Freshwater Aquarium Grass You Need To Use
There are several popular plants that will give you the different types of freshwater aquarium grass that you want to put in your tank and they are not expensive to purchase. This article describes those available.
If you are looking for freshwater aquarium grass to put in your tank then there are many types you can get. Just as there is out of water you will find long grass plants, short grass plants and some will have flat leaves, some will have twisted leaves and some will be like hairs.
Vallisneria
Vallisneria plants can be discovered globally in swamps, marshes and boggy areas. For use in the aquarium you need to selct a species that will not grow too tall as you can get species that will grow to three feet. Now thats a big tank! They are popular because they are relatively easy to grow and maintain.
Vallisneria spiralis is one of the most common selected. As its name suggests its leaves are twisted like a corkscrew or spiral.
Sagittaria
The Sagittaria genus has several species that will grow to varying heights; Sagittaria subulata grows up to two foot whereas its dwarf version, var subulata, can reach up to one foot but is usually 6 to 8 inches. This plant is fairly easy to grow and will do best in medium to bright light although it will survive lower levels of light better than many other freshwater aquarium grass plants.
There are bigger species but they are probably not appropriate for your aquarium; the var kurtziana and var gracillima that grow to twenty inches and two to three feet respectively.
Echinodorus
Amongst the Echinodorus genus (generally known as ‘Sword Plants’) there are several species that come under the freshwater aquarium grass type and they are known as the ‘Pygmy Chain Swords’.These species include E. tennellus, E. latifolius and E. quadricostatus.
Height wise the tenellus has a few varieties that differ as the real dwarf tenellus is a lot smaller than the ‘tenellus’ which usually can grow to over 6 inches. This dwarf tenellus is also known as the micro tenellus.
Shape wise the E.quadricostatus has leaves that are rounder and this plant is also known as the Cuban Chain Sword. The E. latifolius has broader leaves and can grow taller than the tenellus. So if you are looking for a grass area in the foreground then the micro tenellus seems ideal. They all thrive best in moderate to bright light conditions.
Eleocharis
The Eleocharis genus is known as the hairgrass family and there are several species suited for use as freshwater aquarium grass plants. One of them, Eleocharis acicularis, has the following common names, dwarf hairgrass and needle spikerush, grows to about 6 inches, propogates through rhizomes and thrives on plenty of light. Outside the aquarium it can be found in pools, bogs and marshes.
Eleocharis parvula is known as small pikerush and dwarf spikerush and will grow to between 2 and 3 inches. Apparently this plant grows from a horseshoe shaped tuber (or J shaped) that could help you identify it if you come across one. Obviously good for foreground planting.
Eleocharis vivipara has the following common names; viviparous spikerush, umbrella hairgrass and sprouting spikerush.
It propagates from by sending out runners from which plantlets emerge.
Outside the aquarium this species can be found alongside ponds, marshes, and ditches.
As you can see from the above information there are several popular plants available.
Juts select from the different types of freshwater aquarium grass described and you won’t go far wrong with your tank.
These plants are not expensive to purchase. This article has described those available.
I hope the above information has helped you in selecting an appropriate choice of freshwater aquarium grass.
Three Freshwater Fish For Community Tank
Why not consider adding these three freshwater fish tank selections to your community. The Lyretail, the Molly and the Pearl Gourami are described in this article and information supplied on their behavior, feeding habits, water and tank requirements, physical features and breeding information.
Lyretail – Aphyosemion australe (Family: Cyprinodontidae)
Behavior: The lyretail is ideal for a community tank and is very popular amongst the range of species available for aquarists. There come in different colors. For example the blue gularis (Aphyosemion coeruleum) and yellow gularis (Aphyosemion gulare) and these are also active carnivorous species but do not have the lovely caudal fin that the lyretail has.
Water and Tank Conditions: Best not to put this fish in a new tank as it is best suited to more mature aquarium water. And ideally you need the water to be slightly acidic and at a normal tropical aquarium temperature.
