7 Root Feeding Aquarium Plants

Having a thorough knowledge of aquarium plants is a must for hobbyists who are interested in having a planted aquarium. There are multiple aquatic plants that have been adapted for aquarium culture. While some of them are easy to care for, others are demanding and require expert aquarists. Therefore, knowing about the light requirement to understand how and from where the aquarium plants will take their nutrients is necessary.

When we talk about nutrients, the role of aquarium plant fertilizers comes into play, and this article will help you understand them. Aquarium plants take nutrients from two sources– substrate and water column. While root tabs make the substrate nutrient-rich, liquid fertilizers help the plants absorb nutrients from water.

Now, the next thing is to understand which plants benefit from which type of fertilizer. If you are a beginner and want to add some live plants to your tank, keep reading to ensure that your plants stay healthy and vibrant throughout and that you supply them with the right nutrients.

Types of Plants Based on Nutrient Absorption

1. Root Feeders– These plants take their nutrients from the substrate. They develop strong root systems and take up the macro and micronutrients through them. They also take some amount of nutrients from the water column. For such plants, you need to add root tabs in the substrate.
2. Water Column Feeders– These plants absorb nutrients from the water column, primarily through stems and leaves. Even though they have roots, they are not strong enough to take nutrients from the soil. Such plants are often loosely anchored to the substrate or stay floating. For such plants, adding liquid fertilizers to the water becomes necessary.

This article will focus on root-feeding aquarium plants and provide all the essential information about them. Later, we will also give you a list of 7 root feeders that you may want to add to your planted tank.

How to Ensure that a plant is Root Feeder

Root feeders are not very hard to identify. They have certain features that point them being a root feeding aquatic plants, and these are-

• Develop extensive root system– The roots of such plants are sturdy and designed to anchor strongly in the substrate, often go deep and absorb nutrients.
• Depend on the substrate for nutrients– Even though such plants can absorb some nutrients from the water, they mostly rely on the substrate for their nutrient uptake.
• Grow best when planted– Aquarium plants are grown in different ways– floating on the water surface, attaching to anchors or rocks, and planting on the substrate. Root feeders grow their best and show their full potential when they are planted on a substrate, preferably a nutrient-rich one.

How to grow and maintain root-feeding aquarium plants?

When you are planting a root-feeding aquarium plant, all you need is to ensure that there are enough nutrients in the substrate. Remember, good substrate is the foundation for your root-feeding plants.

When it comes to the substrate, there are multiple options, but aquarium soil is by far considered the most nutrient for the root feeders. Therefore, you can go for aquarium soil if you intend to have a planted tank with carpet plants in the foreground. An additional benefit of using aquarium soil is that you don’t need to further add root tabs because it already contains a lot of nutrients and is fertile enough to keep the plants healthy.

However, there are some downsides to aquarium soil, too. For instance, aquarium soil is super messy. Whenever you want to add, move, or remove any plant from the substrate, you will end up making the water super cloudy. This mess takes a lot of time to settle down to show clear water again.

Another disadvantage is that aquarium soil is expensive, especially in the long run. Usually, the soil will run out of its natural nutrition in around 2 years, and you have to replace it to maintain your plants’ health. Replacing it will again add to your cost and efforts.

Therefore, the best option is to put down a layer of aquarium soil, followed by a layer of regular substrate. In this way, you don’t have to spend too much on soil, and layering with regular substrate will keep the soil more settled and contained whenever you add, move, or remove any plant.

Generally, the nutrients of the aquarium soil end after around 2 years; however, it depends upon the number of plants you are adding and their growth rate. If you observe that the plants seem unhealthy, stressful, or lean, it indicates that maybe it’s time to put some root tabs. Just push the root tabs down into the substrate with the plant’s roots, and over time, they’ll become vibrant like before.

Now that you know the key traits that will help you identify root feeders and how to maintain them, it’s time to know about some of them. Below, we have listed the seven best root-feeding aquarium plants that you may have in your tank.

7 best root feedings aquarium plants

1. Cryptocoryne

Cryptocoryne is not only a root feeder but a beginner-friendly plant, too. Therefore, if you are just starting with a planted tank as a novice, take one crypt and dig it in your tank’s substrate.  The extensive root network of crypts makes them an excellent root-feeding aquatic plant.

