In the wild, the most common mode of reproduction among plants is sexual, involving flowers and seeds. When the conditions in a setting are inauspicious, however, sexual reproduction gives way to asexual reproduction, know as vegetative multiplication. Pieces of plants that have broken off or been uprooted, and then swept along by the movement of […]
MINERAL SALTS REQUIRED BY PLANTS - Nitrogen, contained in nitrates. - Phosphorus, contained in phosphates. - Potassium, which is a component of other salts. A few other substances are also needed, sometimes in very small quantities: - Metals, such as iron and magnesium (see page 196); - Vitamins. Vegetation can thrive in an aquarium,if it […]
This phenomenon, which is only really visible in heavily planted and densely populated aquariums, rarely entails any problems for fish. Fertilizers When an aquarium is put into operation, the bed and the water contain mineral salts. These gradually run out and the plants are therefore in danger of mineral deficiency. Faced with this situation, an […]
CARING FOR PLANTS Plants need light, mineral salts (fertilizer), and carbon dioxide (CO2) to grow, and their survival and reproduction depends on the right proportions of these elements. A fishkeeper also needs to be an aquatic gardener and have “green fingers” to cultivate his or her live decor. You must respect the needs of plants […]
Biological methods These can involve the use of herbivorous animals only interested in certain types of algae, such as the fish mentioned above or gastropods (rare in sea water). The battle on the biological front is sometimes fought without any intervention on the part of the aquarist, as larger aquatic plants release substances that can […]
Red algae (Rhodophyceae) It is unusual to find a proliferation of these algae in an aquarium. Brown algae (Pheophyceae) In an aquarium, these mainly consist of diatoms, unicellular microscopic algae. These grow and form a thin film on the decor and glass panes of the tank. Under poor ecological conditions, they can follow from certain […]