutrient supply, extra maintenance thus more cost. Yet the result is always above expectation.
NUTRIENT SUPPLY
Every aquatic plant requires fertilizer in terms of macro and micro nutrients to grow well. However, aquatic plants require DIFFERENT TYPE of nutrition compared to terrestrial plants. Ecosystem has developed a balance and complete liquid fertilizer, Eco-macro for macro nutrients supply and Eco-micro for micro nutrients supply.
Beside macro and micro nutrients, CO2 is another nutrition aquatic plants need to achieve optimal growth. It is because aquatic plants breathe using CO2 and releasing O2. For CO2 supply inside the aquarium is limited, thus we recommend using additional CO2 for best result. Aquatic plants will be able to grow without additional CO2, however additional CO2 is needed to achieve for more optimal growth.
A HEALTHY PLANTED TANK
A healthy planted tank can be seen through the continuous plant growth, minimum algae appearance, minimum fauna's mortality rate, and minimum leaf losses.
MY PLANT DON'T GROW RED, WHY?
Some aquatic plants have the ability to change its leaf color. There are several things you should put in mind:
- Wrong lighting condition, aquatic plants require different type of lighting compared to terrestrial plants because the light will have to go through water. Thus, standard housing lights are not very suitable for aquatic plants. Please use good quality lighting suitable for planted tank.
- Insufficient nutrient level, some nutrients have the coloring ability for aquatic plants. Thus you have to ensure these nutrients are available.
- The original color of the plant is not red itself.
- Water parameter that is not suitable for plants to change their color to red.
CHOOSING YOUR PLANT
Plant will reveal their real quality, a healthy plant will look green&lushy. unhealthy plant used to hard to adapt to new environment and has a higher change to fail rather healthy one. fresh plants will be bright dan has a strong structure.
Aquatic plants require different handling method, during transportation we need to:
- Put the aquatic plants in a plastic bag to keep it humid. Please do not submersed the plants, just make the plants damp.
- Put the plants at shaded places. Please do not expose the plants with direct sunlight or at high temperature places.
- Avoid windy area when the plants are outside the plastic bag.
- Keep the temperature from 5-28 Celsius.
- Again watch the HUMIDITY.
- Float the plants for a few days when you have not decided where to plant the plants.
PLANTING
unless for big bubl's plant, it is highly recomended the usage of pinsette, pinsettes come in handy during planting and maintenance process.
Ecosystem suggest to plant plants in a slantwise way (30-45 degrees), this process is needed to prevent buoyancy. overtime plant will grow towards light.
PRUNNING
Prunning is a frequent important maintenance to be perform on nature aquarium.While prunning perform plants scisscor is use. Prunning is needed due to keep nature aquarium health for a long period of time. Prunning for stem plant begin from the bottom of the plant, prunning on rossette plant being performed on the bottom of the old leaves, prune session on rhizomes plant being performed on their rhizome, for creeping plants, prunning is necessary to keep the plants stay short. for musci it is advise to using manual hands, the usage of scisscor will make the scrap contaminate undesireable location being overgrowth by musci. dont hesitate to perform prunning.