When the substrate is rich in nutrients or supplied with root tabs, crypts like Cryptocoryne wendtii can show their true potential. All you need is to remember to put root tabs every couple of months and push them in the middle of the plant. You may see the plant propagating by growing more leaves and baby plants coming from the main plant.

With moderate light and low demands, Crypts become an ideal root-feeding plant for beginners.

2.  Amazon Swords

It is one of the popular, beginner-friendly, root-feeding aquarium plants. The extensive root system of Amazon Sword proves that it is a heavy root feeder. Almost every species belonging to Echinodorus is a root feeder and takes nutrients from the substrate.

Moderate lighting, good nutrition, and additional carbon dioxide injection will work in the favor of this plant’s growth. So, if you are planning to add a root feeder, go for Amazon Sword, and you will definitely enjoy watching it grow.

3. Vallisneria

The long, lush green leaves of Vallisneria make it an excellent plant for aquariums. The good thing about Vallisneria is that it can take nutrients from the water column as well. Therefore, they take nutrients from both– substrate and water.

You can grow it as a background plant as it is a long plant with lush green leaves. Also, propagating it is easy– by shooting out runners. It is an undemanding aquarium plant that is easy to care for and perfect for beginners.

4. Blyxa Japonica

This is a small aquatic plant that you can grow as a foreground plant in your aquarium. Also, it can be used as a carpet plant, creating a green carpet look in the tank. So, if you are thinking of growing it as a carpet plant, aquarium soil will be the best choice. However, if you are growing only 1 or 2 plants of it, a layer of aquarium soil beneath a normal gravel substrate will be sufficient.

High light is a requisite, and additional carbon dioxide will benefit Blyxa japonica to show its true potential. In the absence of additional CO2, the growth rate will be slow.

5. Dwarf Sagittaria

As the name suggests, it is a small plant variety that you can grow as a carpet plant. If you are planning to grow it so, use aquarium soil; otherwise, a normal substrate will help. Usually, people grow it as a foreground plant.

Dwarf Sagittaria can absorb nutrients from water as well. So, if you are growing only a few plants, liquid fertilizers will be sufficient. However, for the carpet effect, you would require root tabs or aquarium soil. It is a beginner-friendly plant that is not demanding and can tolerate a range of different water parameters. Also, it spreads fast.

6. Red Tiger Lotus

Also popular as Dwarf Tiger Lotus, it is a beautiful aquatic plant with reddish hues on the leaves. Being a bulb plant, it is easy to grow in a tank and create a stunning aquascape. While planting, ensure that the bulb is placed on the top of the substrate and only the roots are buried inside. Soon, the roots turn massive, and the plant starts flourishing.

Within a few days, you will see that there are so many roots, which is why it is categorized as a heavy root-feeding plant. Besides developing red leaves, Red Tiger Lotus also shoots runners that grow towards the water surface and develop lovely flowers.

If your plant develops the flowers, make sure to cut them before they wilt. These flowers have a lot of seeds, and if they wilt, they can drop a lot of seeds all over the substrate, and removing them will take a toll.

7. Dwarf Hairgrass

When you want to create a stunning carpet in the tank, using Dwarf Hairgrass is a great option. It is a highly demanding aquarium plant that takes nutrients from the substrate. Good light conditions and nutrient-rich substrate will work wonders for Dwarf Hairgrass and help it spread horizontally over growing vertically.

You can add carbon dioxide to bring more life to this root-feeding carpet plant. Also, regular trimming will help you attain the perfect look. You can either use aquarium soil for it or go for root tabs with normal substrates. If the latter option is your choice, be prepared with a lot of root tabs.

Conclusion

Planted tanks have their own charm. While fish make aquariums attractive, it is the live plants that bring more liveliness to them. Root-feeding aquarium plants are easy to grow; however, fulfilling their nutritional needs is a must. These root feeders absorb the nutrients from the substrate. So, either use aquarium soil or add root tabs regularly to accomplish their nutritional demands. Once you start growing your root-feeding aquarium plants, keeping their nutritional demand in mind, you will enjoy a lush green tank.