The leaves of the ferns come in many different shapes and forms. These plants consist of three main parts, namely the leaves, rhizomes, and roots. Appearance of Aquarium fernsįerns are spore-producing, non-flowering, vascular plants appearing in multiple hues of green. Similarly, a few other types of ferns have been named after the regions, such as Asia and Africa, in which they have been found. Since then, these plants have been known to be growing in shady, rocky crevices, both in and out of aquatic habitats.įerns are known to be abundant mainly in geographical regions with a tropical climate.įor instance, the Java fern, faithful to its name, was originally found on the Java Island in Indonesia and is also found in countries such as India, Malaysia, and Thailand. Ferns can easily spread and conquer the tank if left untended for long time periods (Overcrowding)īelonging to the Pteridaceae family of the Polypodiopsida class within the kingdom Plantae, ferns have a long recorded history since their presence was first identified nearly 350 million years ago.Guide for caring for and maintaining aquatic ferns.

Indian Water Fern (Ceratopteris thalictroides).Bolbitis Water Fern / African Water Fern (Bolbitis heudelotii).This is all excluding the benefit of providing your fish with a completely natural and safe environment that is both pleasant looking and simple and easy for you to maintain. They also add oxygen to the water as a by-product of photosynthesis during the day.Īdditionally, ferns create many good hiding spots for small fish, fish fry, aquatic snails, and shrimp, away from larger predator fish. The main advantage is the absorption of gasses such as CO2, nitrates, and ammonia from the water, acting as a water purifier for your tank fish. Including ferns in your aquarium also bring about a few benefits to its ecosystem. Propagating ferns can be done with the help of plantlets on leaves and rhizomes growing at the base of the fern. This includes tanks with low light, CO2 (carbon dioxide) levels, and also tanks with limited added fertilizer. The hardy nature of most ferns allows them to be grown in aquarium tanks with simple environments. Some of the aquatic ferns famed worldwide include Java ferns, the Trident fern, the African Water fern, and even the Windelov fern.īeing simple and easy to attach and care for, these plants make the ideal match for any beginner-level aquarist. These plants are ideal for freshwater aquariums as they can be grown partially or fully submerged in your aquarium tank.Ĭoloured in a range of soothing greens, this division of plants will help add a relaxing and natural touch to your aquarium tanks. These plants can be found in almost any habitat, growing either on land or fully submerged in water.įerns can also be seen climbing on trees or growing on trees (as epiphytes), growing partially submerged in water, or even in completely arid conditions (as xerophytes).Īquatic ferns are one such diversity of ferns. Ferns can be described as a type of vascular, non-flowering plant, with a range of varieties totaling over 10,000 ferns.

Java fern growing roots on leaves