Guide to Plant Selection for Guppy Tanks
I. Basic Functional Aquatic Plants
Anubias Nana
Characteristics: Leathery leaves with strong resistance to nibbling.
Care: Attach to driftwood/rocks for growth; change water once a week is sufficient.
Suitable Scenario: Filling the framework of aquascape.
Hornwort
Water Purification: A single plant absorbs 0.3mg of ammonia nitrogen per day.
Safety Design: Flexible stems and leaves without burrs.
Propagation Tip: Cut 10cm stem sections and insert them into the substrate.
Mosses
Recommended Species: Java Moss (heat-resistant up to 35℃).
Fry Protection: Forms a 3-5mm thick buffer layer.
Maintenance Key Point: Trim once a month to prevent over-spreading.
II. Water Quality-Optimizing Aquatic Plants
Hornwort (Repeated in Original, Note: Likely a Typo, Assuming It's a Different Plant; If It's the Same as Above, It May Be a Mistake in the Original Text. Here, We'll Proceed as Per the Original)
Dissolved Oxygen Enhancement: Increases dissolved oxygen by 0.5mg per liter of water.
Trimming Cycle: Once every 2 weeks, keeping a height of 15cm.
Elodea
Heavy Metal Adsorption: 85% removal rate for copper ions.
Growth Conditions: No need for CO₂; can survive in low light.
III. Advanced Aquascape Selections
Rotala Rotundifolia (Indian Round Leaf)
Color Matching: Creates a contrasting color with red-tailed guppies.
Light Requirement: 6-8 hours of LED lighting per day.
Glossostigma Elatinoides (Mini Dwarf Pearl)
Foreground Placement: Forms a 5cm thick green carpet.
Maintenance Tip: Plant individually with tweezers.
IV. Risk Avoidance Key Points
Prohibited Species:
Anubias (Leaves are easy to scratch fish bodies)
Microsorum Pteropus (Java Fern) (Releases tannic acid which affects water quality)
Planting Ratio:
Aquatic plant coverage ≤30%
Reserve 70% swimming space
Disinfection Process:
New plants need to be soaked in 3% salt water for 10 minutes
Use methylene blue solution for sterilization
Through reasonable configuration, the following can be achieved:
Fry survival rate increased by 40%
Water change frequency reduced to once every 2 weeks
Aquascape cost saved by 50%