Whether or not to have live plants in an aquarium is often a personal choice. Keep in mind that many aquariums do very well without ever having a live plant in them. Live plants do, however, provide many advantages that artificial plants do not. Plant Selection & Placement Tips: To create a natural-looking garden aquarium, add a broad variety of plant species. The visual effect is lush and beautiful. While foreground and background plants help define your composition, don't necessarily place only tall plants in back and short in front. Placing some shorter plants in back helps create the illusion of depth, like a tree viewed in the distance. Don't forget the reds! A bold splash of a red against varied shades of green creates a dramatic visual focus. Red varieties of Ludwigia and Rotala make great choices. While some live plants can be difficult to grow and may initially require a little more maintenance than artificial ones, the benefits they provide to water quality and fish health are well worth it. Featuring live plants in your aquarium not only makes it more attractive, but is much healthier for your aquarium's inhabitants. Live plants provide your fish a natural food source with the ability to replenish. By far the biggest benefit that live plants provide for your aquarium is that they produce oxygen (O2) and absorb the carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3) that your fish generate. Live plants in your aquarium mimic the natural ecosystem, and may be one of the most beneficial ways to keep your fish healthy. Plants provide shelter and security for the fish. Because they compete with algae for nutrients, they can help to reduce algae growth. Live plants enhance the appearance and provide a much more natural environment for the fish. By improving water quality and reducing stress, live plants are a great way to improve your fishes' health. Adding live plants, however, does not reduce the need for water changes. When selecting live plants, make sure that you select species that are truly submersible and that are suitable for your specific water type and fish species. For a successful planted tank, the aquarist should research and set it up correctly. Plants specifically intended for aquariums must be used. "Just any old plant" may not survive and may, in fact, harm your fish more than help them. Other factors that ensure your plant aquarium is the healthiest you can achieve include: Full spectrum lighting at least 12 hours per day Temperature should be between 75-88 degrees pH between 6.5-7.4 Five degrees KH (carbonate hardness) Eight degrees GH (general hardness) CO2 levels as high as possible, but lower than 40 mg Low to zero surface turbulence to help retain CO2 25% water changes every other week Appropriate substrate for root growth When first beginning to use live plants in your aquarium, it is wise to choose a large amount of hardy species such as plants from the genus Sagittaria, Sword Plants, or Moneywort. Once your aquarium is balanced, you can start including the more sensitive plant species.