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ELODEA (ANACHARIS)

Plants occupy the base of the food pyramid in aquatic systems just as they do in terrestrial systems. Inconspicuous single-celled algae that turn your aquarium green capture the sun's energy and provide food for countless minute animals in the water. If you want to stimulate an algae bloom (population explosion), put a goldfish in an aquarium, place it where it will get direct sun several hours a day, and provide the fish with plenty of food. When you see the water turn green, it's a sign that your aquatic plants are growing beautifully.

FOSS activities also use vascular aquatic plants. The popular goldfish-bowl plant that looks like a green feather boa is Elodea (or sometimes Anacharis). In nature it is usually rooted to the bottom of a stream or pond, but in your aquarium it can just float around. It is a good food source for amphipods, fish, and crayfish and will contribute to the oxygen in the water as it photosynthesizes. It also provides crannies where small animals can hide from predators.

Care of aquatic plants is easy. Keep plenty of water in their container.

What to do when the plants arrive. Open bag and rinse plants in dechlorinated or spring water. Keep Elodea floating in bowl of dechlorinated or spring water to avoid drying out until it's ready to use.

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