Top 5 Questions answered on how to care for freshwater aquarium plants

In this episode, we'll talk about planted tanks and how to grow freshwater aquarium plants. Things we tried and worked in our setups.

Answering questions from Quora about major elements in your tank setup for healthy plant growth and not talking about lighting.

How do you keep live plants in a freshwater tank?
Well here is the simple qanswer to that question! provide it with proper environment and it will thrive. Plants need, nutrients, Light and water.
Now before we dive into each, it is important to know the source of your plants, and their requirements. Give them a good cleaning with Permenganate and some hydrogen peroxide.
Clean them well and know which type of plant it is. Epiphite grow on branches and rocks, so you can glue them there, Stem plants can remain floating or attached to a weight until they can establish themselves
in the soil. Root and bulb based plants, need soil and substrate to grw in.

Which substrate keeps the roots the best in an aquarium? I will add an Apple snail and I don't want my plants to be digged off. Is using sand over fluval stratum a good idea?
You can use a variety, starting from neutral gravel and sand, to active substrate. The difference is related to the water parameter's you need.
Active Substrate and Akadama affects the pH of the Water, and have a lot of nutrients for bulb and rooted plants. Akadama is basically baked soil. Any substrate can be mixed or topped with neutral gravel like crushed lava rocks.
Doing so will help beneficial bacteria, and will make it easier for the plants to grip.
Helpful tips for attaching plants water change aquarium.mov
https://youtu.be/dbE8rW0skkE


If I have root tabs for my planted tank, do I need liquid fertilizer too?
Article: Is it a Shrimp Safe Fertilizer?
https://www.readyaquarium.com/post/is-it-a-shrimp-safe-fertilizer
Yes but less than without root tabs.
Root tabs provide nutrients for plants that root in the substrate and to a limited surface.
While liquid fertilizer help epiphytes and floating plants as well as rooted plants. So to compensate, you’ll need some liquid fertilizer.
Simple & Easy Freshwater Planted Aquarium - Update.mov
https://youtu.be/2Iv5SQbKrzM


How do you grow moss in an aquarium or fish tank?
There are some easy growing mosses like java moss and taiwan moss, and some harder to grow moss, like Borneo moss or Christmas moss.
Based on the grow pattern and shape of the moss, you can decide on the placement. We like Christmas moss for carpeting or for trees, taiwan moss for shelter and ledges... A number one rule to keep in mind for most type of mosses. LIGHTING
Read a bout the moss you acquire and provide it with the light it needs, from the direction it needs it.


How to Lower the kH in Aquarium?
You can lower the kH by initially using Reverse Osmosis water RO water. or Distilled Water. Test your water and adjust accordinlgy, kH testing kits can help in this.
First thing to address for kH, is to AVOID using chemicals that drops the kH. this can cause tremendous shifts in water parameters and might cause stress to some of your aquarium inhabitants.
Sometimes CO2 can be a good option, and an alternative to that is using tanic acid or botanicals BOTAN powder.
You can use kH lowering substrate (Controsoil), for instance Fluval Stratum is good for acid loving fish, some shrimp, and possibly most plants. The kH also drops to a low value with Fluval Stratum (1 or less).
Which helps maintain a proper balance for the pH if taken care of with pure water.

SHORT How to prepare and use botanicals in shrimp tanks
https://youtube.com/shorts/N7txFU4zJ1Q