Many varieties of aquatic plant are interchangeable in their ability to live emersed or submersed. But, when you decide on the look you are going for, do not change their environment too often. It will cause them stress, and they will likely die. When you know what you want, and change their environment to suit, it can take up to months for a plant to adapt. Patience is key.

 

If you've spent any time looking at aquatic plants, there is a high chance Crypts have come across your perusal, whether you’ve known it or not. They can create an enticing focal point for aquariums or underwater in paludariums.

Bottled bacteria is a good way of speeding up a cycle for a new aquarium (please see cycling section) using these products can shorten a cycle down from upwards of 6 weeks to as little as 3-7 days. If using a bottled bacteria to cycle a fresh aquarium, please note although your aquarium is cycled and ready for wet pets, it is still a very immature system, so slowly adding fish is still the best option.

 

Plant selection is also very important, all too often pet shops sell non-aquatic plants as aquatic plants, this is a recipe for disaster as they will not last long submersed underwater in your aquarium. We at the fish room do not carry not aquatic plants, to give you the best possible chance of having your plants survive.

The German Ram has to be one of the nicest looking dwarf cichlids available within our hobby here in New Zealand. With its beautiful blue shimmer, golden face and rainbow tones throughout its fin, I can say without doubt it was one fish that never stuck around long in our shop and for good reason.

For many of us we think having a stunning planted aquarium is going to be a daunting and expensive exercise, well this is not the case at all. It is entirely possible to set up a gorgeous planted aquarium on one simple idea.