7 Tips for Growing Freshwater Plants in an Aquarium

Bug Buffet & Green Cuisine Available Here - purefin.shop/ A quick and simple video giving some helpful tips I've learned from keeping freshwater aquarium plants over the years.
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[@janedoe-tz3zh]

The whipping sound after the tips scared my cat and it made me laugh because I seen comments complaining about the same noise 😂

[@DanielKeepingFish]

Great advice. For me plants became an equally interesting and engaging part of the hobby as did the fish, shrimp, snails, etc.

[@donavanguay1708]

My light set up for my 60 gallon tank is kind of diy. I went to Walmart and bought 2 red & blue grow lights along with a string light. I already had a 24" nicrew light. So I took all of them and set them up inside my aquarium hood about 6" above the water. Tank gets plenty of light and after 2 weeks I already have growth on all my plants.

[@muckshifter]

My two tips for growing plants ... 1. Plant the plants, 2. put fish in. The end! Works for me.

[@jessicagoodson7452]

I was afraid to add plants bc I cannot even keep a pothos alive. But idk I put some amazon sword and java fern and they just took off! In inert substrate (sand from LFS) even. So I added a madagascar lace plant and it started growing. Then some hairgrass and it is ok too. I guess I'll keep going lol. (I did add some root tabs after I found out sand didn't have nutrients in it)

[@mikkel6690]

Dude great video straight to the point.

[@Lee-pv1lg]

Dwarf hairgrass is one of the easiest carpeting plants I have lots of luck in different substrate and different water conditions although trimming it can be quite messy to the tank

[@rosemarydudley9954]

Lee ... What I do - is after trimming plants and they float about the tank, I scoop them out with a plastic kitchen sieve. Any tiny bits that are left go straight into the filter.

[@crazydaisy3212]

If you use a gravel cleaner while you trim it sucks it up instantly so it doesn’t float around

[@--Paws--]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="215">3:35</a> I grow a lot of low light plants and some grow etiolated or stretch toward the light which is the aesthetic I prefer. The floating plants also serve as a refuge to fish, since most in the wild are not exposed to open water. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="248">4:08</a> Contrary to popular belief ramshorn snails do eat plants. I raise a lot of these, at first in a form of a stow away. Now I raise them to cycle tanks and feed my puffer. Some ramshorns can be _cultured_ to not eat plants while the rest will do so by default, according to my experience. Some will ignore plants and go after the decaying parts or even the algae; the others will be opportunistic and eat the plant regardless. Depending on which snail breeds, their offspring will either eat plants or not.

[@CoffeeLiberal]

omg finally someone else with this experience!! i thought i was going crazy. no, the part of the plant they ate wasn't dying. yes, i would wake up to a chomped up plant overnight. but everyone swears up and down they don't -_-

[@michaelthornley]

Thanks for the great tips my friend

[@33alwright]

Just subscribed. Great info video. Cheers from Ireland 👍

[@yohaan9]

Thanks alot for th information. There were quite many helpful tips here ^^

[@petsnfriends2548]

Great tips and video

[@cornedejonge7836]

Great video, cheers from South Africa

[@NaturesWhim]

Very useful tnx mike

[@rebornshoebag]

Good information. Keep it up mate..

[@ALLDAYEVERYDAYKIM]

Shoot I needed this video thanks

[@WorldAquariumSingapore]

Thks for sharing this video. For me i use low tech tanks and i started with java ferns and other easy to grow aquatic plants for my tank "D

[@rosemarydudley9954]

World Aquarium Singapore ... Java fern grows like wildfire around my local lake. Pick it for free........

