Are you a fish lover who possesses a beautiful aquarium? This piece is undoubtedly for you. Maintaining the aquarium and keeping it fresh and clean all the time is essential.
This is indeed for the good health of your fish kingdom.
Aquatic plants, artificial shells, and other aquarium decor objects can make your aquarium suitable for your fish.
However, do you know that these aquarium plants can impact the quantity of nitrates? Indeed, it is true.
Please try to keep the best aquarium plants to reduce nitrates in the water. It will help in keeping your water clean and healthy.
Moreover, it also oxygenates the tank and makes your marine friends happy. This blog teaches about the top five aquarium plants for a great outfit.
Table of Contents
Role of The Best Aquarium Plants to Reduce Nitrates
There is a small trick to lower the nitrates in your tank. You should place the beneficial plants in such a manner so that the leaves grow outside.
At the same time, the roots will be inside the tank. The best aquarium plants will take care of your tank water quality and keep your fish healthy.
The high concentrations of phosphate and nitrate can hamper your fish’s lives. Excessive nitrate levels can be harmful to small fish.
They cannot stay if the level continues to be 100 ppm or more. It can cause the fish to have several diseases, even hampering their breeding capacity.
Therefore, the aquarium plants will be the best solution to save your fish.
Plants need a good quantity of nitrates to grow properly. Hence, they absorb the environmental nitrates through their roots to prepare their food. As a result, these elements get reduced in the water tank.
Learn about the best aquarium plants to reduce nitrates. You can keep them regularly for excellent results.
5 Best Aquarium Plants for a Healthy Tank
1. Water Wisteria
This is the top pick among the best aquarium plants to reduce nitrates. It is a stem plant with palmate leaves. Moreover, it grows very fast and takes food through its stems and leaves.
However, the roots continue to grow from any place where you put the stem. The plant is bushy and does not require CO2 for growth.
Plantation is very easy as you can grow it totally submerged in the water or partially immersed in the tank.
Scientific name: Hygrophila difformis
Light: Low light requirement
2. Pothos
Pothos is a brilliant indoor plant with multiple benefits. Not just water but people also prefer to keep it at different places in the house.
However, it can greatly reduce the nitrate level of the tank, thus ensuring a safer aquarium. It is famous for its hardiness and is often termed as “Devil’s Ivy”.
Although fish do not have any issues with this plant, Pothos can be harmful to dogs and cats. It grows at a great speed and comes within a reasonable budget.
However, before putting it inside your aquarium, please wash the dirt at the root thoroughly to remove the fertilizers.
Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum
Light: Almost dark conditions
3. Duckweed
These are free-floating plants with a stunning appearance. Therefore, you can try them as a center of attraction for your aquarium.
Besides, the fish will love such an environment with a perfect ocean-like feel. Along with nitrate level, it also slows down the growth of algae.
The green leaves, around 0.5 inches, spread like a blanket throughout your tank. However, every leaf is actually a separate plant.
Scientific name: Lemnoideae sp.
Light: Low
4. Frogbit
This floating plant belongs to the Amazon forest. However, it can become a member of your aquarium as it loves to stay in water for a prolonged period. Besides, the plant grows best in calm water.
Unlike duckweed, the plant has several leaves. These leaves tend to move upwards and start floating on the water’s surface, making it one of the best aquarium plants.
You should keep a check on the number, as it can cover the entire tank and spread very fast.
Scientific name: Limnobium laevigatum
Light: High to medium
5. Moneywort
This creeper is also easy to grow inside your aquarium. It does not require CO2 and can reach a height of 30 inches or more. Besides, it has fleshy and bright stems with round leaves spiraling around them.
Originally, Moneywort is from Antarctica and grows amazingly in the wetlands. However, you can observe a steady growth as you put it in the tank.
Of course, it keeps the tank free from nitrates and gives small flowers.
Scientific name: Bacopa monnieri
Light: High to medium
FAQ
Do all aquarium plants need nitrates to grow?
Yes. Almost all live aquarium plants grow well due to the intake of nitrates from the water.
What is the maximum height of an aquarium plant?
The average height of an aquarium plant varies between 15 to 30+ inches.
Conclusion
The best aquarium plants are responsible for the healthy life of your aquarium fish. They inhale the nitrates present in the water and start growing inside the tank.
Pothos and Water Wisteria are the top choices among the best aquarium plants to reduce nitrates. However, you may try planting other plants, too, like Duckweed, Moneywort, etc.
These incredible plants can keep your aquarium clean, calm, and green. Some of them can also produce beautiful blossoms.
Such greenish arrangements look very pretty and act as natural decor for your aquarium.
