whats better for aquariums live plants or fake ones?

Answer 1

It depends on basically two main things:
1) How much time you are willing to put into maintaining the plants.
- Live plants may take a little more of your time in planting, trimming and keeping an eye on them. Fake plants are alot easier to take care of, just run them under water.
2) What fish you have in the tank.
- Some fish prefer live plants, and some up-root live plants. Some live plants also give off some nutrients that will feed the fish, or if you have fry, some species of plants will actually give off small types of food that the fry can eat.

Hope that helped, good luck.

Answer 2

I personally prefer live plants because they help to filter the water and are also gentler on the actual fish (as already said, the plastic ones can be damaging and otherwise uncomfortable to the fish). Depending on what size tank you have, getting some lamps with fluorescent light bulbs would probably provide enough light for a small tank, or at least enough for low light plants like java moss and java fern.

If you do decide to get plants from a chain pet store (such as Petco or Petsmart) be careful because they will sometimes sell plants that are not aquatic plants, but just take a long time to die when put underwater. For many plants, fertilizer isn't necessary. I have some rotala in my tank, have never fertilized, and have gone from three stands to a whole tank full in a few months. However, it's is a medium light plant and depending on how much light you provide may not do as well. Hope this helped!

Answer 3

Well, the fish don't care. Live plants can look at a lot nicer, and they can lower nitrites, but they require a certain amount of upkeep and are not a substitution for a proper weekly water cleaning regimen.
Do you have a fluorescent light, for one? With even a basic fluorescent light - an around 1W/gal - you can grow some low-light plants. If you have 2-3 watts per gallon, you can grow a lot of the mid-to-high light plants.

There are lots of plants out there, they look great, but some great ones that don't require crazy amounts of light are:
anubias http://www.aqua-passion.com/fiches_plantes/images/Anubias_glai.2004316185215.jpg
java fern http://www.neptuneaquatics.com/images/Java%20Fern.jpg
java moss http://www.aquamoss.net/Java-Moss/images/Java-Moss-01.jpg
pennywort http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/00%20John%20Somerville/Pennywort,%20Floating%202.jpg
vallisneria http://aquavisie.retry.org/Database/Planten/Vallisneria_spiralis.jpg
amazon swords http://naturalaquariums.com/plants/echbleheri.JPG

I suggest you get one plant to start with. Try to avoid getting red plants, or bright green bushy plants ie hornwort / cambomba as those tend to require high light and rot and gloop if they don't have enough light.
So, get one plant, see how it goes. You may love what is involved with keep live plants, but you may just think fake are easier.

You probably do not need to fertilize, as the fish waste should provide enough. But you can pick up some macro/micro trace elements for plants, though. Don't get an iron-based fertilizer.

You may want to get a school of oto cats. They will keep the plants tidy of some types of algae and are just uber cute. Get at least 4, and only if you have room. They are susceptile to poor water quality.

You may also want to look into getting a CO2 system. You can do it yourself with an air stone, airline tubing, a coke bottle, some 100% rubber silicone, and some suger and yeast. Google DIY CO2. It isn't necessary but it's good for the plants!

Oh: Do you have a local aquarists' society? If so, join, and ask around for some plants. Many aquatic plants spread like wildfire and you can like get free/cheap plants from other members thats are a lot bigger and nicer than those at the petstore!

Answer 4

Live plants are good beacuse they provide oxygen to the tank and help keep co2 levels low, but most of the time you have to add a special kind of liquid plant food to the tank(wont hurt the fish). you can buy the plant food at most pet stores.fake plants are ok if you dont want to deal with feeding the plants but fake plants start fade and look nasty after a couple of months. i like the look that real plant provide myself.

Answer 5

Definitely live plants! I have a ton of live plants, my fish love them. The like to eat them too... they seem to be eating my whole plant up DD= I've never done anything special for my plants. The take CO2 from water, and add oxygen, and remove some waste. They also look nicer and fish cannot get scratched on them.

Answer 6

I prefer live plants it helps keep your aquarium perimeters in range. Do research on which to buy if you decide to get some because some require more light then the standard lights on aquariums. I love Java Moss because you can tie it down to things and it is very hard to kill.

Answer 7

live plants help aerate the water, and keep levels of nitrate lower. live plants aren't hard at all, just get plant food (liquid ill last you forever) and if the plant calls to have dead parts remove do so. that's about it. also live plants won't scratch your fish or rip it's tails, fake plants are hard and pointy and often can hurt fish.

Answer 8

i might remover the plastic plant life, as they could actual tear the gentle fins of Bettas. (specific, even female Bettas!) stay plant life are very much enjoyed with the help of Bettas, and the earnings the final water high quality. stable low easy/tech kinds comprise Anubias, Java Fern, Java Moss, Marimo Moss Balls, maximum Crypts, and, a wide-unfold of Bettas as they attain/overlap the exterior, Vals. Do examine the standards of any plant in the previous procuring so as which you will comprehend that's environmental and planting standards, (Anubias, for occasion, isn't planted in line with se, yet somewhat related to driftwood or the like,) and so as which you are not getting suckered into procuring terrestrial plant life offered interior the guise of aquatic plant life with the help of unscrupulous shops. (Ahem, PetSmart.) Terrestrial plant life will rot while saved completely submerged for long sessions of time, ultimate to doubtlessly poisonous water for Mrs. Betta. you will choose a fertilizer of a few type on your plant life. i exploit and recommend APIs "Leaf Zone" liquid fertilizer with stable outcomes. stable success. @ Rave. I even have Anubias taking on my tanks. Any probability you reside interior the Albany long island area? i will provide you some! ... Or go away them be. My fishies love them!

Answer 9

Depends on what you have in the tank. Some fish nibble on real plant and could get sick...check with your pet store if you are not sure.

Answer 10

all of my friends that have tanks use fake....they are easier to take care of