Freshwater aquarium plants provide many obvious and not so obvious benefits to any freshwater aquarium. While most would agree that live plants make an aquarium more attractive, they also provide many behind the scenes benefits as well. Live plants help maintain quality water by removing excess nutrients from the water. Live plants provide both food and shelter for many species of freshwater fish, which gives them both a sense of security and improves their overall health and quality of life. Mostly though plants add color, life and variety to the aquarium and can be entertaining to raise and view all by themselves.