Basic information on water plant care

Here you will find some basic information on the subject of aquatic plant fertilisation in relative brevity. If you would like more detailed information, please follow the links below.

Fertilising aquatic plants - Why fertilise?

Basically, our Central European waters usually differ significantly from those in which most aquatic plants used as aquarium plants are native. The composition is usually such that not all important trace elements are present in the required quantities, so that without the addition of an aquatic plant fertiliser, a deficiency can occur relatively quickly.

Poor plant growth often goes hand in hand with undesirable algae growth. This is because algae, as "lower" aquatic plants, manage with fewer trace elements than "higher" aquatic plants and therefore have a competitive advantage over the actual plant growth in the event of a trace element deficiency.

The only thing that helps here is a consistent weekly partial water change and a targeted supply of iron and trace elements.

Water plant care - What to support with?

The "normal" planted community tank is usually already supplied with a sufficient amount, if not an abundance, of nitrogen and phosphate. The main source of this is fish food, which is at least partially supplied to the aquatic plants via the animal. These elements are therefore generally not required as additives for aquaria (with the exception of heavily plant-dominated, fish-poor aquaria). However, the other trace elements required are very often deficient substances that should be added in order to achieve and maintain stable, vigorous plant growth.

Good aquatic plant care for community aquariums, such as the Fermendo system, are therefore free from nitrogen and phosphorus.

Water plant care - What to look out for?

  • The nitrate values should fall continuously between maintenance measures (water changes).

  • The phosphate values should also fall continuously between maintenance measures (water changes).

  • Falling nitrate and nitrogen values indicate that the nutrients supplied are being used up by the aquatic plants.

  • Ideally, the iron value should not fall below 0.1 mg/l (before the water change); slightly higher values after fertilisation are not harmful to the system.