Real Plants Vs Fake Plants

[gandy1985]

I use to have real plants in my tank which unfortunately ended up being taken out because they just got covered (and I mean covered) in algae/moss. I took them out and replaced them with some fake plants. I found out that the excessive algae growth was down to my lights being on for too long. I would like to go back to having live plants because I think they look spectacular, but my question is, is there any real benefits to having real plants in a tank?

Thanks

 

[MegaZerino]

They help keep the level of nitrates lower, they make the fish seem more at home, they can be cut back or grown out so you can make them any size you want, theres more variety for shapes of leaves and stuff, they are softer than fake plants so they are less likely to damge fish with thinner or frailer fins, and they just generally look nicer because they are real. I hope that helped

 

[gandy1985]

Thanks

If I wanted to go back to live plants could I just add them straight into the tank?

 

[LucyB]

Yep, just buy em' and throw em' in! Well, you can wash them before putting them in to prevent any nasties such as pest snails from invading your tank...

 

[gandy1985]

Cheers LucyB....awesome!

 

[mike455555]

make sure you try to buy the right plants for the tank though... if you buy something like HC and have low lighting and no CO2 it wont do to well where as crypts and other easy plants will

 

[gandy1985]

Hi Mike

Thanks for that! Sounds like I need to do some research. I'm not sure about the lighting, it came built in to the tank lid. Is there a site or a document that will help me find the right plants? Don't trust the pet shop anymore

 

[mike455555]

the right plants will be

java fern
java moss
anubias
amazon sword
crypts

and more check out tropica website they normally have light requirements for the plants or google the plant you want

 

[gandy1985]

Once again... thanks Mike

 

[MBOU]

Planted tanks can be great fun just so long as you bear in mind that plants are living things and like with all plants, houseplants or garden plants etc, they do require their own maintenance and have their own needs.... *but* in my opinion, the plants can be just as rewarding when they grow well as keeping fish can be

Might want to pop over to the plant section of the forum because it will be worth considering what plants will be most suitable for you and maybe consider plant substrates of fertilisers and your lighting etc... to be honest, its one of those subjects that the more you look into it, the more you realise there is to learn. Doesnt have to be scarey though

One thing I do say you people when selling them plants is... as a general rule... 'if the plant stands up straight out of water, its probably not a true aquatic plant'. This doesnt go for all plants because amazon swords etc can hold themselves upright out of water as can anubias. But gives you a better idea.

Same as any plant that is really bright pink (they might be true aquatic but a LOT harder to grow as with less chlorophyll, they need far more intense lighting), anything varigated (so green and white, green and pink or green and yellow) is generally Dracenia or Hemigraphis and wont grow.