Plants and Breeding Fish

• Male Bettas incorporate plants into their bubble nests.Ryan McVay/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  
  One of the uses of aquarium plants, both live and artificial, is to encourage the breeding of fish. Many fish, such as tetras (minnow-like fish), practice "egg-scattering." This breeding strategy is exactly what it sounds like: fish lay nonadhesive eggs all over the tank and provide minimal care. In this case, bushy plants can keep the eggs safe from their hungry parents. Similar strategies work with livebearers. Even sophisticated spawners like Bettas use plants; males use them in their bubble nests and females use them for refuge.
  
  

Algae Control

• Healthy plants can obtain nutrients from water much more effectively than algae.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  One use of aquarium plants is the control of algae. Plants are basically highly evolved algae, and have the same essential nutritional requirements. However, healthy aquarium plants can do a better job of obtaining nutrients from the water by stripping phosphate from the water much more effectively than algae. As a result, healthy, thriving plants can help control algae.
  
  

Aesthetics

• A skillful arrangement of aquarium plants can greatly enhance the appearance of the aquarium.Thomas Northcut/Lifesize/Getty Images
  
  The skillful arrangement of aquarium plants can greatly increase the beauty of an aquarium. To achieve the optimal look, arrange larger plants toward the back of a tank and place shorter plants in the foreground. Avoid straight lines of plants and decorations that are parallel to the front of the tank. Lastly - and this takes a little effort to visualize - imagine a tic tac toe grid stretched evenly across the front of your tank. Points of interest should occur where the imaginary lines meet.
  
  

Snacks for Fish

• Many cichlids love eatting aquarium plants.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Many fish enjoy plants and algae as a major part of their diet. Cichlids such as Tilapia love plants. A fast-growing plant like duckweed is advisable for such fish, which will devour slower-growing plants. Duckweed is also useful as a fish food because it is relatively easy to grow and can cover the surface of an aquarium if there are not enough fish to eat it. One solution is to grow the duckweed separately and introduce it into the aquarium over time.