Live Plants Vs. Plastic

[iroc]

I have a 20 gallon tank with 5 platies and 5 neon tetras, I figure using the 1" to 1 gallon rule that I can get about 5-7 more inches of fish, now the question is what are the benifits to live plants with the fish I have and for diciding what to get next? as far as look goes the plastic look pretty real, but I want to know the effects this will have on my tanks balance as well since I have just reached a point where all my levels are good and seem to stay that way. Also in this discusstion is what kind of snails? or shrimp could I get and what are the benifits/downfalls the those?

 

[wodesorel]

I'm stuck with plastic plants because I have plant eating snails...

Just a note on the snails though. Pomacea Bridgesii are the one species that does not eat live plants. The do require mushy veggies (blanched or frozen) or they may go after healthy leaves due to starvation. If you decide to go the live plant route, these guys'll clean up dead and dying foliage for ya, and leave the healthy stuff alone.

 

[MasterP]

Plants and algea nneed the same types of nutrients to survive and grow. If there are enough plants then they will absordb all of those macronutrients and redduce the amount of algea. I think plants also look alot more natural which i find more attractive.

 

[Gankutsuou]

I love live plants. I'm a novice, and the ones i have take right off. Almost out of control
I have to trim them with scissors

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

Live plants can and will help clean organics out of your tank water. Thus giving an extra purification effect. They also will help diffuse oxygen into the water which is great for the fish. If you plan on having a tank that is stocked to it's limit as you have implied, then I highly reccomend live plants!

SLC

 

[OohFeeshy]

Live plants obviously look more real, besides which they provide more realistic, safer hiding places (some of the plastic plants can be quite pointy), spawning sites, and use up ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Live plants don't have to be difficult and they don't need anything special if you pick the right types- most mosses are pretty bulletproof (the only way I've managed to kill my willow moss thus far is by leaving it in ammonia overnight) and so is java fern, plus it reproduces very quickly.

 

[highfire]

My first tank had artificial plants in, but I found they were a devil to keep clean and had to regularly scrub them to remove algae.
Since upgrading to a larger tank, I have outed the artificial plants and now have all natural ones. As well as making the tank look alot better and pleasing, more natural, the amount of algae has decreased alot.
Real plants are all part of the natural balance of the tank.
Apart from the odd trim and re-rooting due to Whiskers' habit of digging around the roots, the real plants are no bother to keep.

 

[English Lion]

Live plants look great and are more fun. You don't need to clean them - just trim off any bits with algae on!

But.. they can be hassle and can cause extra cost. Like the rest of the tank you'll probably keep wanting to go to the next level and end up adding liquid plant nutrients and CO2 etc to get them growing better & better.

 

[iroc]

Well I got some plants ( #### were they expensive) and the fish really seem to like them, lots and lots of swiming through them and playing the the leaves, but I'm such a dumbass I forget what there names are so i can't post that and have you guys tell me that I bought the wrong ones for my fish....................... But I will find out I would rather live and learn the not know at all