Real Plants V Plastic Plants

[Jo Booth]

Hello there

I was wondering if I could obtain some more of your wonderful advice.

Around 4 weeks ago I set up my new 38l tank into which I have three real plants. The tank is currently cycling.

My question is whether it is more beneficial to have real plants or better to have plastic plants?

I am not bothered about any additional cleaning that I may have to carry out on my filter etc due to the bits flyin off the plants or any required pruning - I just want to do th best for the fish when they arrive and th tank.

Many Thanks

Jo

 

[jennybugs]

Hello

I always like real plants as opposed to plastic. However, it all depends on your personal tastes. I think real plants obviously look more realistic and it is ossible to have a low maintenance planted tank (I have 6 of them ).

It also depends on the levels of lighting you have as to which plants would thrive and which would struggle. Java ferns and anubias nana if tied onto bog wood or stone will do really well with relatively low lighting needs

If you do decide to go for plastic plants, the best tip I can give is to look at them in person before buying rather than going for cheap and chearful online purchases...it is very much a case of what you pay is what you get...there are silk plants you can go for as well.

I still feel you can't beat real plants, but I started out with them and through trial and error, found out what plants suit each of my tank's lighting systems

Most fish aren't fussy about real or fake, it's very much down to your choice at the end of the day

 

[Jo Booth]

thank you for your reply

I prefer real, the otherhalf prefers plastic (I am currently cycling him in the art of water changes, cleaning the tank etc so it is one more thing i think he thinks he can do without maintaining )

Jo

 

[jennybugs]

 

[BigC]

One word on real plants, If you intend on keeping them sucessfully you will have to address certain factors for their well being otherwise you'll be buying them forever and a day such as a bunch of cut flowers they'll wilt and die.
Do some research on substrates, lighting, CO2 (not essential if on a tight budget but greater sucess is gained with its inclusion), heating, algae control.
In my experience potted plants are best (Tropica brand) as they will give you the most sucess.
Nip down to the planted section of the forum and read through the posts which will give you more insight.
Regards
BigC
Bin the plastic!

 

[daino master]

i think that if you have just started it would be better to have some of each so that you get use to all types of them.i did that and found that i didnt like the plastic plants as they made the tank feel unreal


regards

danio master






p.s: there is a reson for my name as i have 6 danio (4 zebra,2 pink