Is an Aquarium Substrate Needed to Keep Live Plants in a Freshwater Aquarium?

Some live plants do not need their roots placed in substrate.

Aquarium substrate is a layer on the tank bottom such as gravel, sand, rocks or a mixture of these materials. The substrate harbors healthy bacteria and nutrients for live plants. But not all live aquarium plants have roots that require placement in substrate.

Types

There are many plants that float on the tank water's surface. These include duckweed and water lettuce. They reproduce so rapidly that they require pruning often.

Maintenance

Rooted plants do best in a substrate layer 1 to 2 inches deep. This needs to be sand or fine gravel so nutrients flow quickly through the substrate to the roots, according to "Freshwater Aquariums for Dummies."

Warning

Never use an undergravel filter when using live plants that need their roots placed in the substrate. These filters push too much oxygen into the substrate, which destroys minerals plants need to absorb and then kills the plants.

References

• Fish Channel: Cleaning Fish Aquariums
• "Freshwater Aquariums for Dummies"; Maddy Hargrove and Mic Hargrove; 2003
• "Discus Fish: A Complete Pet Owner's Guide"; Tom Giovanetti; 1991

Resources

• Animal World: Aquarium Plants
• Fish Channel
• The First Tank Guide