Real or fake??

[billy_69]

ive been checking in about the decorations i want to put in my 90 gal WHEN i get it going. I cant decied either fake or natural?? i seen some fake drift wood in some mags how real do they look??? and can fake plants ever look anything like the real thing??? This will be my second tank just started a ten gallon going through the cycle phase. What yall think

 

[The-Raven]

I go with fake myself... less cance of the plant dying or looking like crap.

They look natural enough to me anyway...


I guess the most unnatural looking part of my aquarium is the bright blue and turquoise gravel mixed with glass beads

 

[parker313]

I go with the fake stuff. I keep my fish in the tank and my plants in the garden

 

[pnyklr3]

Fake looks ok. And you don't have to worry about fake driftwood leeching any tanins (turning your water brown) or messing with your pH.

 

[colegamby]

the fish seem to like real better then fake. makes for a healthier aquarium too

 

[rdd1952]

The biggest drawback with fake plants is that there isn't anything in the tank to complete with the algae for the nitrates. If you let your nitrates get high or if you burn your lights too much, you will end up with a massive algae problem unless you have some great algae eaters (hard to find). If you do go with fake plants, check them for stiffness and sharp edges that can scratch and tear fins. Personally, I think a live planted tank looks great but it is a little more work.

 

[longhorn13]

i definitely enjoy real plants, it adds an extra dimension to aquarium upkeep and i almost enjoy watching the plants grow as i do my fish...

it does take extra work though, if you want a really nice planted tank, you have to deal with ferilizers and making sure the water is suited for plant growth and co2 which can get pretty pricey. oh, and i forgot about needing adequate lighting also ($$$)

 

[gadazobe]

I go for real - also, there are quite a few fish (namely suckers like plecs) that need real bogwood to rasp on for their digestive system.
Real plants also help to keep your nitrates and algae down as well as providing lots of fish with "inbetween meals snacks"

 

[foty89]

If you are just starting in the hobby, as it appears from your post, I would go with the fake for now. You have to learn how to take care of the fish and the tank already, plants would just add more that you would have to learn at one time and more that you could mess up too. You can always add real plants later.

 

[big mick]

Real looks better but I use fake simply because Im lazy......my moto is "hard work pays off in the future but laziness pays of no"

 

[big mick]

I meant "pays off NOW"

 

[foty89]

There are relatively simple, low need plants that you can use. However, as I said, I would wait until you have more experience with keeping fish and the tank going good.

 

[GSD]

fake.easy to look after and you cant kill it!

 

[steelhealr]

Hi..I agree with Foty...start fake....decide what you want to do......add real when ready. Or...like my tank...you can mix and match..keep some plastic and add a few real. I think having live in the tank really helps the aquarium..it is a closed system and the plants are beneficial and the fish love 'em. SH

 

[foty89]

Hi..I agree with Foty...start fake....decide what you want to do......add real when ready. Or...like my tank...you can mix and match..keep some plastic and add a few real. I think having live in the tank really helps the aquarium..it is a closed system and the plants are beneficial and the fish love 'em. SH

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