Plastic Or Real Plants?

[Oscar Betta]

I prefer plastic because the only time I used real plants, they infested my tank with snails and I had to clean it all out. I know that real plants are more natural and way more colorful, but personally I prefer fake ones.

 

[james_fish]

Live for me, without a doubt.

Not only does it make a tank look natural but it also provides natural shelter for fish and can help with water parameters. Good lighting, basic CO2 and Fertz and my plants are growing nicely

James.

 

[Oscar Betta]

I would like to use live ones, but whenever I use them, like I said, everything goes wrong. What are some recommended easy plants to grow that you could put in your aquarium?

 

[Westwood]

I just love real plants, started out with plastic, then switched to real, i havent had a problem with snails for a long time, i think it is because when i saw them i squashed them, and my red fin shark took a taste to them

My first plant in started with was java furn, i have it growing on bogwood now, and a few bunches, really nice plant.

 

[the biffster]

real live plants only thing
really cant get away with
plastic plants

 

[Oscar Betta]

I just love real plants, started out with plastic, then switched to real, i havent had a problem with snails for a long time, i think it is because when i saw them i squashed them, and my red fin shark took a taste to them

I've heard of some snail eating fish, like loaches. Was thinking of getting some for my aquarium so that wouldn't happen again.

 

[james_fish]

I would like to use live ones, but whenever I use them, like I said, everything goes wrong. What are some recommended easy plants to grow that you could put in your aquarium?

Cabomba, been brilliant for me.

But I have been giving Fertz and CO2. But If you want real good growth I recommend you start adding these two and have a good set of lights

James.

 

[anon02]

Why not have both, I put some artificials in for instant impact then bought 10 stems each of cabomba, elodea and hygrophila which I left floating till they produced roots, then I put them into those airline suckers which I`d siliconed to rocks. The fish provide the macros and a capful of aquatic plant food once a week provides the micros

 

[fluffycabbage]

dont go buying any fish which like snails, coz they wont always get rid of your problem all you have to do when you buy the plants is to treat them with anti snail meds before putting them into your tank. you're gonna kill at least 99% of them by doing that small thing first
Cabomba were good for me, also crypts, echinodorus, bacopa, hornwort. Most plants have certain likes and dislikes as far as water is concerned though, eg some dont like hard water etc

 

[kevinjames]

I've never had much success with plant to be honest. I've just set up a large aquarium which is 2 foot high so would love some tall plants to go in there. Which plants would be easy to grow without co2. Also I assume adding plant fertilizer is in liquid form, so which do I use and how often?

 

[Gilli]

I prefer real plants and the added bonus is they will use up some of your nitrates. I dont use a CO2 system but the plants are cheap enough so if they start to look straggly I just buy some new ones!

 

[bubble87]

id have to say plastic is best low matinance lol

 

[fluttermoth]

I've never had much success with plant to be honest. I've just set up a large aquarium which is 2 foot high so would love some tall plants to go in there. Which plants would be easy to grow without co2. Also I assume adding plant fertilizer is in liquid form, so which do I use and how often?

Vallis is tall and easy to grow; it does fine in my tanks and I don't have any special substrate or CO2 and I don't use ferts.
Liquid ferts will tell you on the bottle how much and how often to dose, but it's usually once a week.

 

[the_lock_man]

Vallis is tall and easy to grow; it does fine in my tanks and I don't have any special substrate or CO2 and I don't use ferts.

+1. It's like the guppy of the plant world - it just keeps growing and growing. I have decent light, a basic CO2 diffuser and the Tetra pre-fertilised substrate. The vallis just needs a haircut everynow and then. Simples.

they infested my tank with snails

Assassin snails are the way to go if you get a pest-snail infestation.

 

[fluttermoth]

Vallis is tall and easy to grow; it does fine in my tanks and I don't have any special substrate or CO2 and I don't use ferts.

+1. It's like the guppy of the plant world - it just keeps growing and growing. I have decent light, a basic CO2 diffuser and the Tetra pre-fertilised substrate. The vallis just needs a haircut everynow and then. Simples.

It certainly is!
I had to thin my vallis out earlier this year; I took one plant out and it was over 6 feet long!!!