FLUVAL Flora: Up Close
Aquatic plants provide a living tapestry that is both captivating and inviting. Featuring various shades of green and red, as well as an abundance of shapes and sizes, there are numerous opportunities to create a living aesthetic underwater world within which fish and other aquarium inhabitants thrive.
Aquarium plants form the basis for reflecting one’s creativity in aquarium aquascaping while providing a fasci- nating opportunity to create balance, both visually through depth perspective and biologically, as plants naturally improve water quality for fish and reduce the chances for unsightly algae growth.
Aquatic plants are not hard to keep, with basic maintenance and some key nutrients for aquatic plants, achieving an underwater garden is within the reach of everyone. Beautifully planted aquariums can be accomplished with two species of plants or many more.
The Fluval Flora is similar to the Fluval Ebi Shrimp Habitat but customized to specifically promote live plant growth. Here’s what comes in the Fluval Flora Box:
7.9 Gallon/30 Liter Aquarium with cover
FluvalFluorescent Light
Flora Internal Filter with spray bar
Fluval CO2 20g Kit
Fluval Plant Stratum substrate
Molded rock background
Thermometer
Planting Thongs
Nutrafin Plant Gro Supplement
Fluval Aquatic Plant Care Guide
Aquarium
The Fluval Flora features the same 7.9 Gallon/30 Liter glass aquarium as the Fluval Ebi. The included glass cover helps minimize evaporation and maintain stable CO2 levels.
Filter
The Fluval Flora internal filter comes equipped with an attached spray bar to diffuse water movement throughout the tank and prevent excessive CO2 escape due to surface agitation.
CO2 System
No discussion of major plant nutrients is complete without the mention of carbon. In fact 40 to 50% of a plant’s dry weight matter is composed of carbon. This key macro element is fortunately easily supplied with a CO2 system, such as the small pressurized convenient disposable systems by Fluval (CO2 20 g and CO2 88 g Kits). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major nutrient taken in by plants during periods of illumination. CO2 is usually never present in aquariums at a level required by plants, it must be supplemented. The provision of CO2 is the single most important nutrient for aquatic plants that will both enable strong growth and outstanding condition.
Lighting
Although the blue and red spectrums are without doubt directly related to photosynthesis in all plants, it has been shown in some studies, that the inclusion of green spectrum in certain aquatic plants produced higher rates of photosynthesis. In general, look for lighting sources that emit a full spec- trum with peaks in red, green and blue wavelengths, as found with the GLO brand of Life-Glo and Flora-Glo bulbs or the Fluval Mini Power Compact Lamp fluorescent bulbs.
Substrate
The Fluval Flora includes the Fluval Plant Stratum substrate with is an essential addition and ideal for growing live plants in the aquarium. Derived from naturally occurring sources, the dark colored Stratum contrasts beautifully against the vibrant colors of the plants and small tank inhabitants.
If you like the Fluval Flora, check out the other Fluval nano desktop aquariums like the Fluval EDGE, Fluval chi, Fluval Ebi, and Fluval Spec!
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