Do My Aquatic Plants require Fertilizers?

An aquarium is an artificial adobe for fishes. Therefore, efforts must be made to provide them the feel as if living in the natural environment. Including aquatic plants in the aquarium is the best way to give it a natural, alluring and highly attractive outlook. Not only fishes get benefitted due to the aquatic plants, but the room where you have placed the aquarium will become more graceful.

Aquatic plants make the aquarium looks utterly adorable. Many aquatic plants suit perfectly to grow in the aquarium. While some are easy to maintain, some require special attention for better flourishing. From the pond moss like algae to trailers like duckweed and Wolffia, you may end up getting a large number of aquatic plants for your aquarium.

While getting an aquatic plant is easy, maintaining it could become little tricky. Until proper maintenance is not provided to the plants residing inside the aquarium, they could get damaged easily and deteriorate the quality of aquarium as well. Plants survive when they are not offered the basic essentialities for the well-being. However, if you want them to thrive, bequeathing some of the vital necessities like fertilizers becomes essential.

The professional aquarists knew the importance of supplementing fertilizers to the aquariums but the beginners consider it futile. The lack of know-how and deeper insight into the context ultimately leads to making their aquatic plants get rotten, damaged sooner and useless for the aquatic ecosystem.

Therefore, if you are in a dilemma as to whether your aquatic plant requires fertilizer or not, then the answer is yes. Your plants need some additional supplements just like your body require food for proper growth and development. There are many fertilizers which are feasible only for the aquatic plants to nurture and flourish themselves in your little aquatic eco-system.

Fertilizers for aquatic plants

Fertilizers are divided into two major categories namely macronutrients and micronutrients. While macronutrients are required in larger quantity, micronutrients are sufficient for the plant when provided in a smaller amount.

Macronutrients – Calcium, sulfates, phosphates, potassium, chloride, sodium, nitrogen and magnesium come under the category of macronutrients and are required by the plant in more significant quantity. Majority of macronutrients are endowed to the aquatic plants by the fish food and fish excreta. Therefore, there is no need to add these nutrients in the aquarium frequently.

Micronutrients – Iron, manganese, zinc, boron, copper, cobalt, and molybdenum are essential micronutrients and are needed to add frequently to the aquarium. Promoting growth hormones, enhancing the process of cell development and photosynthesis are some of the significant functions of micronutrients. They also aid in plant metabolism and nitrogen assimilation.

Types of aquatic fertilizers

Plant fertilizers are categorized on the basis of two basic delivery methodologies. These are:

1. Substrate fertilizers– These fertilizers are buried within the substrate beds. Roots of the aquatic plants slowly absorb the nutrients and fulfill their requirements. The substrate fertilizers are best for the root feeders. Another added of these fertilizers is the algae cannot access them. This contributes to minimizing the algae outbreaks and thereby a flourished aquatic plant.
2. Liquid fertilizers– Liquid fertilizers are perfect for the plants which absorb the nutrients from their leaves. Some of the aquatic plants don’t grow roots into the substrates and therefore can only suck the nutrients from the water. Generally, liquid fertilizers are easy to use and need a frequent application.

No matter which fertilizer you are utilizing in your aquarium, if the right dose is not supplied, the plant may get damaged and deteriorate fast. Similarly overdosing also leads to conditions which are not favorable for the aquatic plants like an outburst of algae.

Once you have selected the right fertilizer for your aquarium, you need to adjust the pH, light and carbon dioxide so that fertilizer can function adequately.

Chelating agents in fertilizers

Other than the micro and macronutrients fertilizers also comprise chelating agents. An organic molecule that binds to the metal ion and protects the plant from early precipitation is known as chelation. The most common chelating agent used in the fertilizers for aquatic plants is EDTA. Being stable at a pH up to 6.0 this agent is considered ideal to use in the aquariums.

Are fertilizers safe for fish?

The most common dilemmas among the hobbyists are whether the fertilizers they are using for the aquatic plants safe for their fish or not. Generally, the fertilizers which are made for aquariums are safe for the livestock. However, it is advised to double check if there are any harmful or toxic substances present or not. Also, it is always suggested to use a new product in moderate dose so that the detrimental effects can be detected, if any.

After supplementing the fertilizers to the tank, you need to observe the behavior of your fish. If there are showing any abnormal behavioral changes, you need to stop using those products immediately. If there is no change, you may continue using the fertilizer.

Conclusion: There are different means with which one can supply nutrients to the tank. Fish poop, root tabs, liquid and dry fertilizers and potting soil are some of the most common ways. The market is indeed flooded with different brands that claim to manufacture the best fertilizers, carrying out your research and making use of the best product would only fetch the best result. The rest is learned with own mistakes and hit and trail methods.

Since aquarium is an ever-changing living ecosystem where water, fish, and aquatic plants keep on altering, it is advised to use the best products without compromising their quality for valid results.