Livebearers by David Alderton

Author:David Alderton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lumina Media
Published: 2004-03-14T05:00:00+00:00

The choice of aquarium backdrop has a great impact.

Since the roots of many aquarium plants spread readily through the substrate, they may invade the slits in the undergravel filter, blocking them off. It is often better to restrict the growth of plants by setting them in small plastic pots, which can be buried in the substrate and concealed by rocks or woodwork. There is a significant difference between typical land plants and those that live in water, in that the roots of the latter primarily serve to provide anchorage rather than as a major conduit for nutrients. Nevertheless, if conditions are unfavorable then the plants will not thrive. You should always expect some dieback after moving plants into a new aquarium, but you can reduce this by ensuring that the leaves are not left to dry out and by transferring the plants back to water as soon as possible.

Before positioning plants, ensure that they are not contaminated with aquatic snails. In a well-established aquarium a few snails will not cause serious damage, but a group can decimate newly established plants. Their eggs appear as blobs of jelly, stuck on the underside of the leaves—breaking off affected leaves is the easiest way of dealing with them. You may also want to dip the plants in a solution of aquarium disinfectant to kill off harmful microbes.

It is easier to put the plants in place once the aquarium is about half-full of water, as they are then less likely to be displaced when the tank is topped up. Floating plants should only be put in once the aquarium is completed, or they will get in the way. To minimize the stress on the plants when you introduce them, check that the water itself is near the correct temperature. You may find it helpful to use a planting stick if you have odd cuttings to set in place. Start at the back of the aquarium and work forward round the sides so that you can plan the design, carrying out any necessary adjustments as you go. Try to avoid positioning plants directly adjacent to the heater, as they are unlikely to thrive in such close proximity to this unit, although that said they can often be used in such a way as to conceal its presence.

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