Live Plants in Fish Tanks
December 30th, 2009
Keeping live plants in fish tanks have both advantages and disadvantages. People who prefer live plants do so for the following reasons- plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, can absorb toxins, serve as food for the fish, inhibit algae growth, and can promote growth of beneficial bacteria. However, these advantages bring out the disadvantages as well. While plants contribute to the gas exchange in the tank by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen during the day, the process reverses at night. This means that there is a tendency for oxygen levels to drop during that time especially with tanks that have too many plants. While plants can serve as food, they decay and die, adding to the organic waste in the tank. Having live plants in the fish tank clearly requires more maintenance. However, for some people, the maintenance is part of the fun of having fish tanks so they take the good with the bad.
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