[@WorldAquariumSingapore]

@@rosemarydudley9954 Woww thats great i loveeeeeeee Java fernssssss and yes my 5ft tank was over ran with java as well :D they are so beautiful

[@carmiezaya9849]

Yay, I appreciate the shrimp content XD

[@ajiths4103]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@filiplaskovski9993]

Great video mate

[@AQUAPLANET128]

Very informative video 👌👍

[@A.R.C.77]

Nice tank and great info 👍

[@kirkmorrison6131]

I add CO2 with sugar and corb syrup mixed 4 to 1 or 5 to 1. I add yeast. I seal the line and run it to a half filled with water then I run an airline down to a couple of small airstone near the plants. With a small brass valve I can adjust the amount of CO2. The thump keg helps remove any bacteria or sludge from blocking the line or stones. I have used this for around 30 years and every aquarium has had wonderful plants

[@cmaylene6787]

I wish I could understand this! I've started a planted 55g. I bought everything recommended by the KZbin experts, plants, substrate, lighting.. now trying to learn about this co2 thing. 🤔

[@kirkmorrison6131]

Plants need CO2 to grow during the day under strong light my 100 gallon uses 4 T10 bulbs 48 inches long with an aluminum reflector. I adjust the the CO2 from lights on full blast to barely on in evening via the airline valve. The heavier stock your planted tank with fish the less CO2 you will need. The problem is if you have a heavily planted tank and stock so the fish can survive a power outage you my not have enough free carbon dioxide for the plants. If you are just getting started look at videos by the real experts on KZbin and read books and magazines. It will become much easier

[@varanidguy]

Good video! Another thing I'd add is cleanliness. The more waste and ditritus you can keep out of the tank, the healthier your plants will be and the less algae you'll see.

[@Puma1Sunfire1]

Very true. Pends on the plants and fish. Had a 29 gallon where I did absolutely minimum maintenance on it for bout 6 months and it was most balanced and well growing planted tank I had. Plants was tons of Java Moss, Java Fern, Ludwigia, and Dwarf Lily with fish being Cory Cats, Guppies and Ghost Shrimp

[@ebonypegasus9864]

Finally an Australian fish keeper! subscribed, as not all the USA fish, plants and products are available down here. :D

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Awesome!

[@thirstyrabbittanks2u191]

Gday bro this is my 1st time I’ve seen you. Love the long intro top photography and music and editing. Top information mate. I’ve no plants at the moment in any of my aquariums as I’ve got American cichlids and Australian natives so I can’t have plants. But as they grow and move on to bigger tanks I’ll start planted tanks in the smaller aquariums I have to ask mate are you Australian? I subbed to you after 1 video. Thank you so much for the video

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Thank you so much!

[@robertl6440]

I have jungle val and dwarf sag. And I only vaccum areas where theres no plants as my plants do well with the fish waste. Also when I rinsed my sponge filter with aquarium water in separate container I'd water my house plants and they responded well to that. As for moss i never ever had luck with java moss. But lots of luck with Christmas moss. Weird hmm? I miss my neon fish and my new platies pop a lot.

[@mitchrawles]

thanks

[@amandaduso5343]

Great video! I got distracted by the fork in your tank lol

[@mraquaticnews5676]

Good info

[@twinedbenji007]

nice tips and great video :) subscribed!!

[@turnipsucks6416]

Dito. Got my sub. Learning still about plants for aquariums. Crypts, and anubias are only ones I've had success with, but I am using the LED Walmart aquarium kit. Super low light. I imagine that is my problem.

[@twinedbenji007]

turnip sucks yes the plants that you are using is for low light other plants will not be a big succes. These lights are mid high/ high light. Fluval2.0/3.0, ADA aquasky moon, Chihiros, Finnex planted plus. Twinstar e version or s version .

[@turnipsucks6416]

I'm in-actively upgrading at the moment. I Have a 55 with TFL 8 light. Just haven't set it all up. With some 5000-6500K lighting I'm hoping to change the my plant experience. Just completed the stand and waiting for the Stain to dry and seal (48 hours come tomorrow morning). Next step is the tank..... I need to get more substrate (upgrading from 10 gallon to 55 G long), etc. So much fun.

