Plants to Add and Not Add in A Discus Fish Aquarium
There are at least two reasons why featuring live plants is the best thing to do when you are keeping discus fish in an aquarium. For one, it makes the tank more attractive, more “natural” looking. There’s so much joy to feel when you see real vegetation filling up the space of your water tank.
Other than that, putting live plants in your aquarium greatly contributes to a healthier state of its inhabitants. It’s good to know that some plants can provide your discus fish a natural food source. So there you are, about to save a few bucks for fish food. Also, because plants regrow, it means you have a renewable source of food for your discus.
If you are still inclined to know why you should put plants in your aquarium then you might want to know this. Live plants provide your aquarium oxygen (O2) while absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3) that your fish generate as waste.
So, what plants should I put into my discus fish aquarium?
Like anything else, it all depends on preference. However there are some recommended plant kinds which will suit best the purpose.
Echinodorus
Native to the Amazon Basin, Echinodorus plants come in different sizes and shapes. The most common type is the Amazon sword plant (Echinodorus Bleheri). It has large bright, green leaves shaped like fountain. When placed accordingly, a thickly-densed foliage of Amazon sword plant would be a great place for your discus fish to run and hide.
Other suitable Echinodorus plants that you might want to consider cultivating include E. major, E. cordifolius, E. Amazonicus, and the Ozelot sword.
Anubias
This plant originates from Africa. Although this plant can’t be found in a discus biotope, they still work well with Echinodorus when placed in an aquarium. Aesthetic-wise, the Anubias bears a different leaf shape with a darker green hue. This makes them a perfect accent to light-colored plant varieties. They are also sturdy, which means they are good sites for spawning.
Anubias plant types include Nana, A. coffeeafolia, A. afzelli, A. barteri, and A. congensis.
Aside from the aforementioned varieties, there are also other aquatic plants you can add in your discus tank.
Java Fern – hard aquatic plants perfect for spawning
B. monnieri – bright green-colored leaves make good accent
Ammania family (A. gracilus, A. senegalensis) – red-accented leaves appear very attractive
Hydrocoltyle family
Micranthemum family
Plants to Avoid
While we emphasized the benefits of putting water plants into your water tank, discus fish care experts also warn about using other varieties deemed harmful to your fishes. They are usually fast growers which might not be good for a discus aquarium as they tend to produce dense foliage. They are also labour-intensive as owners may find themselves frequently pruning the leaves.
These are the aquatic plants that should not be included in your set-up:
Ludwigia family
Hygrophila family
Amoracia aquatic
Samolus parviflorus
Rotala family
Vallisneria family (the large kind)
Water plants provide shelter, food, and security for your discus fish. While most are beneficial, there are, however, varieties that could bring more harm than good. If you aren’t that sure what to put into your tank, take time to consult with your discus sellers in California. They would be able to provide you with helpful information.
