20
| PET GAZETTE | AQUATIC
EDUCATE ON THE RIGHT
PLANTS FOR A HEALTHY
AQUARIUM
Once your consumer is fully educated on
aquascaping and the steps they should take, it
is time for them to buy their plants.
Just like when selling fish, ensure the plants
are the right size for your customer so their
aquarium doesn’t become crowded and
overstocked. When sourcing plants from
reputable suppliers they will be labelled
with their potential size and temperature
requirements, making it easy for you to give
your customers sound advice.
Growing plants in an aquarium can be seen
as difficult as some aquascaping beginners
choose their plants based on how they look,
not how suitable they are for their aquarium
or experience level. This can often lead to the
purchase of very demanding plants or even
plants that are not true aquatic species and
won’t survive long term.
If you have enquiries from customers about
which plants they should choose when starting
out in aquascaping, there are certain species
that work particularly well:
• Rhizome plants – These plants grow their
leaves at intervals along a thick horizontal
stem. These are great as they can be
attached to rocks or wood but can also be
planted straight into substrate so are really
versatile. Anubias Barteri Var is a great
species for beginners with a maximum
height of 25cm
• Mosses – Moss will grow in clumps and
is often used to produce ‘mats’ on the
aquarium floor. Similar to Rhizome, these
can be attached to rocks or wood as a
decorative feature. We’d recommend
Taxiphyllum as an appropriate species for
beginners.
• Rosette plants - These will grow their
leaves in a circular pattern from a central
root and will thrive in high nutrient
substrate. The Cryptocoryne species is a
great starting point with heights from 8cm
to some over 30cm.
By helping shoppers choose the correct
plants for their aquarium, they can get their
aquascaping journey off to a positive start,
maintaining a vibrant display and environment
for their fish, and creating increased sales for
your store.
EVERY LITTLE HELPS!
An important part of aquascaping is ensuring
your customers leave with everything they
need to be successful. This includes all the
added little extras that people may not think
they need but will help them greatly (and
provide some extra sales for you). Rosette
plants often come in pots with mineral wood
around the roots, so using planting tweezers
when planting will make sure this is all
removed from the roots. Sharp scissors will
also let fishkeepers trim the roots and separate
the plant to thin if needed.
For mosses, rocks or stones are
recommended to anchor the moss to, so
make sure you have plenty of different sizes
in stock to suit your customer’s preference.
Specialist netting can be used to wrap around
the moss on the rock, which it will then grow
through before coming fully established.
CARING FOR AN AQUASCAPED
AQUARIUM
Maintaining an aquarium shouldn’t take any
longer than 30 mins a week. Try to encourage
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your customers to follow a regime, this will
allow them to form good habits and regular
maintenance meaning they will keep on top
of the work and the aquarium will remain well
balanced. Breaking it down into the below
steps makes maintenance look simple and
less daunting:
Daily tasks
• Dose with fertiliser
Weekly tasks
• Clean glass
• Remove dead or damaged leaves with
sharp scissors
• Clear filter of debris - inlets can be
clogged with any plant leaves that have
broken free in the tank
• Clean and change filter cartridges - built
up debris can cause filters to clog quicker
• Rinse filter if needed and change every
two to four weeks
Some of the best ways to inspire and
educate your customers is to have an
aquascaped aquarium set up in your
shop, providing inspiration which can also
be used for demonstrations on planting,
thinning out overgrown plants and showing
the equipment needed. With aquariums
a key feature in any home, by having the
knowledge to confidently talk through
aquascaping and how fishkeepers can
expand on their skills you will not only
position yourself as a true aquatics expert to
build the relationship between you and your
customers but also drive additional sales.
May 2018