Real plants vs Fake

[cybernetuk]

Is it possible to just use fake plants in an aquarium, and have no real plants in at all. I would mch prefer to do it this way if it is possible. Are there any downsides or upsides to doing it this way?

Also, the shop where I purchased the tank from told me to set it up and wait 2-3 weeks before adding any fish. Does this still apply if im not using real plants?

 

[JamesTasker]

Using fake plants is perfectly acceptably, fish do not appear to have an aesthetic preference. IMO real plants look better but they are obviously a lot harder to maintain. Fake plants are expensive, but if you can't keep real plants alive, like me then it's probably worth the investment.

Before adding fish, you need to cycle the tank, there is a pinned article about that in this forum.

 

[grayshark]

up side = cheaper then real plants ( fakes ones are cheaper woops typing error)
up side = Wont die
down side = no food for the fish
down side = wont grow
down side = dosent look as natural
down side = no vegitation

Thats all I can think of at the minute

Thanks Grayshark

 

[grayshark]

Fake plants are expensive

There not if you go to Wilkoinson £1 for a fake plant.

 

[BobK]

Just for clarification purposes, waiting 2-3 weeks before adding fish is not cycling the tank. As someone mentioned, please read the pinned threads on cycling.

 

[debiasir]

Fake plants are expensive

There not if you go to Wilkoinson £1 for a fake plant.

or ebay

Fake plants are fine just wont look as natural.

 

[FrAnK3333]

I pefer real plants, if you have the right lights, go for real. So what if you have to wait, it looks better in the end.

 

[LoachLover]

Using fake plants is fine, whatever floats your boat. Personally I don't like them.

 

[paulthegreat]

Some fish need a bit of greens so real plants are the way to go if you do not want to feed them a bit of sallad and fish out the bits that do not get eaten. I have had no problems with my plants except that they have to be weeded out once in a while. Live plants can also help with nitrates since they use them as fertilizer. They also look a lot better. Another advantage with live plants is that they compete with the algeas and help to keep them in check.

 

[CTS]

I use fake plants and real plants. If your gonna use fake ones make sure u dont get the bright pink ones (or any bright ons for that matter) Because this might make the fish not breed of feel a safe as they should!!

 

[JamesTasker]

Can fish see in colour?

 

[paulthegreat]

If they don't then all those display and warning colors they have would be pretty meaningless.

 

[OohFeeshy]

up side = cheaper then real plants

Wow, where do you live? I can buy (from the nearest shop) a small 3 ish inch fake plant for 99p, and a little bit further I can get live plants for either 30p (eg. twisted valis, straight valis) or 59p.

 

[JamesTasker]

If they don't then all those display and warning colors they have would be pretty meaningless.

hmmm good point

 

[Jen]

There is nothing wrong with having fake plants. You need some pretty specific things in order to keep live plants, and although they look nice, if you can't keep them, it's not going to kill your fish if you don't have them. I had plastic for the past 5 years, and I never had any fish die from being sliced up when swimming through the plastic ones. That being said, my fish now swim amoungst the live ones, and they never did with the fake ones. It's all personal preference, and if you have the time, money and equipment needed for live then they are totaly worth it.