[@twinedbenji007]

turnip sucks yes Will be a lot better :) good luck and enjoy!!

[@mollychrisa1]

Thanks tis is helpful 👩‍🏫💖🧝‍♀️🎬🎊💝🌟

[@brendamagill5942]

I really don’t like that whipping sound either although I enjoy your videos! Loose the noise! Thanks!

[@Ingeborgw]

Brenda Magill Totally agree! Tried to watch this, but had to escape after the third sound. 😣

[@xenji7121]

Either an ocean wave sound or a water drop...or something more natural for your videos Just saying it's your wish

[@sirfantyvr300]

Ingeborgw wtf is wrong with you a tiny sound really is gonna stare you away. Holy fuck you can turn the sound off and read the damn subtitles fuck.

[@Binnie_303]

Do you have any birds? Thought i heard some in the background.

[@caewalker9276]

The forks for holding cucumber or zucchini to feed the Pleco"s. One of the first things I learned about fish keeping .

[@michaelpondo6324]

Great vid. Very helpful.

[@Lflower1Stars]

Great advise on plants...can you name a few low light plants...that's good if you already have gravel substrate...thanks

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Crypts, Val, wisteria, bacopa 👍

[@smollz06]

When you clean or do water change on the tank, do you clean the gravel?

[@samuelbrisson2454]

You can do it for the Aesthetic

[@lalamanfortheone1]

Nice 🤠🤙

[@ItsStewys]

anyone else notice the fork in the tank at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="183">3:03</a>?

[@strider5119]

@@SimonSkrlec You can also boil cucumber for about 5-10 minutes, and it will soften up and sink. Making it easier for them to eat, and you don't have to force it to sink. They love it

[@cmaylene6787]

That's how I feed my Plecos. I stick zucchini, cucumbers, boiled carrots, green beans, etc. on the fork and it holds it still and makes clean up easy.

[@staxtree]

That golf swing sound effect... haha :D Good vid tho thanks.

[@rosemarydudley9954]

Like your video...I have a selection of "growing" plants in the aquarium. I don't buy them, I get them from my walks around the lake with my dog. It doesn't matter if the fish eat them because I can replace them - all free!.

[@VoyagerD]

that's kind of dangerous. plants found in nature can have chemicals, parasites, and diseases that can kill fish in aquariums.

[@tejjaa_mein_hun18]

What are the plant names into your aquarium in this video. Could you please help me with those i just loved it!!

[@Greg-go8ep]

why is there a golf swing sound effect in the background of this?

[@ucchinhhuynh2]

@ this is my friend's beautiful 200L tank. it combines several plant and iaquazu 2009.

[@lebowskiunderachiever3591]

Out of curiosity. Could it be beneficial to sew plants during the initial setup (well before fish are added) to an aquarium? encouraging undisturbed root growth, maybe less water and having the lights lower as well and slowly raise the levels of both ? I ask becouse I have a few interesting ideas for a future project (very early)

[@lehappydog]

yes

[@mysteriesttv]

what kind of light do you use?

[@ShrimpinAintEz_com]

Subbed btw 👌💪

[@adrianradu2332]

Do not use sand as substrate.. Sand is inert and due to how dense it is in the water, it makes it hard for the roots to properly grow downwards. I recommend you use aqua soils, like JBL Manado, which is perfect for root growth. Use sand only as a top decoration over the substrate, don't use it as a planting medium.

[@spickeyplayzyt4166]

The plants can still survive and live but dont grow as fast so I dont mind

[@PULAG]

What if you have a very seasoned tank, moderately stocked, and root tabs in the sand?

[@erikalangbein4586]

I have sand in one of my tanks and it has been on of my fastest plant growing tanks. Same light water and fertilizer

[@stargazeronesixseven]

🙏 Thank You So Much for the Valuable Tips! 🌷🌿🐡

[@robertlucas4941]

Never had a problem with sand/ fine gravel. I refuse to spend big money on aqua soils, etc.

