Aponogetons are aquarium plants that seem to be liked all over the world. Bulb plants are unique for a community aquarium thus, aponogetons are no exceptions. They are quite prolific plants that will need space to spread their leaves.
If you like easy-to-control plants, then aponogetons provide the best option. You only have to control the lighting and provide the needed nutrients. They are suited for beginners in the aquarium industry and also have several benefits to the aquarium.
This guide will help you understand about growing and maintaining aponogetons. After that, you can decide whether aponogetons are suitable for you or not.
Pros of the Aponogeton
Several benefits come with having the aponogeton in your aquarium. Both the inhabitants and the aquarium benefit from the plant. They include;
- Hiding Spots– the leaves of aponogeton are thick and in large bundles, thus providing good hiding places for the inhabitants of the aquarium.
- Aesthetics– the dense and flush leaves create a feeling of completeness in the tank. You will also be able to recreate the natural habitat for many fish species. This is especially true with the betta fish resulting in the nickname Betta Bulb.
- Oxygen- Aponogetons usually convert carbon dioxide into usable oxygen for the tank inhabitants. They also improve oxygen circulation and access for the inhabitants.
- Nutrition– Dead leaves from the plants serve as food sources to the detritus eaters and scavengers in the tank.
- Waste Removal– The more aponogeton plants you have, the more nutrients the plants will need. This will force them to take up any nutrient in the tank lowering the nitrate and ammonia levels eventually, preventing the growth of algae.
Appearance of Aponogeton
How can I identify an aponogeton? They are one of the loveliest aquatic plants and add a peaceful feeling to your aquarium. The leaves are transparent and light green, where they twirl into a fluted shape.
Aponogetons help highlight the tank inhabitants as they create a luxuriant background. In cases where they grow above the waterline, you might see tiny white flowers. The flowers shine against the background of the plant’s rippled leaves.
A single bulb can produce up to 40 leaves which have lengths ranging between 30 to 60 cm. The plant also grows horizontally reaching a width of about 50 cm. This shows they are quite large plants and can exist solo in large aquariums.
Suitable Tank Parameters for The Aponogeton
Tank size
Aponogetons are rapid-growing bulb plants, and you will need at least 10 gallons. They grow both vertically and horizontally and sometimes with flowers above the waterline. You need to accommodate the whole plant in your aquarium. Avoid overcrowding your tank as you will spike the ammonia and nitrate levels and endangering the aquarium’s inhabitants.
Lighting
This is one of the reasons people find it easy to take care of aponogetons as they do not require complex lighting systems. You will need low light sources that you can control to prevent overgrowth. This means you will do less pruning with the lower light levels.
For a 10-gallon water tank, you should go for 10-watt floodlights. As mentioned, they should be of low intensity to avoid the intense growth of aponogetons. The LED floodlights also require low costs to light up your tank.
What is The Best Substrate for Aponogetons?
For the bulbs to grow strong and healthy, they need the best ground to root themselves in. The best options include substrates that are rich in nutrients and easy for the roots to penetrate through for optimal growth. Lacking enough nutrients hinders the spreading of roots, thus little or no growth of aponogetons.
Aquarium Soil is the number one option for almost all aquarists as they have high amounts of nutrients. You should favor gravel over sand for the second-choice position. Gravel is less compact therefore allows for the plants to be buried and spread the roots.
The substrate options like gravel and sand do not have many nutrients. So, you will need to add fertilizers to supplement the needed nutrients. You just need to place a fertilizer tablet near the roots of your plants. After that, you will not worry about nutrients for many months.
You should try to avoid changing the substrate if you have already planted the aponogetons. Change in the substrate will lead to the removal of beneficial bacteria in the tank and result in ammonia spikes.
Water Parameters
Aponogetons are tropical plants and will thus thrive well in warmer waters. Such temperatures are a good fit for almost all tropical fish. The water should also be soft to moderately hard.
The pH range can vary from 6.5 to 7.5 as most tropical fish survive at a pH of 7. So, try to keep the pH close to 7 as much as possible. Temperature ranges should be 72-82⁰F. This is the optimal temperature for the betta fish to be healthy and happy.
