If you are buying a new aquarium then it is important that you shop for some plants as well. You will find many people telling you to buy artificial plants to decorate your aquarium. But we believe that real plants have much more functions to perform apart from just being aesthetic to look at. They produce natural oxygen and also absorb the carbon dioxide that your marine organisms are going to produce. With more than 100 different types of aquarium plants available out there, here are some tips that will help you to choose the best.

• Size –

you’ll see that many people don’t pay attention to the size of the plant they’re buying. This is a big mistake. You should always consider the size of the plant you are buying and it should be at par with the overall size of the aquarium. You should do good quality research and find out how big the plants you have selected are going to grow in the coming days. In case you see any of them has the chance to overgrow, then you should avoid it.

• Substrate –

plants in the water need a secure place where they can lay their roots just like it happens on the land. Most of the plants need at least a couple of inches to rest the roots in. In case you cannot provide the right space needed to spread the roots, then the plant will eventually die later on. So, it is a good idea to find out how big the roots are going to be and if there is enough space in the aquarium.

• Lighting –

good quality lighting is another thing to consider before you choose an aquarium plant. Your plans are going to need more light than the fish in the tank. In case you find it difficult to fix a good source of light around the aquarium, then you have to go for plants that will need less light. You should discuss with the plant expert about how much power per gallon of water is required for all the plants that you have bought. Keep in mind that most plants will need light for at least 10 – 12 hours regularly.

• Type of fish –

depending on the type of fish you have in the aquarium, you should select the right plants. Some fish like the silver dollars and tinfoil barbs will start eating plants like anubias white and various others. That is why you should double check to see if there are any fish that feed on plants inside the aquarium. Be sure of it or else you will never be able to maintain a dense and thick network of plants.

So, here are some quick tips that will help you to choose the right aquarium plants. Follow these tips and you will be in a much better position to buy the right plans for your wonderful aquarium and make it more natural.