Fish Tank Plant

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can a plant live in a fish tank without it being sustained in the gravel?

Can a plant, such as an anubia for example keep growing without it being Bottomed by a substrate or gravel?

*Anubias*

How long would a plant live like that... would it thrive... and will it grow?

Anubias species are epiphytic ... which means they grow attached to rocks or driftwood,not in the substrate (good way to kill it if you don't know how to plant it).It will thrive and grow for years as long as it gets at least 1.5watt per gallon lighting and a source for nitrates/waste (fish) in the tank .... it's doing quite well in my Oscar tank (fish known for digging out plants tend to ignore epiphytic plants up off the substrate).
In proper conditions (light and fertile water),they reproduce well ... but are fairly slow growers. A sign of a healthy plant is not necessarily size,but full well-shaped leaves that are dark green.
They need to be "anchored" to grow well (they can grow floating around,but "look" for some place to attach) .... best is to tie them to a rock or driftwood with brown cotton thread. You really don't see it,and by the time it rots away the roots are attached.
Other plants that can grow this way are Java Fern (same requirements as Anubias) and Bolbitis (which needs more light and should be placed in filter flow... likes current).
Elodea and Wysteria will grow without roots in the substrate,but require light in the 3wpg range.

Owning your own aquarium is great fun, and I have been maintaining my own with love for many years! There's over 60 million of us "aquarists" worldwide, and if this is a hobby you're interested in, it's worth a little time to learn what it's all about before you start.

So what's an aquarium? In the simplest terms, it's a transparent container where you can keep, nurture, observe and enjoy live fish. The goldfish bowl with a single fish in it counts, but what most people mean when they talk about aquariums is a large fish tank (usually rectangular) with several different types of fish and aquatic plants living in balance with each other.

There are two basic types of aquarium environment – fresh water and salt water. Fresh water is definitely easier for people who are new to the hobby, as the salt water (or "marine") tanks take a great deal of attention and skill to keep the fish alive.

So your next step is probably to find out what types of fish you like. If you're lucky, you have fishy friends you can ask questions of, but even a trip to your local pet store or specialty fish store will get you lots of good advice from the sales clerks. Tell them you're a beginner, and that you want to look at freshwater fish, and they will give you lots of choices! Finding the one fish that calls out to you will tell you what temperature your tank needs to be, and starting with one species is probably simplest.

Next, I'd get a good book about basic aquarium care, and read it before you get started!

Then, start collecting your tank and equipment. You'll want to look for a sturdy aquarium that's big enough to give you room to add fish as your experience grows. Practical home fish tanks range from about 11 liters (3 U.S. gallons) up to about one cubic meter (300 U.S. gallons) in size.

You'll need gravel, or another substrate, for the bottom of the tank. You'll need a filtration system, to remove waste and phosphates from the water, and a heater or cooler mechanism to keep the water temperature right. You may need an air pump to oxygenate the water, depending on your tank setup. Also ask about a small chemical kit for measuring and correcting the pH balance in the water.

You'll want to investigate the plants, rocks, and other "aquarium furniture" that goes into the tank. Choose carefully, because the wrong materials can be harmful or even poisonous to your fish!

Get your tank set up, and make sure that the water temperature and pH balance is correct BEFORE you go back to the store to get your fish! If you've done everything correctly, your fish will be healthy and happy, and you'll have a fascinating new hobby to learn and love!

About the Author:

Together with Iszuddin Ismail, Mic Hudson is sharing his wealth of knowledge on
fish tanks and aquariums
. You can start with a free ebook on decorating your fish tanks. Download Fish Tank Aquascape at
http://www.PetFishGuide.info

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tropical Fish Tank First-Timers, An Introduction

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