Fish Tank Ornaments, Plants and Gravel>For anyhow who enjoys aquariums and fish I want to recommend the pothos vine as a no effort aquarium plant. I think we’ve all been there, standing in the pet store, dreaming of an underwater garden for our fine gilled friends. Sadly most aquarium plants are ridiculously overpriced, even at garden store rates, a thimble of aquatic moss for $5.00, give me a break! Now for anyone who hasn’t grown an Epipremnum (Pothos Vine, Devil’s Ivy) This is a great plant for everyone. They’re virtually impossible to kill, grow in full sun, to full shade, and need relatively little care. What makes them even greater is how easy they are to propagate. Cut off any piece of vine with a growing tip, bury in good soil or in this case place it in an aquarium and it will grow roots within a matter of weeks. Betta fish swimming happily amongst pathos vine roots Although I’ve heard rumors that this plant is poisonous to people, cats and dogs, my fish seem not be bothered.

The verdict online is pretty 50/50 on this one so I say try it at your own risk. I will on the other hand let you know that I’ve had pothos vines (2 different varieties) in my aquariums for over a year now and haven’t seen even the slightest sign of sickness in my little fishies. It was as simple as cutting a piece off the main plant, washing it well in the sink to remove any possible pesticides/dust and dropping it in my fish tank. Within a couple weeks you’ll begin to see water roots, and in months the vine will most likely be thriving. Occasionally a leaf might fall off and begin to rot, remove it from the water and carry on with your life. My plants live almost completely submerged and in time grow out of the tank entirely by their own. Large Established root system of my aquarium pothos vine (1 year old from cutting) Aeration – Plants create a lot more air then an air stone or filtration system, think of where your fish originate in the wild. Air comes from plants!

Filtration – As the fish produce waste deadly chemicals can sometimes build up in your aquarium and begin to poison your fish. With a planted aquarium your plants will use your fish’s waste as a natural fertilizer and help clean the water. Homes and Protection – By making your tank a lot more like their natural environment fish are less stress and in turn much healthier. Last year my white cloud minnows used my pothos vine as a hatchery for breeding and a month later the popular jumped by 300%. My fire bellied newts love to lounge in the pothos vine, which mimic a bit of a lily pad effect for them to sit on right underneath the water.If you have a certain household item, it just may become an aid in making your houseplants flourish, while cutting back on wasted water, too. Basic aquarium care includes periodically changing portions of the fish tank’s water. Depending on the tank’s size, contents, filter and other factors, water changes may be needed monthly, weekly or several times a week.

In many cases the water removed from the tank can be applied to house or garden plants rather than poured down the drain. Water changes are done to a fish tank to remove excess chemicals and other materials that could harm the fish if allowed to build up. fish tank shops in leedsThose very materials are beneficial to plants.fish tanks for gardensAquarium water accumulates nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and ammonia, plus beneficial micro-organisms that process these materials. orb fish tank heaterYou may recognize these as ingredients in plant fertilizer and soil amendments. aquarium fish glass bowl online india

While it’s important to follow the timing and dosage instructions on packaged plant food, if you’re changing your fish-tank water regularly, it will be dilute enough to apply to your plants every time you water them.betta fish tank temperatureNot all fish-tank water can go on houseplants or garden plants, however. used 55 gallon fish tank with standAvoid using water from salt-water tanks because the amount of salt may harm the plants, particularly if they are potted. If you’ve used chemicals to adjust the water’s pH, ammonia or other chemical levels or to treat your fish for diseases, do not apply the water to plants being grown for consumption. Very dirty aquarium water that has not been changed for a long period should also be kept off plants, as it may be too much of a good thing.Image: “Aquarium3” by Neale_Monks (talk) (Uploads) – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons..

Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Find more ways to reuse, repurpose and recycle household items in Natural Alternatives for You and Your Home.Keep tropical plants, start your own seeds and much more with your own greenhouse. The Greenhouse Gardener’s Manual shows you how.Make a green design statement with air plants, the easiest, cleanest houseplant you’ll ever grow. Learn how with the book Air Plants.All tanks have some algae – it’s part of the natural ecosystem, and an important component of many fish’s diets. Even if you wanted to get rid of all algae in your aquarium, you couldn’t. New spores will come in with new fishes or even via the air, over time. Algal problems are most acute in new tanks, where the balance between fish, plants, filtration and fishkeeper has yet to be established. Yet algae can also strike older tanks, particularly if maintenance has been neglected or the tank has been overfed or over-stocked. I’m a fan of heavily planted aquariums – plants will usually control algae growth once established.

