tailieunhanh - The Complete Aquarium Guide - Part 5

The vast majority of aquatic plants are not taken from the wild but are grown by specialist firms. These plants serve as decorative elements in the aquarium, but this is not their only role, as they also contribute to its ecological balance | ORIGIN AND VARIETY OF PLANTS The vast majority of aquatic plants are not taken from the wild but are grown by specialist firms. These plants serve as decorative elements in the aquarium but this is not their only role as they also contribute to its ecological balance especially via their production of oxygen when in the light. An enormous variety of plants can be cultivated in this case under glass in an extremely hot and humid atmosphere. THE ORIGIN OF AQUARIUM PLANTS All aquarium plants will reproduce in tanks so there is no point in collecting them in their natural setting unless you want new species or a pure variety. Some plants sold in aquatic stores are mere hybrids bearing the name of one of its two parents which can sometimes lead to confusion. The collection of certain plants from the wild is prohibited. Aquarium plants are cultivated by specialist companies mainly in South-East Asia but also in Europe and the United States. Agricultural greenhouses are used partly heated by solar energy or sometimes geothermically using hot water pumped into irrigation canals. Sunlight may be complemented by artificial lighting if the plants demand this. Most species are raised with a large part of the plant - or even all of it - outside the water although the environment is extremely humid. They adapt to the aquarium setting but tend to change the shape of their leaves when introduced into this different environment. Most aquanum plants are raised out of water. DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS Contrary to what one might expect most of the plants found in aquariums are not really aquatic. They generally live partly out of the water with only the lower portion permanently submerged. Their leaves are sturdy unbroken in form and quite big. When the level of rivers and ponds rises due to rain - sometimes very heavy in tropical regions - the plants end up almost entirely or sometimes even completely covered by water. They develop submerged leaves which are different from those which