SOME BASIC RULES FOR KEEPING AND DISPLAYING PLANTS IN SHOPS

1. Aquatic plants should be displayed in well lit, clean and properly labelled aquaria.
2. Maintenance, cleaning and water changes should be sufficient to ensure good plant health. (Decomposing or rotting plant material, left in a tank, will quickly cause healthy plants to rot).
3. Do not over crowd plants, or leave large bunches of plants floating, they require water circulation, light and oxygen to survive.
4. Do not let plants dry out.
5. Time clocks are a simple way of ensuring your plants have 12- 14 hours of light a day, seven (7) days a week.

SOME BASIC RULES FOR THE HOME OR DISPLAY PLANT TANK

Aquarium Gravel
Use inert aquarium gravel, approximately 2mm particle size. Gravel depth should be 6 - 8cm.

Filtration
Strong undergravel filtration is not recommended, but undergravel filtration can be used providing the flow from the uplift pipe is very slow. A Project Internal Power Filter or a Project Canister Filter is a better choice. These filters ensure adequate water movement and trap suspended waste particles where they can be easily removed.

Heating
Normal tropical aquarium fish temperature of 25⁰C is adequate.

Water Quality
-pH should be between 6.5 and 7.0, 7.2.
-Hardness is best kept about 50 - 150ppm.
-Salt (sodium chloride) levels should be below 400ppm.

Aeration/Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is essential to plant growth. Aeration with an airstone drives off carbon dioxide and this is one reason why power filtration is preferable to regular aeration in the "Plant Tank". Carbon dioxide levels of 15 to 18ppm are considered ideal for plant tanks, but these levels cannot be achieved without installing a carbon dioxide infusion system.

Light
Use at least one and preferably two "Plant Light" tubes over any aquarium from 92 x 45 x 35cm (3 Foot) up. Fluorescent tubes should be replaced about every six (6)months, whether they are working or not. Light emitted from most fluorescent tubes after this period of time is greatly reduced. Plants respond well to long light days 12 to 14 hours, preferably on a time clock. Plants need regular light on and off times.

Nutrients
The proven way of feeding aquarium plants without encouraging algae growth is with Aquasonic "Natural Home" Plant Food. Food level should be monitored and controlled using the Aquasonic Plant Food Test Kit.

Planting
Do not skimp on plants when setting up a plant tank. Cutting plants such as; Elodea, hygrophilia, and ambulia should be planted in bunches. Other varieties should be used to ensure the tank ends up well stocked. Remember aquatic plants compete with algae for food and light, therefore a well stocked plant tank greatly reduces the risk of algae problems.
When planting plants with a root system, such as; vallisneria and amazon sword plants, make sure only the roots are buried in the sand. Burying the crown will lead to the leaves rotting.

Fish
Fish are important to the plant tank. They provide valuable nutrition to the plants and algae eating species such as; bristle nose catfish, otocinclus catfish and siamese flying fox are very useful for controlling algae. Avoid large aggressive species that may eat or uproot plants.

Water Changes
Change 1/3 of the water in the plant tank at least once or preferably twice a month. This removes dissolved waste from the aquarium and introduces some trace elements with the new water.

Activated Carbon
Activated Carbon should not be used continuously in a plant tank, it will remove nutrients.

Algae
Algae is seldom a problem where plants are growing well and phosphate levels are under 1ppm and nitrates are under 15ppm. Light hours may need to be reduced if green algae presents a problem.