How To Grow Large Aquarium Plants – 6 Expert Tips

How To Grow large aquarium plants

Cultivating large aquatic plants requires meticulous care, including precise lighting, nutrient balance, and water quality control.

It took decades but I now have a system that works for me to grow large aquarium plants. Here’s what I do for my aquarium.

1.  Use only reverse osmosis water

The less nitrates in the water that I put into my aquarium, the less algae will grow. RO water has no nitrates. You create your own reverse osmosis water at home using an RO system like this one.

2.  Plant big plants

Large, fast growing plants take up the nutrients in the water leaving little to none for algae. Throw some small plants in for decoration.

3.  Pressurized CO2 runs 24/7/365

Add as much CO2 as possible without freaking the fish out. Helpful hint to save CO2: I have a little powerhead pulling the CO2 in from the CO2 diffuser into its impellers and out into the aquarium. This creates a very fine mist of CO2 throughout the aquarium.

I purchased my CO2 canisters from a local gas company (do a search). They cost me $140 for a cannister and then about $27 to exchange and empty cannister for a full one.

I purchased a CO2 regulator to deliver the CO2  to the aquarium water. Buy the most expensive regulator you can cheap ones can have issues.

4.  Bright(!) Lighting

The lights have to be very bright.  

I leave the lights on just long enough to grow the plants and not grow algae which is 6 hours. 

5.  Add a UV sterilizer or two.

I have a UV sterilizer for each of my tanks. Kills algae and bad things that could harm your fish. Expensive but worth it. 

6.  Saturday is water changing day. R.O. water only.