Got rid of all my faux plants

[jimwg]

I had a lot of plastic plants in my 75 gallon community tank, but I've noticed for some time the fish that inhabit it (4 rainbow fish, 12 congo tetras, 6 pictus catfish, 2 kribensis) don't use them to hide behind or anything and pretty much they just seem to take up swimming space. I've also noticed when I clean the tank and pull up the faux plants I get lots of detritus stuck down in them. This last week I pulled all the faux plants out and there was so much crap released it freaked me out and after a thorough vacuuming and large water change I didn't put the faux plants back in. I actually like the tank better with just the couple of caves for the catfish and the fish seem to like the increased swimming room. Also once I'd removed the plants I found some of them had exposed metal in some spots where the plastic cover had worn away and it was rusting. Good grief why would there be metal in an aquarium decoration?

 

[Deleted member 149562]

I use artificial in my 53 gallon but they aren't plastic or silk. I use silicone plants, no stiff bits or metal bits or rough bits or sharp bits anywhere and being silicone they sway with the flitration current so no nasties lurking, all detritus gets sucked into the filters (one at each end of the aquarium). The "leafy" parts are so soft and without any harsh stems. The ones I use are made by Oase and Superfish.

The hooligans are always playing hide and seek in them, and most tend to snuggle down in them at night

I have found that the older artificials became brittle after a while and they did hide all the mess, but since changing to the silicone ones, no issues like that at all

 

[jimwg]

I use artificial in my 53 gallon but they aren't plastic or silk. I use silicone plants, no stiff bits or metal bits or rough bits or sharp bits anywhere and being silicone they sway with the flitration current so no nasties lurking, all detritus gets sucked into the filters (one at each end of the aquarium). The "leafy" parts are so soft and without any harsh stems. The ones I use are made by Oase and Superfish.

The hooligans are always playing hide and seek in them, and most tend to snuggle down in them at night

I have found that the older artificials became brittle after a while and they did hide all the mess, but since changing to the silicone ones, no issues like that at all

I'll look into that thanks

 

[Deleted member 149562]

This is mine....please excuse the mess at the front...my hooligans refuse to leave the moss attached to anything (Sunday's water change will sort that cos I got more glue...which will frustrate their "aquarium redecoration" attempts no end )

 

[jimwg]

This is mine....please excuse the mess at the front...my hooligans refuse to leave the moss attached to anything (Sunday's water change will sort that cos I got more glue...which will frustrate their "aquarium redecoration" attempts no end )

View attachment 158781

they're pricey I noticed.