[@aquamarine6875]

Is 3 watts with 10000 kelvin good for growing plants in a 7 gallon tank? It has 4 white leds and 2 red leds

[@thestrawberryaniahomegarde7228]

Subscribed

[@Ballacha]

KH and GH supplement are also very important. plants don't do well in water with low hardness. i don't know which part of australia you are from but here in melbourne, if you dip a TDS metre in a bowl of tap water, it will read 15-25ppm, which can be legally called "distilled water" in many countries. every month i have to dump about $20 worth of hardness supplement into my 110L planted tank just to keep the plants happy.

[@TrueFish54]

Dam, thats low, in Sydney its about 80-90ppm

[@brandonshultz1771]

Just us some crushed coral

[@satlaren]

Where I live water is too hard. So hard it'll stain the aquarium glass and make it translucent. Hence, I use RO water and replenish it with local equivalent of Seachem Equilibirum for GH and Baking Soda for KH. I measure my dose after testing with API test kits. I don't worry much about PH as long as it is stable. Plants are thriving now, earlier it used to melt in unadulterated RO water. Another upside to this is that my tank is algae free due to lack of nitrates and phosphates in RO water. Don't have to make frequent and large water changes.

[@MrFloydroy]

Discoloured Buttflaps I wish that I had your problem. I have to filter my hard water in order to grow my desired plants.

[@bigsky445]

Love your videos! What kind of root tabs do you use that are safe for shrimp? No copper or anything toxic to shrimp. Can't find any without copper in them. Please help!

[@KeepingFishSimple]

This is what I used theaquariumstoreonline.com/collections/fertilizers/products/premium-slow-release-aquarium-root-fertiliser-tablets-40pcs

[@cmaylene6787]

Weird site from that link?

[@crisbenfabella5788]

Are sand more likely to be smelly day by day? Even the plants inside of your tank

[@sunflower6434]

What do Otos ( catfish) eat other than algae?

[@kishdogg1594]

Whats the best substrates for turtle tank

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

The text is good, Without background music is excellent, but The Sound pip is terrible.

[@Doctoranthetardis]

I add co2 with a bottle around my bb gun under the water.

[@tacothefox789]

I have biggish gravel and my plants are fine and healthy

[@TrishaR-1208]

Thank you for mentioning this. New to aquariums and already put my gravel in it.

[@pabeldark]

which is the specie name of fish that is cleaning the gravel stones ? and this is not eating the Shrimp offspring? Thanks.

[@ArgonautArgus]

Hi hate to ask because i imagine you hate answeing it but i can reconize all the plants but at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="293">4:53</a> its stunning, thank you

[@MrFloydroy]

Co2 doesn’t need much attention or maintenance. You basically set it and leave it alone until the tank goes dry 6 months later.

[@leo96119611]

My lighting about 5-6hrs algae (green) growing, is green algae good for my aquarium, plants and fish? can someone help?

[@SwagYaj]

Do you need to add any plant water conditions? Or just put them in the tank?

[@josueacosta5172]

I would apply water conditioner if you are adding fish. Tap water contains chemicals, such as chlorine and chloramines, which make water safe for drinking, are highly toxic to fish.

[@vijayaragavanp3474]

Do we need heater for planted aquarium? Does plants need heater irrespective for the heater to maintain temperature for the livestock?

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Vijayaragavan P yes you need a heater

[@vijayaragavanp3474]

@@KeepingFishSimple why is that so... Can u please brief it

[@caewalker9276]

Unless you keep tropical fish, you dont need a heater. My tank gets down to 16 deg C and I haven't lost any in 3 years.

[@katebattista7400]

@@vijayaragavanp3474 Because many fish in the hobby are tropical and need a to be warm year round. That said there are fish that don't need a heater. White Cloud Mountain Minnows are lovely examples of this.

