Aquarium plant: Utility and propagation

Aquarium plant: Utility and propagation
Introduction: Being at the base of food chain, plants are important in any
ecosystem. Plants help to provide the biological balance, besides creating bio-topic
aquarium.
 The presence of different aquatic plant provides a number of houses to the fishes
inside the aquarium.
 Most fresh water aquariums can be set up with live plants and whenever possible, it
is recommended to do so.
Types of aquatic plants:
1. Semi-terrestrial
2. Truly Aquatic
3. Marginal
Truly aquatic plant:
These plants survive only in the water. These plants are of three kinds:
1) Submerged plant:
The entire plant-stem leaves and roots remain submersed in the water. These plant
are further divided into two categories according to their cultivation and growth
pattern.
a) Rooted plants:
Such Plants are cultivated by roots, corm or rhizome, e.g., Vallisneria.
b) Bunch plants:
These plants are cultivated by cutting, e.g. , Cabomba, Bacopa etc.
2) Floating plants:

Plants which float on the surface of water are floating plant. The stem and leaves of plant
remain floating on the water surface and their roots hang down in water column. Roots
never anchor in soil. e.g., Pistia, Lemna.
3) Emergent plants:
• The roots of the plants are anchored in the bottom soil but their leaves floats on the
surface, e.g., Nymphaea.
SOME IMPORTANT AQUARIUM PLANTS
(SUBMERSED ROOTED PLANTS)
Acorus calamus (sweet flag)
• Family : Araceae
• Origin: Indonesia.
• Description:
• The leaves of this plant are deep green,
smooth, narrow long and pointed.
• Propagation of the plant is done by cutting of
the root stock in pieces.
• Slightly acidic water with pH of 6.5-6.8 is more suitable for culture of this plant.
Vallisneria spiralis (Eel grass)
 Family: Hydrocharitaceae
• Origin: SoutheastAsia Water
• Description:
• Its grass likestructuregrows in
hard water.
• The leaves are bright ribbon like
and grow up to 60 cm.

• Itis a very hardy plant when cultivated in the background of the
aquariumit will give very natural look.
Echinodorus paniculatus (Amazon sword plant)
 Family: Alismaceae
• Origin: Central and South America Water.
• Description:
• It is the most beautiful plant, with 35 cm long
bright green leaves.
• Propagated by long aerial runners.
• Plants grow quickly in slightly acidic water (pH 6.9- 7.0).
Hygrophila polysperma
• Family: Acanthaceae
• Origin: Southeast Asia Water.
• Description:
• It is very hardy, beautiful, easy to grow in cold
water as well as warm water.
• Its small, oval or oblong leaves are light or bright
green in colour.
• Numerous fine roots grow at the nodes, and therefore propagated by cutting and
roots.
Sagittaria subulata (Arrow head)
• Family: Alismaceae
• Origin: North America Water
• Description:

• The leaves are dark green, ribbon shaped , narrow and grow unto 45 cm long.
• They form a tightly grown rosette on a rhizome, which produces, long, slender
runner.
Submerged-bunched plants
Hydrilla sp
 Family: Hydrocharitaceae
• Description:
• Submerged weed. It grows under water.
But some of their leaves are coming out of
water. Usually they are anchored to the
hydrosoil. However, it may get completely
detached from hydrosoil and continue to
grow as free floating near the water
surface.
• The stalks are upto 3 m long. It bears
whorls of 2-9 straight dark green leaves at short intervals. The leaves are 2 cm long,
and 0.3 cm wide. It is easy to grow either it’s rooted or free floating form provided it
is given good light.
Najas minor
• Family: Najadaceae
• Description:
• It is a flowering plant with smooth stem
which is branched.
• Plants are 20-30 cm long. Stems are thin.
Narrow leaves of 1-2 cm in length. The
leaves are green in colour. Sickle-shaped,
6-10 pairs of teeth. It lives in shallow,
stagnant waters.
• The Najas is easy to grow. It requires good light and clear water. It can thrive and
grow as free floating.

