We’ve mastered the planted Aquarium, and we’re looking to inspire and guide you in your Aquarium Plant journey- Be that a simple Bowl or hefty Aquascape, we’ve got you covered!

Our store is home to a huge variety of plant species, our Waterfall Plant Cascade, which holds some 40-50 Aquatic Plant Species and varieties. It is here we will find a plant to suit your needs. Our Aquatic plants are sourced from a variety of Australia’s best Aquatic plant suppliers, we pride ourselves in stocking our aquariums weekly, so you’re always guaranteed a variety, fresh cuttings and healthy specimens. Besides Potted and bunch plants, we also carry a range of Planted Anubias, Moss and Microsorium Driftwood Pieces and ceramic pots. This Planted range can be up to 60 pieces and range from 15cm through to huge display pieces up to 60cm in length with multiple plant specimens. Besides those common plant choices, many of our planted nature aquariums house and grow difficult plant species, or those of a rare variety: Red and Green Lotus, Chain Sagitaria, Crinum Calamistratum, Madagascar Lace, HC varieties and other less common varieties which we can happily order in upon request.

WHAT DO I NEED TO FEED MY PLANTS?

Do i need to Fertilize my Aquarium Plants?   Do i need to feed my Aquarium Plants?    What do i fertilize my Aquarium Plants with? 

We get asked this one alot!

The short answer, and the long answer; is YES! Remember when your Father back in the day would throw chicken fertilizer on the lawn to fuel his competitive green lawn, you will likely need to do similar to produce excelled growth and vitality in your Aquarium- But we promise you’ll be using products that a far less sensitive on the nose!

Our number one recommendation takes its form as gravel, or a companion to your existing gravel bed. Slow release fertilizer clay-soil pebbles such as ADA Aqua Soil and Fluval Stratum are excellent choices for a planted aquarium. If you already have that perfect gravel pebble chosen and don’t want to sway, you can try Dupla Laterite, this is a powder that is laid down beneath your gravel choice, which is also a great slow release option.  If you already have gravel and a functioning aquarium, never fear! There is still the option for Fertilizer Tabs like Seachem Flourish Tabs, these are just pushed below an existing plant to fertilize in the chosen area.

In conjunction with slow release root fertilizers, liquid suppliments are also incredibly helpful. In store we carry a range of liquid supplements for planted aquariums, the essentials are products like Seachems Flourish- Comprehensive Supplement and Flourish Excell- Liquid Organic Carbon. These two products are sure to make a dramatic change to plant health and growth in your aquarium. We also carry Trace Elements, Nitrogen, Phorphorus and Iron, which have specific effects like helping Iron rich plants, keep and develop a deep rich red colouration, and to supplement lacking minerals in older Aquariums.

Lastly, the most effective element to success in a Freshwater Plants Aquarium, Co2 Gas Injection. In the past, this method has been difficult to manage and costly, these days, entry level Co2 Kits are affordable and easy to use, and come with a multitude of options in diffusion and management. The basics of this chemistry is a very similar principle to how Trees absorb Carbon Dioxide from the air to promote growth, in similarity your Aquarium Plants do much the same. Co2 fuels rapid growth in Aquarium Plants and enables a multitude of options in Plant Choice, we can now manage lawns and matting species and difficult Swords and Lotus Sp. It is also possible to regulate your pH for fish like Discus, and at the same time sport a healthy Nature Aquarium.

WHAT LIGHTS DO I NEED FOR PLANTS?

Lighting goes hand in hand with Fertilization, these two key aspects are vital for optimal growth and vitality.

Much the same way that a Tree needs Sunlight to grow, so do your Aquarium Plants. This is not to say that a windowsill or direct sunlight is beneficial to your Aquarium, quite often this can cause Algae blooms at an accelerated rate. These are some Plant Species that will cope with Low-tech aquariums and ambient lighting (see the section below on Plants in Aquarium Bowls), but a majority of plant species will require adequate and good quality lighting to survive and thrive. Plants require very specific light spectrums from good quality lighting sources, these may come in the form of Florescent tubes or LED lighting. Fluorescent Light Tubes should be replaced Yearly as the quality of light decays and no longer supports plant life and favors algae- Which is never good. We have many options in Lighting In store, it is probably best to take some measurements of your Aquarium to help our Staff decipher the best option to suit your needs.

WHAT PLANTS WILL WORK IN MY AQUARIUM?

When it comes to plant choice, chat to us! Not all plants are suitable for your aquarium, each species has different needs and demands when it comes to light, temperature, nutriment and tank mates. Below is a basic guide to plant choice with a few of the most common questions we encounter on a daily basis.

WHAT PLANTS WILL WORK IN A FISH BOWL?

Aquatic Plants Suited to a Fish bowl, are those that have a low demand on light, slow growing, little nutrient demand, and are hardy in regards to temperature variations and water parameters. Our recommendations for plants in a fish bowl are of the Anubias  and Microsorum Families. These plants are hardy and do not require their roots to be buried in a deep layer of gravel: Infact they have more success when their root systems are exposed to open water. These two options are slow growing, a deep healthy green colouration and come in a variety of shapes and sizes from small thin leaves, to broad rounded and even some with crowned edges.  Other options that are suitable to “low-tech” environments are Java moss, Cryptocoryne Sp., Pelia Liverwort, Banana Lillies and Duck Weed. In general these plants will suffice with a well lit room (not direct sunlight) the waste nutriment from your fish, and regular partial water changes.

RELATED ARTICLES: WHAT FISH CAN I KEEP IN A BOWL?

WHAT PLANTS WONT GOLDFISH EAT?

Although live plants are an important and nutritious part of a fish’s diet, Goldfish can find themselves being abundantly destructive in regard to Live Aquarium Plants. Your Plant choice for longevity, is aiming towards plants with a sturdy structure, thick leaves, and a bitter deterring taste.

Our best recommendation is a Planted Anubias Driftwood piece. These are an established Anubias Sp. Plant specimen attached to an ornamental piece of driftwood. These are slow growing, have little light demand and make excelent display pieces. Other options are Pelia Moss, Thin Valisneria, Hygrophllia, Blue Stricta, Dragons Flame and Aluminum. These are staples in our plant range and are available in store, every week.

Goldfish who aren’t offered Live Plants to graze on should be given De-shelled Peas at least once a fortnight. This helps keep their digestive systems regular and is a nutritious supplement to a high quality pellet or flake diet.

WHAT PLANTS CAN I KEEP WITH AFRICAN CICHLIDS?

Much the same story as Goldfish, a difficult task! A magority of African Cichlids by nature are Algae eaters in their natural habitats, in captivity, plants are a viable meal and are readily accepted. Live Plants are an incredibly beneficial addition to their diets, although is not entirely cost effective in the long run. Your Plant choice for longevity, is aiming towards plants with a sturdy structure, thick leaves, and a bitter deterring taste. We Find Microsorium Sp. and Anubias Sp. to work well. Although the occasional nibble may occur, we find these options stand the test of time.