It can be difficult to find plants that will thrive in low-tech aquariums where there is less light and limited CO2. Finding easily grown plants will make your tank look a lot nicer and will make your fishkeeping experience a lot more fun.

Lighting is one of the most confusing but important aspects of keeping a low-tech planted aquarium. It plays a crucial role in allowing our aquatic plants to photosynthesize, but is often the cause of pesky algae outbreaks.

Low-tech doesn’t mean low-care. A consistent maintenance routine is important for the health of your plants and fish. In this article, we will share a simple and effective routine you can apply for maintaining your low-tech aquarium.

All aquatic plants require CO2 to photosynthesize and produce glucose. However, pressurized CO2 systems are not required to provide adequate CO2 to an aquarium. Small amounts of CO2 are naturally present in water from fish and and bacteria respiration and from the atmosphere.

Low-tech planted tanks are becoming more popular are aquarist seek lower-cost and lower-maintenance methods for keeping fish. This mega-guide reveals everything you would every want to know about building and maintaining a low-tech aquarium of your own.

The following article will be one of the most comprehensive explorations into the role substrates play in the fishkeeping hobby, what types are available, and how to choose a substrate that’s best for your tank.

Low-tech planted tanks require a relatively simple fertilization routine. Once a tank has been established after a few weeks, the routine involves dosing all-in-one liquid fertilizer once or twice per week, and root tabs once per month.

Water hardness is a number that represents the mineral content in your water. The higher the number, the harder your water is. This guide will explain everything you need to know about hardness and how it affects planted aquariums.

Hard water and high pH makes it difficult for many aquatic plants to absorb important nutrients, such as iron and manganese. However, amazon swords, water wisteria, hygrophila, cryptocoryne and other species can grow well in hard water because they demand fewer insoluble nutrients.

Naturally lower your aquarium hardness by soaking dechlorinated tap water in peat moss, Indian almond leaves or driftwood. A more precise method would be to dilute tap water with reverse osmosis (RO) or distilled water or to use remineralized RO water.

You can increase your aquarium water hardness by adding crushed coral, using hard tap water, or by using remineralization products such as Seachem Equilibrium. It’s best to make these changes before adding fish to avoid fish loss.

The most consistent way to test aquarium water is by using a liquid test kit. These tests provide accurate results, measured in either degrees of hardness or parts-per-million. You can also use test strips or bring a water sample to your local fish store.

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