Goldfish Station

First of all, live plants are an excellent source of oxygen as a result of photosynthesis. Plants absorb the nitrates that naturally occur in your fish tank and might become a serious problem if there is too much buildup. They provide shade and hiding, egg-laying sites, and yes, even if handled properly, provide food for your goldfish. Some experienced goldfish keepers plant two different types of plants in their aquariums: the tough plants that cannot be so easily eaten by goldfish and smaller, tenderer plants that are stocked purposely to be eaten. The latter group is provided so that the former group might grow more successfully.

Plant Types

There are three major types of plants: rooted, bunches and floaters. Rooted plants usually grow in numbers, but separate from one another. Bunches are plants that quickly reproduce off one stem, and can quickly envelop a tank. Floaters are floating plants whose root system dangles in the water. These usually grow near the surface, or in some cases, right out of the water. Each of these groups will provide two or three varieties that can survive goldfish.

If you choose live plants, please follow this advice. Pick no more than two or three types of plant, two is preferable. Pay attention to these sets of plants and learn how to deal with them as best you can. The simpler you keep it, the faster and better you will learn to grow and keep plants. I would suggest Sagittarian (arrowhead) and elodea (pondweed). Both are hardy and hard to kill. Don't feel bad or give up if you kill the first set of plants, eventually you'll master this difficult phase of aquarium maintenance. I would recommend planting them to the back and sides of the tank, because if you are good and lucky, they will grow large and might obscure your vision should you plant them up front.