Aquarium Plant Nutrition

An aquarium plant, like any other needs nutrients in order to survive. In the natural world – rivers, streams, ponds, fields and hedgerows, plants will find the nutrients that they need in the soils and sediments. Soils and sediments are not uniform, some may lack certain nutrients and some may contain other nutrients in abundance. Some plants can survive quite happily with low levels of some nutrients and for others to do well they may require high nutrient levels. This is one reason why you might find lots of plants of a particular species in one area and none in another

An aquarium however is not a natural world but a very artificial one! It is also finely balanced and has to be carefully managed in order to maintain conditions, which, as far as the fish and plants are concerned is as near natural as possible.
Water temperature, oxygen levels, pH and water hardness must all be controlled and just as fish need to have to have food, plants have to be given the correct nutrients in correct quantities.

In both agriculture and horticulture fertilisers can be provided from manure and composts. These are not options in the planted aquarium so chemical fertilisers are used. The main advantages of chemical fertilisers are that you know exactly what is being put into the aquarium and in what quantity.

Regular water changes are important in any aquarium to prevent the build up of toxins and as long as chemical fertilisers are used in conjunction with a regular water change routine, you will be able to control the conditions in the aquarium and maintain that fine balance.

The chemicals mainly used in planted aquariums are:-

Potassium nitrate – to provide nitrogen and some potassium
Monopotassium phosphate – to provide phosphorous
Potassium sulphate – to provide extra potassium
Magnesium sulphate – to provide magnesium

These provide the main macro-nutrients – nutrients required in relatively large amounts.

In addition to the macro-nutrients micro-nutrients are required – these are required in relatively small amounts. These can be sourced from separate chelates but as they are needed in such small amounts it is easier to use a ready made “trace mix.”