Once live aquarium plants have been introduced to the tank, how can you know that you’ve done well? There are a few methods available, but for the hobbyist, aquatic plant vitality is easy to see. But if you want to, you can check the weight. The most popular method I’ve found is to use a salad spinner, and a 30 second drying cycle during spinning, and then weigh the live aquarium plant using an accurate scale maybe one used for weighing letters and packages.

Simple observation and measurement will be sufficient for most uses. When the aquarium plant is first introduced to the tank, make a note of it’s height, number of leafy extrusions (not all aquatic plants have true leaves), number of stalks, and any buds that may be present on the aquatic plant.

On a regular schedule of every 3 days, or even every 7 days, measure the aquarium plant’s growth, and make a note of any increase. Watch for broken or “mushy” areas on the plant which may result from fish contact or even consumption. If there were buds present, carefully observe them for sprouts or other growth, and watch for new budding to appear. Lack of plant growth may also be indicated by increased algae formation.

For nearly all situations, this simple check will adequately determine the health and vitality of your live aquarium plants. I always use this checklist:
1. Has the aquatic plant become “mushy”, wilted, or even broken?

2. Have buds sprouted, or new buds appeared?

3.  Is the aquarium plant taller, thicker, or bushier?

4.  Has algae formation decreased? Healthy aquarium plants reduce algae growth!

P.S. It is always great to take a digital photo of your aquarium tank once every 2 weeks to better observe the growth of the plants.

All the best!

David