Aquatic plants care in India

Aquatic Plant Care in India 

Aquatic plants are some of the most underrated plant varieties around. We’ve always seen them in ponds, lakes and fish tanks. And oh how pretty do they look! As a plant parent, our first thought is ‘wish I could have a similar setup’. But never found the right source to learn from? 

Worry not, we are here to discuss how to set up aquatic plants at home or on the balcony. 

But first, we need to understand the cycle of life in water.  

Building an aquatic plant setup without the hassle of many water changes is absolutely possible. For that, the setup should be an ecosystem. 

Just as fishes eat the microbes and organisms in the water – they poop – that poop converts into nitrates – which is absorbed by plants – plant leaves die – microbes degrade the dead leaves – fishes eat the microbes. And this cycle continues. 

Every organism is important here, just like a food web. Everything is interlinked!

While this hobby is more towards fish keeping, as for plant lovers who want to keep aquatic plants home this blog is written especially considering plants more than fishes and other species. 

So let’s get started with the basics, 

What are aquatic plants? 

These are plants growing submerged or emersed in water. Their requirements are similar to terrestrial plants. Sunlight, air, the right temperature and fertiliser, pH and soil. What makes them unique is their adaptation to grow in water. Plus they look beautiful in water. All the vibrant shades of green coming up and making a sync with clear water is a sight to see! Their flowers are absolutely adorable! 

There are broadly 3 types of plants based on their water adaptation. 

1. Submerged plants- These are plants that grow completely in water. For example; Cryptocoryne, Java fern, Anubias. However, some species bloom emerged.
2. Emersed plants – These are plants that grow above the water surface while their roots stay submerged in water. For example; Lotus, Water lilies, penny worts
3. Floating plants – These are plants that grow on the surface of water. The majority of these species reproduce by division and some are even invasive. Such as wild duckweed or water lettuce. 

Why keep aquatic plants? 

Plants play an important role in a water ecosystem. Suppose there are fish kept in a man-made pond, the nutrients, and minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus and many naturally leach out. This leaching also changes the pH of the water. Eventually, the fish are at harm with even a slight change in water quality content and pH. 

Here comes the saviour, aquatic Plants. 

As per our class 6th, plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and other minerals to grow. When aquatic plants are planted in an artificial set up, be it a pond or a small tub at home, they use the minerals of soil as their nutrients and keep the ecosystem running. Fish poop that contains ammonia is also converted into nitrates by bacteria in the water and finally taken by plants. 

So plants are the purifiers in any water ecosystem and are very important for any pond, lake, or fish tank set-up. 

Which aquatic plants are available in the market? 

Apart from water lilies and lotus, the majority of aquatic plants are found in local fish stores. There are hundreds of varieties of plants available. From stem plants, crypts, anubias, rhizome plants, floating plants and moss. There are tissue culture plants also available for a wide range of species. 

How to set up aquatic plants in tub? 

Container or tank- The first rule is Bigger the container, the less the hassle. If you are growing it on your balcony or inside your home, a big plastic tub would also be good. Ideally, a minimum of 20 Liters of the container should be perfect for plants and fish growth. 

Substrate- Vermicompost or kitchen compost that is not too strong along with clay soil and sand to cap the layer is needed. Compost being a slow fertiliser helps in plant growth while soil is a substrate medium with the compost. 

The sand acts as a barrier between substrate and water so that the bottom surface doesn’t get disturbed while uprooting or planting the plants. 

Sand should be fine and not gravel or stones. A natural colour like white, golden, or black is better and is available at a much cheaper rate. However, golden sand looks perfect for an aquatic plant set-up. Once you get the sand, wash it till the water runs clear from it before adding it to your tub. Directly adding it will lead to cloudy water. I personally would not recommend sand from the construction side as it requires washing at least 10-15 times and has a lot of dirt in it. Which is just not worth the effort. 

If your budget can fit aqua soil, that’d be the best substrate. Just make sure the source of aqua soil is good as a lot of cheap and fake aqua soil is sold around. And add them directly as they don’t need to be pre-washed. 

