Silk or plastic: which fake plants are better for my aquarium and why?

Question

I imagine silk plants give more realistic movement, but are there algae issues to consider or any other considerations before I make my choice?

imagine silk plants give more realistic movement, but are there algae issues to consider or any other considerations before I make my choice?

Edit: I've already got some live plants, but my goldfish love to eat anything but the strongest plants, so I'm wanting to supplement with some fakes.

Answer 1

Silk plants would be virtually impossible to clean algae off of and would eventually break down in the water. Plastic lasts longer, is easier to clean (even for the algae eating fish, due to their smooth surfaces).

There is no health reason (as far as your fish are concerned) not to use silk plants, but it will get very expensive replacing them. They will start looking pretty nasty pretty quickly.

Answer 2

In my opinion, i've never seen any silk plants that looked real. The algae that grows on fake plants add the the beauty and help to make the plants look real, so I would go with plastic.
However, real plants are so beneficial to your aquarium and although your goldfish eat them, why deprive them of such a treat?!

Answer 3

First you need ot understand that plastic/silk plants will do nothing for you (other than retain some of the good bacteria that your Biofilter needs to rely upon for proper Nitrifying properties).

Live plants give the tank a boost because not only do they provide O2 to your tank, but they also feed off of the Nitrates that eventually build up in a mature tank (mature meaning it has had it's initial cycle for quite some time).

Answer 4

silk plants r a much better choice u see plastic can rip the fins of ur little buddies! live is the way 2 go but silk is next best!hope this helps!

Answer 5

If you've already got live plants in, I'd almost definitely go with plastic. Much easier to care for and clean, and since live plants can be a headache themselves...plus if you have any snails, they'll find it much easier to clean plastic than silk--actually, they might possibly rip silk plants up.

Answer 6

properly i might want to assert silk for such various motives. the silk flowers sway contained in the water making them seem organic and actual. The silk flowers are also a lot gentler on the fish pores and skin because the plastic one have a tendency to diminish fins and scratch on scales. The silk ones also make the fish experience at homestead because the are a lot more desirable lifelike. They plastic ones cease them from breeding because they look pretend and poisonous each so often.

Answer 7

plastic is better because when they get covered with algae, you can remove them and wash them.