Procedure for Planting and Growing the Aponogeton
They are easy steps to follow; thus, you will not have to do too much once you have the plant in the soil.
Planting
- Choose a spot where you wish to plant your aponogetons. Usually, they are background plants, so in the medium or at the back of your tank is the most suitable position.
- After you get the right spot, lay the bulbs 3 inches apart in the substrate. The number of bulbs you bury depends on the size of the tank. For a 5-gallon tank, you will only need one bulb or at most 2.
- The bulbs should not be covered completely when planting. Just bury them enough to make sure they stay in place.
- If the bulb has already started sprouting, make sure you bury the roots in the substrate.
- If they have not sprouted, leave the thinner side out of the substrate. This is the side that sprouting occurs.
- Lastly, you will need to supplement your plants with fertilizer, especially planting on gravel or sandy substrate. Aquarium Soil is the best option as they have a lot of nutrients. However, you will need fertilizer when planting an already established tank.
Note; if you are not sure which side is thinner, you can always bury them sideways.
Maintenance of Aponogeton
- As mentioned above, maintain low light levels for aponogetons. Bright light will accelerate the fast growth of the leaves.
- Add fertilizer to the gravel or sand substrate but keep in mind that these plants grow at a very fast rate. There is a good chance that you will not need to use the fertilizer.
- Pruning Aponogetons
You will need to start pruning the aponogetons as these plants grow at a very fast rate. This prevents the plants from taking over your tank and overshadowing the inhabitants. However, you need to know what you are doing to do an effective job.
When pruning a leaf, you should go down up to the stem of the bulb before cutting it. Cut the stem as close as possible. Such will prevent the bulb from rotting, which is bad for your tank inhabitants and gives out a very bad odor.
- Resting Aponogetons
Resting bulbs are grown outside. It refers to the time of the year when it is dry, and the leaves are exposed to the air. It then allows for the leaves to dry out and die as part of a rejuvenation cycle. This will then allow bulbs to store up nutrients in preparation for the coming rainy season.
In an aquarium, you will have the plants submerged all year round; thus, the bulbs will dry neither will the leaves fall and die. This seems like something good, but it is not. It means you have to supply fertilizer, carbon dioxide, and carbon dosing all year round.
So, to rest bulbs in an aquarium, remove all the water in the tank. The roots and the leaves should also be removed. Thereafter, place the bulb in a bag full of damp sand. After about two months of being stored in a cool, dry place plus minimal lighting, you can replant the bulb.
Betta Fish and Aponogetons
Aponogetons are sometimes referred to as betta bulbs because of their high affinity to betta fish. There are several reasons for this combination. You may find some benefits applying to all types of fish, but these are unique to betta fish.
1. A Relaxing Place
The bulbs often have thick and dense leaves, which make the best hiding spots for your betta. In addition to hiding, betta also relaxes on top of the leaves. They make the leaves seem like little beds. This is what they are used to in the wild, so try to imitate the habitat; you should use aponogetons.
2. They Share Same Water Conditions
Aponogetons just like betta do not like heavy water currents. Betta bulbs thrive the best when the water current is very low. This means you do not have to adjust your tank to meet the plant’s needs.
3. They Absorb Betta Waste
High lighting levels stimulate the fast growth of these plants. This means the plants will need more nutrients than ever. The betta bulbs will absorb the nutrients reducing the ammonia and nitrate levels. In the end, you also prevent the growth of algae growing in your tank.
4. Keeps The Tank Interesting
The betta’s personality is unique in that it has a high level of sentience. This will force you to keep the tank as interesting as much as possible. This is one of the quickest ways to keep your fish from being depressed when there is too much boredom. Aponogetons provide a jungle for bettas to explore and entertain themselves for hours.
Conclusion
Are you yet to decide on taking aponogetons as your aquarium plant? They provide a lot of benefits apart from aesthetics to your aquarium. They are easy to grow and take care of, therefore suitable for a beginner in such an industry. They also look better and more beneficial than the plastic ones that other people prefer.
You can visit the nearest aquarium specialist to get more information. They can be purchased online apart from the physical shops. You can also get them in the wild. Go and make your fish happy with aponogetons.
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