Trimming Aquarium Plants! What Should I Do?

In many aquarists lives there comes a time when they have to get rid of an aquarium inhabitant that has outgrown its enclosure or has become too aggressive for its tank-mates. Most often the aquarium inhabitant is a fish, but it is not uncommon to hear of people who need to get rid of aquarium plant or algae as well. So, what you need to consider before trimming aquarium plants or removing fish from your planted tank?

It is important to understand that the plants and other aquarium inhabitants in planted tank probably did not come from the ecosystem you live in or near. If released or discarded in your local lakes, rivers or oceans, a foreign aquatic plants or tropical fish species can become extremely destructive. Get rid of aquarium plants or algae can compete with and overgrow indigenous plants and eliminate the indigenous population, which may have been a staple food source for a local animal. The rest of trimming can also lead to a change in water chemistry, which may affect plants, fish or other animals that live in that body of water. Foreign plants and aquarium algae can also completely clog bodies of water and eliminate habitats for animals to live in.

Introducing a non-native fish to a body of water can be devastating as well. If it is a predatory species, it may be large enough to eat an indigenous fish that may have previously been at the top of the food chain in that particular habitat. It also may be too large to be eaten by any other indigenous predators. With no natural predators in its new home it will be dangerous because the foreign fish may eat most or all of the native species.

If should to trimming aquatic plants or remove other living organism from your planted aquarium, please do so responsibly. Try contacting the local fish store. They may be interested in taking in unwanted plants and animals. If they cannot, try posting your aquatic plants or animal on public forums, such as aquarium related forums or "Craig’s list".