Ceratophyllum demersum ( Fox tail)
 Family: Ceratophyllaceae
• Origin: South America Water
• Description:
• It is very fragile having no roots.
• Leaves are green and fox tail shape.
• Propagation is simple by cutting.
• It is commonly used in breeding tank of
life bearers and egg layers.
Floating plants
Lemna minor (duck weed)
• Family: Lemnaceae
• Description:
• It has tiny leaves of only about 1 to 3
inch length which are dark green and
shiny.
• Its stem is modified into leaves which are
flat and round and root are single fibers.
• It provides food , shade and shelter to
fishes in pools.
• It is capable of purifying waste water. It
spreads spontaneously at an amazing speed. It will cover the entire surface of the
tank if unchecked.

Azolla caroliniana
• Family: Azollaceae
• Origin: North America Water
• Description:
• It is a floating fern, leaves are pale
green lie in two row on the thallus
whose stem is branched, roots are
filamentous.
• This plant serves as food and shelter to
the aquarium fishes.
Pistia stratoites (Water lettuce)
• Family: Arraceae
• Description:
• It is a floating plant with slightly furrowed
leaves , arranged in rossette.
• The root are fibrous, adventitious and in
cluster and its propagation is easy.
• It can be used in garden pools.
Emergent
plants
Nymphaea sp. (water lily)

• Family: Nymphaeaceae
• Description:
• This plant produces very attractive and delicate leaves and yellow flower.
• The floating leaves are flat, leathery and sturdy.
• It provides shade and shelter to fishes in garden pools.
Nelumbo sp.
• Family: Nymphaeaceae
• Description:
• Its leaves are saucer shaped with long petiole
arising from a rhizome.
• Stem rhizome is a creeper.
• It is a flowering plant.
• It can be used in garden pools.
PLANT PROPAGATION
Introduction: Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants from a variety of
sources: seeds, cuttings, bulbs and other plant parts.
• Plant propagation can also refer to the artificial or natural dispersal of plants
• Many common plant species will reproduce on their own in a healthy aquarium.
However it is often harder to obtain ideal conditions in the aquarium for all types of
aquatic plants to readily propagate. Some aquarium plants will reproduce freely
without assistance, while others will do better with some help.
TYPES OF PLANT PROPAGATION
1. Asexual Propagation
2. Sexual propagation (seed
3. Artificial Propagation

AsexualPropagation:
 Most aquarium plants reproduce asexually, meaning that the offspring are genetically
identical to the parent plant. This is also known as vegetative propagation.
• There are three different ways for aquarium plants to reproduce this way
Runners (slips): One way is for them to produce runners, which grow out from the base of
the parent plant and then produce what are called "slips" at the end of the runners. These
slips can eventually anchor themselves in the substrate and survive on their own.
• Sometimes the runners that are between the parent plant and the slips break away
from the slips, and sometimes they just continue to grow and produce more slips.
Offsets:
• Offsetsalsogrowoff of the mainplant,buttheygrow extremelyclosetoitand do not
wanderlike runnersdo.These offsetscanbe removedfromthe parentplantandplanted
elsewhere inthe aquarium.
Adventitiousplantlets:
• The lastasexual wayof reproductioniswhensmall plantletsformonthe parentplant,
calledadventitiousplantlets.Thesecangrow on any part of the plant,i.e.nodes,roots,
leaves,orstems.Afterithasgrownfor a while,naturallyitsattachmenttothe parentplant
will die off anditwill be removed,howeverinaquariumsyoushouldremove themonce they
are about3-4 cm and replantthemyourself toensure survival.
Sexual propagation (seed)
• Propagating plants by way of seeds is often difficult to do, however it can be done. If
you are trying to reproduce plants that propagate sexually, you should have at least
two of those plants, and they should be able to produce flowers above the water
surface.
Parent plants: Provide a low enough water level that the plants can easily grow
strong aerial stems above water. After flowers have been produced, you must then
transfer pollen from the stamen to the stigmas using a watercolor brush, cotton
swab, or your finger depending on how large the flowers are.
Seedlings: Seeds should be produced if pollination is successful and you'll want to
plant them as quickly as possible. First, plant the seeds in damp soil rather than soil
immersed in water. Once they start to grow above the soil, add a small amount of
water. As the plants grow, continually add just enough water to keep them
submerged in water.

