Plastic aquarium plants

[GaryE]

I think the poor design of plastic plants is market driven. It's what people want - stylized versions of plants.

After all, if you want a natural look, it isn't very hard to learn how to grow the easier live plants. Algae can be managed. Eventually. And the importance of live plants in a closed system is well researched and supported.

But if you like the look of plastic plants, then you have no need to go beyond them. You probably don't care if they look fake. When I was in my teens, I had a few realistic plastic plants that I mixed in with live ones, but I haven't seen any of that quality in many years. I assume they became too expensive and couldn't compete with the dollar store versions. Plus, as good lighting became cheaper and easier to get, real plants are far more popular than they were in the glory days of fake.

 

[Magnum Man]

I suspect my lack of algae issues are related to the fact that that the rooted in my tank, terrestrial plants, use up all the nutrition, that algae needs to get a foot hold...

I say this because my aquarium lights are on, around my lifestyle, and I don't sleep much, so my tanks are cycling with various lights for 18 or 19 hours a day, yet I have not scraped algae for 4-5 months... yes, there are a few whisps here and there, but certainly not what I should get for the hours of light my tanks are currently on...

I have one pothos vine that found it's way through a vent duct, and while being rooted and growing around my tanks in the basement, one runner has joined our house plants in the living room on the main floor, growing by the patio door... how's a lowly old algae plant supposed to compete against that???

this picture was taken a couple months ago, and it has continued to grow towards the patio door ( the light ), and is on a completely different floor, than it's roots, which are in one or more of my tanks, in the basement

 

[gimme30]

I don't know why but that reminds me of an old really bad horror movie. Beware The Triffids!

"Anyone seen Magnum Man lately?"

"Nah, but look at that huge clump of pothos on the recliner! I'm gonna snip some off to put in my shrimp tank!"

 

[gimme30]

Not mine, but this doesn't look bad for an all fake plant tank. Guy needs to clean the glass though....

 

[emeraldking]

I agree that most fake plants look very fake (eventhough they're described in the package as natural looking)... I prefer real plants instead. But I can also imagine that sometimes, real plants are a no go with certain fish or even crustaceans. And of course a lot of kids love those fake plants in a tank.
Nano plastics that will be coming from those plants at some point, isn't that good for those fish as well. But because there's a demand for fake plants, that's why they'll remain on the market.

But who am I to judge what people prefer to keep in those tanks...real or fake plants...? But I myself would go for real plants as much as possible.

 

[gimme30]

But I can also imagine that sometimes, real plants are a no go with certain fish or even crustaceans.

This. Common large cichlids will absolutely destroy the aquascape. As will dwarf CPOs. They're like little Martha Stewarts, never happy with anything and always rearranging. No big deal to replant that $3 fake Ludwigia but it's a different story when you find the real version torn up at 3 times the cost.

I agree most don't look great although I think they've gotten better. And I'm not adverse to plastic neon anemones, alongside the little sub that bubbles up and down, if I'm in the mood for a little whimsy. I suppose I'm pro plastic simply because I have such a hard time keeping the real thing alive. Never had that issue in my saltwater tanks.

My biggest gripe though? Live plants sold as 'aquarium plants.'
If they were grown submerged, then ok.
Otherwise they should market them as 'Terrestrial plants that may grow underwater if they survive the conversion.'

And yeah, I get why they do it the way they do. But I'd be willing to bet the first place that sold nothing but submerged plants would dominate the market in short order.