- 1). Test the water using a pH and dH balance kit to make sure the aquarium is ready to house plants. The dH level, or water hardness, should be between 4 and 12 dH. The pH level should be between 6.5 and 7.2.
- 2). Make sure the water is clear and that cleaning will not be an issue. This is a necessity because debris from the fish tank will settle on the plants. The plant will not be able to survive in conditions such as these because it will affect the light intensity for the plant.
- 3). Lay out a floor plan. Decide which plants to get and where to put them. Consider rate of growth and reproduction ratios to decide which plants should go in the foreground, middle ground and background. Background plants should typically be the largest, and foreground the smallest.
- 4). Buy fertilizer from the pet store. You've already decided which plants to get, and now you can figure out what nutrients each plant needs to survive. Micronutrients sometimes may need to be added to the tank. These nutrients can be added with a fertilizer.
- 5). Plant your plants. Plants can be easily transferred from the aquatic store in a water bag. Gently remove the plant from the bag and place it in the tank. Remember to follow the floor plan and put the roots of the plants under the gravel of the tank. Make sure the plant is stable, or the movement from the filtration system will cause the plant to lift out of the gravel.
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