Features and Colors: As mentioned above the lyretail’s prominent feature is its attractive caudal fin, which as its name suggests is shaped like the musical instrument, the lyre. It will grow to about 7 cms. Compared to the male the female is not as colorful.The male has long anal and dorsal fins with strips of blue in them and edged with a deep red color.
It also has red spots dotted haphazardly along its sides. Its back is a dark brown changing to a blue green for the body. The lyre tail has dark red spots in its blue green middle.
Feeding: Prefers live food most of the time but you can give it some dried stuff now and again.
Breeding Conditions: Put the breeding tank’s temperature two degrees centigrade above the normal. Spawning takes place over about a week with both fish laying next to each other where an egg is laid and fertilized by the male. Up to a hundred eggs can be laid this way and scattered amongst the plants. It is best to remove the eggs to a separate incubation tank where they may take up to three weeks to hatch. Feed the fry on infusoria initially.
Molly – Poecilia sphenops (Family: Poeciliidae)
Behavior: The marbled molly (Poecilia sphenops) is the original one from which many species have been bred. It is an extremely popular fish with newcomers and the most favored variety is probably the black molly (or perma black or midnight black). During a courtship period, when fins are displayed at their best, and you have several males together then you can expect some damage occurring if fighting breaks out.
Water and Tank Conditions: A temperature range between 23 and 28 degrees centigrade will suit the molly and the water should be slightly alkaline. Regarding tank occupants, be wary of having tail nipping fish in your community as they can be a problem.
Features and Colors: As mentioned above there are many species with different colors. The sailfin molly (Poecilia lapinna), as its name suggests, has a fantastic dorsal fin that can be as long as and deeper than the body of the fish itself. It color is iridescent blue and it can grow to 9 cms. There is also a larger version, not surprisingly called the giant sailfin molly. Its dorsal fin has orange, blue, red and brown coloration.
Feeding: No problem here. They like algae and vegetable stuff but give them the full works with dried food and live food as well.
Breeding Conditions: A breeding trap will most likely be needed as removing a pregnant molly can result in miscarriage and possible death for the fish itself. And the fish involved are cannibalistic. Mate a male with several females. Usual procedures for live-bearing fish should be followed. A female molly can give you up to a hundred fry in an eight week period.
Pearl Gourami – Trichogaster leeri (Family: Belontiidae)
Behavior: This a very popular freshwater fish for the tank but there are other species around such as the snakeskin gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis) and the three-spot gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus).
Water and Tank Conditions: A well matured tank is best for this fish with the temperature in the higher range of 24 to 29 degrees centigrade.
Features and Colors: The pearl gourami can reach about 10 cms and its body color is a pale olive green to turquoise mix. It gets its name from the mother of pearl spots that run into the fins. A striking feature is the dark stripe going from the mouth through the eye and fading away near the caudal fin.
The pelvic fins look like feelers as they are thin and long. The snakeskin gourami can grow up to 12-14 cms and is peaceful with fish of a similar size. The three-spot gourami can reach 12.5 cms.
Feeding: Ideally you want to be giving them live food in their diet although they will accept most things.
Breeding: During the breeding period you will see the male develop a bright red tint to his stomach. He builds a bubble nest in which the female lays eggs regularly over the summer period. You may notice the male attack the female during courtship.
After spawning take the female away and then the male about five days later. The eggs and hatched fry should be safe from the parents. They are not noted for cannibalism. Fry should appear after about two days and reared as normal.
I hope you find our information on the three freshwater fish for tank conditions helpful for you in your endeavor to select suitable fish for your community aquarium.
Photos attribution: Pearl Gourami- Superjew
3 Freshwater Fish In Your Tank You Can Admire
Three freshwater fish for your community tank are described here, the Guppy, the Harlequin and the Golden-eyed Dwarf Cichlid.Discover their behavioral patterns, colors and any unusual physical features, temperature and water requirements, feeding likes and dislikes and optimal breeding conditions.
