Which aquatic plants clean the water?

How aquatic plants contribute to water purification

With the aquatic plants, nature has "invented" an excellent pond filter that guarantees an optimal recycling cycle. This cycle works as follows:

• Aquatic plants produce oxygen. The pond fish benefit from this.
• Pond fish provide carbon dioxide, which in turn is consumed by the aquatic plants.
• Aquatic plants provide food for fish (herbivores).
• Fish give the plants nutrients (back) through their excretion products.

In short, the aquatic plants and pond fish maintain each other. It is a perfectly “worked out” cycle that keeps the water clean and avoids unpleasant odors.

Accordingly, you only need an additional pond filter if the natural balance described is disturbed in any way. This can be the case, for example, if you have an excessively large fish population in your pond.

Note: Water purification by aquatic plants also implies the Fighting algae.

Which aquatic plants promote the purification of the water

The selection of aquatic plants is crucial in order to use the natural cleaning function as effectively as possible.

Important: Only underwater plants are good oxygen producers. In contrast, some floating plants are considered to be excellent pollutant absorbers.

One of the best aquatic plants for water purification is the duckweed (bot. Lemna), which is often used in sewage ponds and sewage treatment plants.

The spring moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) even received the “Moss of the Year” award in 2006 - due to its year-round oxygen-producing and water-purifying effect.

The waterweed (Elodea) also does photosynthesis properly and thus keeps the pond water oxygen-rich and clean.

An overview of other suitable aquatic plants for water purification:

• Rushes (Juncus)
• Hedgehog Cob (Sparganium)
• Water sword lilies (Iris pseudacorus)
• Swamp-forget Me Not (Myosotis scorpioides)