Artificial Propagation:
• It is also often quite easy to artificially propagate many aquarium plants by simply
cutting part of it off and replanting it (stem plants are the easiest to do this with); or
by dividing the rhizome in two and replanting the two pieces (ferns and mosses can
be propagated this way).
Cuttings: The best place to take cuttings is from the top stems, however you can also
take cuttings from side shoots and the middle stems as well, they are just not usually
as strong as those from the top stems. To take a cutting, cut part of the plant off just
above a node and remove any leaves around nodes that are directly above this. This
is the area where the new roots will grow. Then plant the cutting into the substrate
so that the nodes where you removed the leaves is just covered.
Condition needed for growth of aquarium plants
Plant growth are affected by different factors among which the most important are listed
below.
Water condition:
The first consideration would of course be the water in which the plants will grow. The
water temperature in aquarium play an important part in plant life. For tropical plants 23
°c -29 °c temperature is ideal and 19-22 °c temperature for temperate plants. As most the
aquarium plants prefer a slightly acidic to neutral water .The water pH should be ranges
between 6.5-7.5 .
• Light:
Since photosynthesis takes place in the presence of sunlight, light is a necessity for healthy
plants but long exposure to sunlight will also heat up the water , which is dangerous for the
plants as well as for the fishes.
• Plant Substrate:
In nature, plants are continuously receiving nourishment from their surroundings.
Aquarium plants derive nourishment from the substrate. So nutrient carrying substrates
should be used in the aquarium.
Utility of aquarium plants

 Live aquarium plants will help to keep the water quality up by binding organic waste.
 Live aquarium plants will convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
 Live aquarium plants will prevent algae infestation by competing with algae for
nutrients.
 Many aquarium fish species hail from waters where aquatic plants are common.
They will therefore feel more at home in a planted aquarium.
 Keeping aquarium plants can reduce stress in several ways for fish. Firstly, they can
decrease the amount of fighting between the fishes by forming many small
territories instead of one big one in the aquarium. Secondly, they will provide
weaker fish a suitable hiding spots .
 Plants are also used to decorate the aquarium.
 Plants provide shelter for egg and fry.
 Aquarium plants are a source of food for the fishes.
Role of aquarium plants in nitrogen
cycle
• The aquarium nitrogen cycle is simply put the method by which fish wastes and
other decomposing organic matter (such as uneaten fish food) is converted from
Ammonia or Ammonium to nitrites to nitrates by aerobic bacteria (Nitrosomonas &
Nitrobacter), which are then converted to free nitrogen by Pseudomonas or
nitrates is absorbed by the plant.
• Thus plants keep the aquarium free from toxic Ammonia.
Planting of the aquarium plants
• Decoration of aquarium tank with plants is an art that can be practiced with
imagination, experience and availability of plants.
• Vallisneria and Sagittaria are two of the commnest aquarium plants. They have the
appearance of grass and ideal for background. Bushy plants like Ludwigia &
Ceratophyllum are used in the corner of the aquarium. Marigrass and small plants

are used to decorate the front portion. Plant should be disinfected so as to kill
harmful germs, parasites, insects and other enemies of fishes.
Conclusion:
Aquatic plants are used in aquarium for various reasons. The fishes feel more at home in
a planted aquarium. Plants are used as decorative materials in the aquarium. Besides
this plants provide oxygen, food, shelter to the fish.
• So now a day, the use of live plants in the aquarium is very popular worldwide.
• But the use of plastic plants in the aquarium is slightly decreasing the demand of live
plants.
Plant propagation is the best way of creating new plants from a variety of sources: seeds,
cuttings, bulbs and other plant parts in aquarium condition.
References
 Hand book of FRESH WATER ORNAMENTAL FISHES-dr. l l Sharma.
 WWW.GOOGLE.COM
 WWW.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
 CLASS NOTE
THANK YOU ………

Aquarium plant: Utility and propagation

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Aquarium plant: Utility and propagation