Live Plants for Beginners

Live plants aren't just pretty. They actually help keep your tank healthy.

What plants do for your tank:

• Use up waste. Plants take in ammonia and nitrate as food. That means cleaner water between water changes.
• Fight algae. Plants and algae want the same food. Healthy plants leave less for algae.
• Add oxygen. During the day, plants make oxygen with light. (At night, they use a little oxygen, like fish do.)
• Give fish cover. Shy fish feel safer with plants to hide in, so they come out more.
• Feed some fish and shrimp. Many fish and shrimp graze on the tiny life that grows on plant leaves.

Do I need special gear? No. Many great plants grow fine with a normal aquarium light and no extra equipment. This course sticks to those easy plants.

Start small. A few easy plants are better than a lot of hard ones. As you get comfortable, you can add more.