[@greggymendoza4047]

im not siure if i missed it but i did not hear you mention liquid fertilizer. some of your plants in the video shows signs of nutrients deficiency such us holes on the leaves. and what's the fork doing in your tank? @<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="190">3:10</a> nice video anyway. :)

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Hey mate, nah can’t use liquid fertiliser in this aquarium because of the shrimp. But yea the holes are from snails and shrimp eating at it. Thanks for watching!

[@greggymendoza4047]

im keeping shrimps in my planted tanks and i am using liquid fertilizers from seachem(Flourish, iron, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, Trace and excel) and my shrimps are doing fine with it. my shrimps even exploded in population so i don't think fertilizers will harm shrimps. and besides, snails and shrimps wont eat healthy leaves. FYI

[@katebattista7400]

@@KeepingFishSimple You totally can. Nilcog makes a great fert mix for invert tanks.

[@destructortim9041]

What light do you have?

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Timothy Dawn not a good one 😬

[@andrewsartscalemodels]

Great vid mate. What state are you in? I am in Vic myself.

[@KeepingFishSimple]

QLD

[@carmiezaya9849]

How to treat plants with disease?

[@barymillien7066]

Hi I see you have a metal fork in your tank what is that is about

[@theanimaladdiction]

Can you do a video on top 7 most colorful community freshwater fish?

[@1.8millionvolts87]

Betta and guppy is definitely colorful

[@Lia-wi4bc]

Is natural light enough for the plants? Or is a lamp needed?

[@russianbot1339]

L i a Natural light would be enough if you put it by a window. That could however cook your livestock, so artificial lights are better if you have fish. No need for expensive aquarium lights though, just get a 6500K 1000 lumens led bulb and put it in a spare desk lamp, so muck cheaper, same effect for the plants.

[@Lia-wi4bc]

Molle Björk thank you!

[@russianbot1339]

You’re welcome

[@MaxS535]

how do you clean a tank with fine gravel?

[@sabinaalexis6246]

MaxxDrawss pinch the siphon hose to control the flow so you can suck the dirt up and let the substrate fall back down before it gets sucked up

[@cmaylene6787]

I barely touch the surface while gently swirling the tip of the vacuum. The debris comes right up. I've seen some aquarium hobbyist rubber band a fork to the end allowing the fork tips to dig into the substrate and they say it's a good way to prevent gas pockets from forming. I've not had that issue though.

[@thesleeper1974]

What kind of shrimp are those?

[@ramah314]

Everyone says have good lighting; but what exactly does that mean? What colors, how much intensity, how long should the light be on etc...? Is there away to measure for proper lighting?

[@souvikghosal5702]

Can I use the garden soil and construction sand as substrate??

[@KeepingFishSimple]

It shouldn't be a problem. Just tricky to do. Good luck!

[@caewalker9276]

As long as the sand doesn't compact too much. It could rot the roots out. I put soil in a bucket fill with water, fish out floaties ,pour off excess water. Add to tank. If you have some clay roll into little balls and squash into disks. Spread the disks around ,not too many or your water will stay milky. Cover with a 5cm layer of gravel or gritty sand. You don't want it to compact. Fill tank SLOWLY, do 4-5 water changes. Run a filter till clear.

[@bigsky445]

Get pool filter sand, it's the best and is only about $7 for 50lbs bag. Love it!

[@anthonygonsalves641]

@@caewalker9276 to do

[@anthonygonsalves641]

@@KeepingFishSimple I

[@rinaldimanuel6]

make more videos about guppies

[@ashokkumargupta4686]

My

[@fortunescarlet2883]

my plant is growing out of the water do i just cut it?

[@mootamoonta261]

You have to love your tank and fish like your wife.

[@bryancao8306]

What are those shrimp called?

