![]() It needs to be tough. See, it isn’t easy finding live plants that stand a chance with the “monster munchers” in your tank. And I’m happy to say I’ve found the answer. ![]() I’ve tried a lot of different ones in my search for the perfect goldfish plant. And of course, they are gorgeous! Which Plants will Goldfish Avoid? This is more important the smaller your fish’s home is. They also help produce oxygen (O2) while absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). In a closed aquarium, this is very beneficial for your water quality. Live plants, on the other hand…why wouldn’t you want them? They absorb nitrates to use as fertilizer. And the silk ones always seem to fall apart or fade after a bit. Not to mention they never seem to have a “real” look, and they don’t offer anything to the aquarium environment biologically speaking. They can pose the dangers of pokey edges to clumsy goldfish. Plastic plants have their perks. They are usually inexpensive… and very difficult to kill. There’s no doubt about it: There’s just nothing quite like the natural beauty of a planted goldfish tank. It can be grown planted in pots filled with gravel or directly in the substrate itself (gravel or aquasoil such as Fluval Plant Stratum is preferred over dense sand, though gravel poses a choking hazard for goldfish). You also do not want to bury the crown of the plant (the whitish part at the bottom), or it will rot to death. The biggest obstacle with planting swords is getting them to stay down. They also come in several unusual and beautiful color and leaf variations. The roots will spread all over and can help prevent toxic anaerobic gas pockets from forming in the substrate. Swords are typically placed towards the back of the aquarium in the aquascape and do well in moderate to high light conditions. A nutrient-hungry goldfish plant, adding root tab fertilization ( Seachem Flourish tabs are a great choice) is recommended. They can grow to be very large (up to 2 feet tall!) and do a great job at helping to eat up excess nitrates in the water. The Amazon Sword is a popular choice for goldfish aquariums. Vallisneria is not picky and will do well in most substrates with proper fertilization, though it is advantageous to provide it with soil capped with gravel. It’s great for goldfish tanks because it doesn’t like very soft water. Planting several Vals in a row along the background helps to give your aquarium a dense background with a natural underwater look and can help to hide equipment in the tank. Vallisneria spreads by sending out runners. It is a very tall addition to goldfish tanks and can grow to a significant height, even bending over below the surface of the water (the leaves can be trimmed to avoid this if desired). Fish love to swim through it, and it is especially resistant to goldfish of all shapes and sizes. The leaves of this plant are like grass and can grow very tall in a short period of time. It is a fast-growing plant that will quickly create a jungle out of the background of your tank in the right conditions and is difficult to kill. Vallisneria is one of the most cherished aquarium plants in the hobby for its ease of care and beauty. Simply wrap them around the rhizome and drop them where you wish. Smaller plants can be affixed with plant glue, but I have found lead weights are the easiest and most effective method for anything but baby Java ferns. Java fern does not want to be buried in any substrate, preferring to have its roots and rhizome left on top. It makes a nice background plant in shallower tanks or mid-ground in larger ones. In my tests, no variety or size of goldfish bothers it. With time and the right conditions, Java Fern can grow to a large size (up to 14 inches) and makes an impressive addition to any aquascape. Java fern is not demanding in light or fertilizer requirements and does not require a substrate to be planted in it can be easily affixed to wood or rocks. You pretty much have to be trying to kill this plant for it to die. Its dense, leafy structure affords shelter and is fun for your fish to swim through. Java fern makes a lovely background or mid-ground plant and resists the attacks of goldfish due to its tough, fibrous leaves.
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