Filter- For proper airflow and filter of water we need mechanical support. Air stone with a pump helps in the aeration and agitation of the water surface which prevents algae growth and larvae growth. 

If the tub is over half a foot in height, adding a hang-on back filter would be perfect for proper filtration and good bacteria growth. 

Conditions required

A tub set-up if kept outside should be kept under bright sunlight, make sure the sun isn’t too hot so that the floating plant’s leaves burn or the water becomes too hot. Ideally, sunlight at 20°C – 35°C temperature would be good. 

If the setup is kept indoors, make sure a good light is attached and kept on for 6-8 hours depending upon the intensity of light, amount of plants and which types of plants are kept. 

Temperature- The colder the temperature, the more stable the setup. However, if the temperature dips below 15°C adding a heater is a better option. That is why a bigger set-up is important. Changes in temperature and pH happen much slower than in a small container. 

If the temperature rises more than 40°C adding shade from above and keeping the water cool helps. 

Step-by-step guide to growing aquatic plants

For a first-time setup, 

Take the container/ tub without drainage holes. 

Mix 70% compost + 30 % clay soil and add a 1-2 inches layer at the bottom. Or you can take clay soil from an already set pond or container or a nursery. 

Add water 2-3 inches above this substrate level without disturbing the soil. 

Make sure there are no air pockets in the substrate as it will lead to the formation of anaerobic bacteria growth. With a thin stick or broken pencil just poke holes till the bottom of the surface. 

Let this water settle for 2-3 days. 

At this point, the water above the soil will be much clearer and the soil will be settled. 

Add an inch layer of fine sand. 

Fill the container up to the brim and let it settle for 1- 1.5 weeks. 

Let the substrate and water, cycle on its own before adding any plants or species. 

Until then keep the container in the dark or with lights off or else algae will bloom.

And keep the air stone running for 5-6 hrs each day. 

Initially change water every 4-5 days. 

1.5 weeks later, do one final water change before adding plants. 

Add as many plants as you can. So that they will compete with algae growth. While in the first week, some plants may melt and die away. Algae growth will happen (remove it manually or siphon). But don’t be disheartened, it’s a part of the process. 

Do water changes every 3-4 days. And siphon the dead matter for now. 

Initially keep the lights on for 4-5 hours and filter for 6 hrs. 

Once you see the plants growing, it’s a sign that the ecosystem settling. 

This usually takes 2-3 weeks. 

By this time it is safe to add fish. 

Which fishes to add and why?

Just as plants are important in this environment, fishes also play a pivotal role. Fishes keep the microorganism in control. They eat the mosquito larvae and other small pests. Thus keeping the tank clean. 

Make sure the fish you add are plant-friendly and not too big. 

Adding too many fish will add more biomass than your aquatic plants can handle and it disrupts the whole environment plus fish need enough space to swim. 

Recommended fishes to add are-

• Scarlet Badis
• Guppies
• Tetras
• And many more nano fishes. 

Make sure you do your research before adding fish to your container. 

The thumb rule for keeping fish is 1 fish per 4 litres of water. 

How to maintain aquatic plants?

Once the tank is settled, the plants will grow and at one point, you’ll need to trim them. After trimming you can give away these plants or swap them with other hobbyists. Or add the same cuttings in your tank back again, 

After 6-8 months, it’s essential to add root tabs or NPK fertiliser fit in a gelatin capsule. Depending upon the number, types of plants and the surface of the tank, the number of root tabs should be added. 

What to feed the fish?

Nano fish food that is found in local fish stores can be fed but in very quantity and not more than 3 times a week. As these fishes already find food in the ecosystem. And don’t worry they are not starving. After a few weeks, you can feed them once every 2 weeks. And if all, the fish seem thin and pale despite the water parameters being good then increase the feeding quantity. 

The process does take time, but patience is very important while setting up such ecosystems. After all, we humans are trying to build a replica of what nature has been forming for thousands of years. So the plants settling in weeks is still a faster process. 

Make sure you try it at home and let us know if you have doubts or queries.