[@executorsv2159]

Neocaridina davidi aka cheery shrimp

[@_official_shivu_9645]

Its ok

[@jdssurf]

i forgot i had a bag of ammonia remover in my filter, was wondering why my water sprite was dying,ugh

[@josephonesto8057]

You don’t clean your tanks do you. All the bottom feeders do the work to keep the tank clean? Just asking because I’m new to the freshwater aquarium community

[@steveblaze3253]

you still should using a tank vacuum an inch or two above the substrate bottom cleaners don't eat other fishes wast. if you're planting tank research what plants need to be rooted in substrate and what plants you tie to a rock or drift wood like Java Fern has rizezones that can't be burrieed it the plant will die. it's a great beginner plant you tie it to rocks drift wood other decorations and it reproduces on its own making you more plants It does not need co2 or extra fertilizer and can be used with low to moderate light I use the plant in all my tanks. and one plant will give you plenty of new plants

[@Iamaguienapig]

You still need to clean your tank, bro.

[@arionayon42]

How about sunlight ?

[@jeffreyyyy3052]

Uv light is to strong will only be good for algae

[@Dan-sz1lr]

i dont know why but, I am a beginner aquarist. for some reason, I didn't grow dwarf hairgrass properly, they just rotted. but then the HC Cuba grown. I thought to myself, oh... does that make me a highly skilled aquarist? idk...

[@ifunk79]

Did he say "photothithathith"? lmao i cant say it either...

[@ecstaticpenguin768]

If your goal was to make me bite my tongue... Then consider that comment fruitful.

[@korinaedig3457]

Hahaha

[@Leysner77]

And also not a low kh ..min a kh of 5 for reds plants

[@hassanrashid4873]

What plant is this at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="59">0:59</a>?

[@forbacious]

Kinda late but, it's water wisteria

[@marktuyet]

I use miracle grow .

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Nice!

[@TheBubblephobia]

There's a dinglehopper in your tank.

[@wildsprig]

I really enjoy your videos but can't stand the whipping sound effect, after every tip. It's needlessly obnoxious.

[@KeepingFishSimple]

wildsprig hahah thanks for telling me! I didn’t realise

[@augustuecker1726]

KeepingFishSimple don’t listen to him you are beautiful just the way you are

[@chrisu.k9307]

I think it’s cool

[@Follow_Jesus]

Agreed

[@RedHandCommando]

Not a whip it's a golf swing 😂

[@Iamaguienapig]

Why do my plants melt in my Betta tank?

[@Jaywil07]

Little Red light issues can cause issue or lack of nutrients.

[@deletethemedia3445]

Do you control your snail population? If so, how?

[@912912patriot]

It doesn't look like he does. They are everywhere in this video!

[@hailee1001]

lower your feeding , populations boom when there’s lots of food

[@pawankumarpal1507]

What wasthe name of that plant

[@robertspringer9477]

PKP ,It was Steve but had it legally changed to Earl.

[@savannahferris4036]

My corydoras like to ✨redecorate✨

[@LemonsRage]

AH shoot I always read " *Glowing* " and not "growing" and get all excited about glowing plant :(

[@TheBrockinater]

@goatnad6970 stop being a dick. They literally injected octopus dna into fish to make them glow. It's not an absurd thought

[@Riinablackone]

Big NoNo to Co2... Plants grow whitout it to wery well....

[@nikolaj1316]

"photothithath" - Perfect.

[@prajjwalray7030]

How do you control algae?

[@KeepingFishSimple]

I have a video!

[@danielpaul6564]

In his case I’d say snails. :)

[@UfoJoe]

If you have a friend that owns a restaurant you can buy one of those co2 tanks they use for beer and use that instead of buying the so expensive co2 cartridges ;) It lasts for years and it's really cheap to refill. I bought the tube and the regulator for 200 bucks. Here in this fucking Sweden only a 20 mg co2 cartridge costs about 20 bucks... that's a reap off . Cheers mate

[@dss7740]

How about not using that annoying noise at the beginning of each tip?

[@KeepingFishSimple]

I agree