Live Plants for my Aquarium?

Question

I currently have a 15-gallon tank with 3 glo-light tetras, 2 black-skirt tetras, and 2 glow red danios. I have had the tank for about 2 months. I have heard some talk about getting live plants for my tank. Should I get some live plants? Are they easy to maintnence? Will my current fish like them? Are there pros and cons to live plants?

Thanks

Answer 1

Venice girl is exactly right, I would add though this:

Planted aquariums are generally more work than those without plants and require some additional attention to details in your water and equipment. For example, the fish don't care what kind of light you have, but the plants sure do!

On the plus side they are very attractive when done well.

MM

Answer 2

Your current fish are no problem for a planted tank. Couple things to think about in a planted tank. #1 is light. Do you have enough light for the plants to thrive? The may need special lighting. Another thing is did you put an undergravel filter in the tank? If you did, it will make it a bit more difficult for your plants to thrive, their roots will grow into the filter eventually reducing it's effectiveness and making cleaning the tank more difficult. The last thing is nutrients. Plants need CO2 to thrive. They might be able to make it on the CO2 they create at night.
My suggestion is that you ask at a local independent fish store. You might consider removing about half your gravel and replacing with a substrate made for plants.

That being said, a well planted aquarium with fish and live plants... the best looking tank you can have! Good luck

Answer 3

Live plants become a lot of work and also can change your ph levels depending on the plant. You will need at least an inch of gravel on the bottom for them to grow roots, so this will decrease your aquarium space and with a 15 gallon, that will decrease it a lot.

In such a small tank, I would suggest sticking with the fake plants.

Also, your tetras you have are both schooling fish, they like to be with at least 6 of their kind.

Answer 4

there are many pros to live plants -- they are like adding an extra filter system to your tank. the only cons is if you keep dead plants in your tank it is as bad as keeping leftover food in your tank. for starter plants i recommend java fern and java moss, the anubias family and the cyptocorynes. the java fern, java moss and anubias you can just tie to a rock and you are done. these plants will grow healthier with some liquid fertilzer that is an 0-0-3 but its not necessary. this is a high postassium formula made by tetra (flora pride) and aquarium pharmecuticals (leaf zone) -- its a liquid and easy to use.

while there are lots of other plants some grow like weeds and need constant maintenance, some you would have to give brighter lights, some would need co2 injections, other fertilzier, a stable subtrate -- in other words a lot more than these do. know what you are buying before you buy it.

oh and aviod the houseplants pet stores are currently selling as aquarium plants -- like lucky bamboo, ribbon plant, umbrella plant. -- these will tolerate living underwater for a couple months and die and make a mess.

Answer 5

everyone seems to be doing a great job giving good advice about what your asking, although I can give you this piece of advice:

if you think live plants are too much work and what not, but fake plants seem way to plasticy. try silk plants, they sway and look good in an aquarium, there a little more expensive then the plastic ones but your fish will love them more than the plastics I'll tell you that. I only buy silk because its softer than plastic and I dont want to take care of plants and infestations of snails and what not in my tanks so i stick to silk, they are soft, they sway like real plants, and they come in as much variety as plastics. not like real plants.

I hope I shedded some new alternative light on another good aquarium decor. good luck!

Answer 6

If I am not mistaken, I believe your tetras might eat you foilage.
it is hard to maintain in my opinion,because you end up having more degradable material that yuks up the tank and makes it hard to clean it properly.Since you have a 15 gal tank, and your glo-lights are already so small , I think it will make it harder to see your fish and enjoy them.
Also, you mentioned Danios, whom are very agressive eaters, and a lot of compition for your Glo-Lights, Watch at feeding time who is getting most of the food,small, but frequent feedings to keep from overfeeding the tank,as you try to ensure the tetras diet..

Answer 7

Plants are good for your aquarium. Just as on the earth in our air, they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, which is good for your fish. Also, the fish like to eat the plants, which is also good for them and they like to hide in them and play in them. The bad side, is, fish love to eat plants and play with them. It is probably inevitable that you will find yourself, from time to time, replanting your plants that some of your fish have pulled up. You will probably have to replace your plants from time to time as the fish eat them and/or the plant dies for whatever reason. So, those are the pros and the cons. It's a real dilemmas sometimes. Good luck!

Answer 8

Live plants can be great for your aquarium and fun for your fish. But be careful about where you purchase them. You can introduce parasites and infection to your tank this way. So purchase your plants from a reputable source.

Best wishes!

Answer 9

Live plants are definitely a great idea. I have live plants in my aquarium. The fish love them, since they're a more natural enviornment for them, and they don't require maitenence. I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't have live plants for your aquarium. In some aquariums, live plants are even essential.

Answer 10

i recently asked the same question of a friend who raises rare tropicals and other fish he told me if i wanted a water garden then get rid of the fish especially if you are having success with your fish without the plants, don't change the enviroment if it is successfull he said the artificial plants they have out there for decor and hiding places for fish are ok but don't go crazy ur raising fish not plants. hope that helps some