You don’t need to be an expert – floating plants of various kinds are the best defense against algae, and they’re very easy to grow unless you’ve got overly turbulent water. Floating plants take up a lot of nutrients, too, helping keep the water pure. About the only downside of floating plants a slightly lower lighting level in the tank below, though the fish won’t complain and that’s partly what solves the algae problem. Alternatively, tough plants such as java fern will grow in almost any tank provided the water is not too hard. You’ll need to cover at least half the tank’s substrate with plants to control algae. Algae already out of control in your aquarium? You need to take direct action immediately, before letting plants catch up with the problem. Algae comes in various forms, with different species thriving in different tank conditions and responding to different remedies. Here are some ways to control the most common types of freshwater algae: Description: Thick sheets of blue-green, purple, black or brown slime coating the tank substrate rocks and plants.

Tank water sometimes smells foul. Blue-green algae isn’t actually a plant but rather a cyanobacteria – a kind of bacteria capable of photosynthesizing. It can release toxins that are harmful to fishes, as well as smothering plants. Generally blue-green algae only occur in new or unstable tank environments. It can occur in over-loaded older aquariums though, particularly where detritus and uneaten food has been allowed to build up over time, or filters have become clogged and dirty. Physically remove the blue-green algae with your hands or by siphoning it out of the aquarium. It is likely to return, so be prepared to do it every day. At the same time conduct 25% water changes every 2-3 days, removing as much decaying bottom material and detritus as possible. Clean filter media, and consider upgrading your aquarium filter system or at least increasing water circulation, especially if your tank is heavily stocked. If your tank is suitable, add hardy fast-growing plants such as Hygrophilia, Sagitarria and floating plants.

Ram’s-horn snails and a few other kinds will eat small quantities of blue-green algae. Fish won’t touch the stuff. Description: A thin, light brown or tan coating, particularly on the aquarium glass but also on decorations and plants. Virtually all new aquariums will go through a diatom bloom, which is nothing to worry about. Once they’ve reduced the excess nutrients they thrive on – particularly silicates – they will die back and other algae will move in unless limited by plant growth. In more mature aquariums, the cause of diatom blooms may be excessive nitrate and other nutrients, a lack of light – which diatoms don’t really require but which will stunt other competing plant growth – or insufficient oxygen. In a new tank, just wait until the bloom passes. In an older tank, do a clean-up and several large water changes to reduce the nutrient load. You may need to treat your tapwater if the problem is persistent. As with all algae solutions, heavy plant growth will out-compete diatoms – you’ll need to provide sufficient lighting and the correct micronutrients for plants.

Some fish and snails will browse on diatoms, but only a full environmental clean-up will suppress them if they occur in mature tanks. Description: Often much more black than red, red algae can appear as dots and spots on your décor and plants, as clumps (brush algae) or as threads (beard algae). Very often grows on plants. Typically introduced with new aquarium plants, especially those with broad leaves such as Cryptocoryne species. It’s often more of a problem with harder, more alkaline water. High nitrates are another common cause. The ‘dot’ forms can be scraped from glass but are impossible to remove from plants, so cut off and dispose of affected leaves. If growing plants, improve conditions by increasing (slowly and carefully!) micro-fertilisation with elements such as iron, and/or add carbon dioxide supplementation. Reducing the pH of the water can also help, and you can try filtering through peat or use reverse osmosis water for water changes to soften the water.

Siamese algae eaters will pick at red algae but they won’t make much impact. Description: The most common form of algae, coming in many different forms including fuzzy patches, green dots, filaments that clog plants, tangles and even tiny floating algae (Volvox) that turns the water green. Unlike the other algae, green algae isn’t necessarily a sign of poor tank conditions. It can be unsightly, however. The cause of huge blooms is phosphate and nitrate in excess of what can be taken up by the tank plants, perhaps because of excess feeding, fertilisation or crowding of the aquarium. The bad news is green algae is present in virtually all aquariums. The good news is it’s the most easily treated algae. Many fish will eat small infestations – in fact it provides an important part of the diet of fish such as Ancistrus and Peckolotia catfish, Siamese Algae Eaters and Otocinclus. (I’ve two fat little Otos in my planted tank, and I wouldn’t purge the last of their algae larder for all the aquascaping prizes in the world).