Guppy – Poecilia reticulata (Family: Poeciliidae)
Behavior: Extremely popular with beginners and experts alike. It is a lively fish and hardy. It will tolerate overcrowded conditions more than other fish will but you do not really want to reach that position, unless it is for a short period only, before moving to a larger tank.
Many guppies have been bred that result in a range of different fin types; for example, the delta-tail, the lace-tail, the scissortail, the double-sword tail, the top sword and the veil-tail.
Water and Tank Conditions: It can tolerate temperature changes but not ones that are too sudden. 23 degrees centigrade is suitable on average.
Features and Colors: It is also called the Rainbow fish and one can see why.It is avaliable in many varieties with a great choice of colors. There are no main colors to talk of as there could be combinations of blue, yellow, green, red, purple etc to name but a few. It reaches sexual maturity after eight months and rarely grows bigger than 2.5 cms. The differences between the male and female are easy. The female is two times the size, is silver or a silvery gray green color and is thicker in the body.
Feeding: Apparently they will eat anything – food I assume!
Breeding Conditions: It is also called the Millions fish due to its ability to breed readily. A female can produce up to forty fry every month! You can tell when the female is ready to give birth as the gravid spot on the stomach is defined strongly and stands out. (It is located just behind the anal fin and is present in fish who are live-bearers).
Because the guppies are cannibals you must use a breeding trap in the thickly planted breeding tank and it is best to have the female on her own. After birth remove the female and keep her by herself for a while to stop the male pestering her.The fry are easy to rear.
Harlequin – Rasbora heteromorpha (Family: Cyprinidae)
Behavior: It is a peaceful fish that likes to be around its own kind so keep it in a small shoal in your community tank. There are other Rasbora species such as the Rasbora maculata, that grows to about 2.5 cms and the Rasbora elegans that can reach 12 cms. In between those sizes is the Rasbora pauciperforata, so make sure that you have the right Rasbora if you are concerned about sizes.
Water and Tank Conditions: A temperature range of 24 to 27 degrees centigrade is ideal.
Features and Colors: A main feature of the harlequin is the dark band that goes from half way down its body to the tail.The front half of the fish has a silver color that becomes tinted with pink in the back half. The female is thicker than the male and not as brightly colored.
Feeding: Good news. Not a fussy eater so a range of fish food will do.
Breeding Conditions: These fish are difficult to breed. Eggs are laid underneath plant leaves and many are lost. Remove both fish after spawning and keep the eggs under very low light conditions (darkness ideally) during the incubation period. The good news is that once hatched the fry are relatively easy to bring up.
Golden-eyed Dwarf Cichlid – Nannacara anomala (Family: Cichlidae)
Behavior: Ideal for the community tank as they are peaceful and will not disturb the plants or substrate.
Water and Tank Conditions: Normal tropical tank temperatures will suffice for this fish. Dwarf cichlids will appreciate some shelter or hiding places to use so plants and ornaments such as caves or the use of flower pots will be fine.
Features and Colors: A length of about 7.5 cms will be reached by the male and the female is smaller.The scales have a dark spot and the overall color is a metalic yellow to green range.Note that when the fish is frightened or excited you may see a dull black color on its throat or stomach. The female can be distinguished from the male by its criss-cross of dark bands.
Feeding: You need to have a high percentage of live food in their diet. Other food you can use includes freeze dried and finely cut meat.Three or four light meals a day is a good schedule to have.
Breeding Conditions: As described above, seeing the difference between the sexes is fairly easy. You will need to put in place some sheltered area where the eggs can be laid, for example, a pot on its side.(Although your tank should already have such items already in it, as mentioned above). Before mating can take place it is essential to ensure that you have a compatible pair. Segregation and conditioning of the fish are important aspects.
So, there you are. Three more freshwater fish in your tank for you to look after.
