plants Archives | The Goldfish Tank

Live vs plastic aquarium plants: which are better?

2021-11-042016-07-11 by Adam Jones

There are pros and cons of each. So which is right for you?

How to protect your goldfish pond from invasive plants

2021-11-042013-10-28 by Adam Jones

This is a guest post from Ricky at swallowaquatics.co.uk.

Remember how Seymour thought Audrey II was the most amazing plant he’d ever found in Little Shop of Horrors?

If you haven’t seen the film, spoiler alert – the plant starts eating everyone.

Of course, it’s unlikely that invasive plants in your goldfish pond are likely to commit murder! But they could be harmful to your other plants, taking over the living space and restricting their ability to grow and feed.

So, how do you keep these nasties out of your pond?

Hornwort: The Ultimate Guide

2021-11-042013-09-17 by Adam Jones

Hornwort (ceratophyllum) is a popular aquarium plant. It is also known as Coon’s Tail – for the obvious reason that it looks a bit like the tail of a racoon. Hornwort is a floating plant that does not put down roots, though it can be anchored down into the substrate of the tank with weights. … Read more

Anubias barteri plants

2021-11-042013-09-14 by Adam Jones

Anubias barteri is a flowering plant that hails from the west of Africa. In the wild, it can be found growing in streams, rivers and marshes.

Anubias barteri has a lush green coloration and large, flat individual arrow-shaped leaves located at the end of sturdy stems. The plant can grow to as much as a foot across and a foot tall.

Decorating a Goldfish Pond

2022-09-092013-09-07 by Lewis German

Once your pond is built and watertight, you can start adding the goldfish pond equipment, fixtures and eventually, live plants! It may prove helpful to only half-fill your pond with water until after you have situated your decorations and fittings, in order to provide easier access to the bottom of the pond and allow you … Read more

Water Wisteria

2021-11-042013-08-26 by Adam Jones

Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) is found in its natural habit in the marshlands of the Indian subcontinent. Confusingly, it is not related to the land-based plant of the same name. Wisteria has attractive lacy-looking leaves, which range in color from light to dark green. The color of your plant depends on your tank conditions. Wisteria … Read more

Water Sprite

2021-01-132013-08-26 by Adam Jones

Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) is an aquatic fern found in many places around the world. It’s often found rooted in muddy areas on the floor of lakes and ponds.

It is a soft leaved green plant with numerous fronds, which make for perfect cover for smaller goldfish and newly hatched fry.

While Water Sprite is usually planted into the substrate of the tank, it can also be left floating freely.

The plant has a fine and delicate root structure and gets its nutrients from the water rather than the substrate. It generally grows to around a foot tall.