Should I add plastic plants along with the live plants in my aquarium?

Question

I'm not too fond of plastic plants but someone told me that they are necessary when setting up a new aquarium.Does anyone know if this is true and why?

Answer 1

yes you can add them together. Just make sure you are not using an under gravel filter for the Live plants as the under gravel filter will kill them.

Answer 2

I have to agree with everyone else, plastic plants are not necessary in a new tank. They are strictly for decoration.

I was never truly fond of plastic plants, but I have found that some of the new silk plants are amazingly realistic. And I have been slowly switching over to them.

Real plants are also not necessary an aquarium, and they do add a little bit of extra load to the filter system. But as long as you have a good biological filter going there should not be any problem keeping live plants. Other than your fish eating them LOL.

Keep in mind your decorating your tank for you not for your fish, other than a few places to hide the fish could care less. Just remember not to overdo it you need to leave the space open for the fish to swim in.

Best of luck with your home remodel.
Eric.

Answer 3

Plants pf any kind are not necessary in any aquarium but they do look nice. Live plants add to the bio load of the filtration system but do absorb some pollutants as well ........ live plants can add a small amount of extra work to your maintenance schedule but are well worth the added affort. On the other hand, once a bit of algae starts growing on your plastic plants they are pretty much indiscernable from live ones and can be equally pleasing to the eye without adding any added mainenace work. Go with the fake plants, they never die.

Answer 4

No, you don't need plastic plants. Plastic plants are a bit useful because they don't die, they make your aquarium look pretty and it gives fish a place to hide. But you have live plants so that should be enough. You could even have an aquarium with no plants.

Answer 5

No, it's not true at all.
Whoever told you that was full of it ;)
Plastic plants are just plastic... they provide some cover for the fish but that is all they do - completely unnecessary if you have live plants.

If you're setting up a new tank, you need to cycle it. Plastic plants (or real ones, for that matter) have no effect on the cycling process.
First of all, have you cycled your tank? In the wild, and in established tanks, there are nitrifying bacteria that break down toxic ammonia from fish waste and excess food into less toxic nitrates. In a brand new tank, these bacteria don't exist, so any fish in the tank will produce ammonia, which, not being broken down by bacteria, will kill or weaken the fish. So, it is vital to cycle your tank.
There are a few methods. Do you have access to an established tank? These bacteria live in the gravel and in the filter cartridge, so if you can get some from another tank, you can put the bacteria right into your tank (don't let the gravel or filter cartridge dry out). If you do this, in a day or two, your tank will beready for fish.
Another way is to get Bio-Spira. It is the actual live bacteria in a little pouch, and your tank will instantly be ready for fish. http://fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html

Other methods, which include putting a source of ammonia in the tank and letting the bacteria build up on its own, or putting a fish in and letting the fish produce ammonia (which borders on animal cruelty, because the fish will suffer from the ammonia in the tank), take 2 to 6 weeks before your tank is ready. If you rush that, any fish you buy may die, so try one of the instant methods I mentioned above (bio-spira or gravel from another tank)

Answer 6

That's total BS. Neither kind of plant is necessary in an aquarium. They're there for aesthetics unless you go crazy with co2 injection & lighting. The person at the store was probably just trying to sell you junk.

The only time plastic plants serve a purpose is when you breed your fish. it gives the baby fish somewhere to hide.

Answer 7

That is very untrue! I in fact did not like them either so I did not add them and non of my fish protested for the plants..lol

I did however add these bulbs to the tank that grows lives plants. I found them at a local fish supply store. They are very pretty and an alternative to the fake ones. Good luck with the aquarium.

Answer 8

I have all live plants in my aquarium... no, I do not add plastic.. no, they will not help...
what does help with successful aquarium plants:
*I add well soaked (water logged) potting mix to my aquarium gravel
*I use florecent lighting
that's about all you need, the fish and plants will get your tank to an ecological balance.. and you won't have to do much other than keep your filter clean
I have cichlids and all natural materials in my 55 gal aquarium... cichlids need very clean water.. and I never have to do water changes because my plants keep the water very cleaned

Answer 9

the artifical plant myth is based on artifical plants that aren't cleaned build up algae. algae is actually beneficial if you have no other live plants beause it helps with biological filtration -- but your live plants do too so you don't need the algae. another myth is you need algae eating fish and intervabrates to keep your tank clean. there are lots of ways to control algae -- the easiest is grow plants that grow rapidly. they usually use all the nutrients in your water before the algae has a chance to snack.

kick your friend for me. its kind of like saying bettas need a small bowl with dirty water because they don't know what to do if they are given space with clean water.

Answer 10

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