Thoughts on fake plants

[Mythic Figment]

I love the look of a planted aquarium, but honestly don't want to invest all the time and resources needed to keep a full blown system up and running. Plus I keep mostly SA cichlids, which are notorious for tearing plants up (both eating and uprooting). I have tried multiple times to keep a planted 55 gallon with several plants using Florish Excel, the nutrient supplement (forgot the name) and Iron without success. All the plants just slowly wither and die.

So I am looking for some thoughts on fake plants. Are they worth it? Are there good fake plants that won't harm fish if they swim by them or run into them (I think I read silk plants are okay to use)? How do you control algae growth on fake plant leaves? What types of fake plants look the most real?

I may not be able to get the full beauty of live plant tank, but if I can get something that still adds a good look to my tank, I would love to have it.


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[Skittle]

Most fake plants won't harm your fish. If you take your time, you can find ones that look pretty realistic. I normally dont get lot of algae on mine but when I did all I had to to for it was take the plant out and rub it under hot water. Hope this helps


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[OrionGirl]

Having true aquatic plants is important--many stores sell bog plants, or plants that are raised emersed and then 'melt' when submersed. similarly, some plants don't live planted in substrate, but cling to rocks or wood. Lighting is more important the supplemental nutrients, IME.

There are a lot of benefits to real plants beyond appearance. Plants will help reduce nitrates and other organics from the water, encourage infusoria and other beneficial micro-organisms.

That said, for fish that won't with real plants, best bet will be silk plants unless you already have algae issues, in which case you'll want something plastic that can be easily cleaned. I've never had a fish injure themselves on tank decor, but I don't use fake plants in many tanks.

 

[patrickjohnsgarcia]

maybe you could try doing a low tech plant set up

 

[kevbc03]

I love the look of a planted aquarium, but honestly don't want to invest all the time and resources needed to keep a full blown system up and running.

+1.

That's why I set up the recent thread of "low maintenance plants". I wanted to be able to buy a few plants that I could stick into the substrate, and watch them grow without having to spend the money on an elaborate system.

Before my live plant experiment, I kept fake plants for 6 years. The best part is you can reuse them. Other then that, the general skeptic can tell they are fake.

 

[OrionGirl]

Do you recall what plants you tried? There are some that are more likely to work with cichlids--anubias, for example, which have tough leaves and can be attached to rocks or wood. They're low light, and generally pretty easy.

 

[Mythic Figment]

maybe you could try doing a low tech plant set up

I have tried. The tank currently has T8 6500K 18" bulbs (2 of them) and everything just slowly dies on me. I use pool filter sand (too much work for that dirt bottom that I understand becomes nutrient poor after a while). I have java ferns tied to driftwood....they don't grow, but don't really die either. They look like they aren't doing well, but they persist. I tried ludwigia repens....the red disappeared and someone told me to use iron, so I did, but it just kept dying. I have a crypt that has done very well, but its my only success....and I didn't even do anything to help it along. I also have lace leaf water sprite and it shot up the first week I had it, but now won't grow anymore. Is not dying, but not doing anything either.


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[Mythic Figment]

+1.

That's why I set up the recent thread of "low maintenance plants". I wanted to be able to buy a few plants that I could stick into the substrate, and watch them grow without having to spend the money on an elaborate system.

Before my live plant experiment, I kept fake plants for 6 years. The best part is you can reuse them. Other then that, the general skeptic can tell they are fake.

I actually read that thread, but a lot of the info is not new to me and what is new is pretty much just some new plans to try, but they all just die or seem to just exist without any growth.


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[California Convict]

I love the look of a planted aquarium, but honestly don't want to invest all the time and resources needed to keep a full blown system up and running. Plus I keep mostly SA cichlids, which are notorious for tearing plants up (both eating and uprooting). I have tried multiple times to keep a planted 55 gallon with several plants using Florish Excel, the nutrient supplement (forgot the name) and Iron without success. All the plants just slowly wither and die.

So I am looking for some thoughts on fake plants. Are they worth it? Are there good fake plants that won't harm fish if they swim by them or run into them (I think I read silk plants are okay to use)? How do you control algae growth on fake plant leaves? What types of fake plants look the most real?

I may not be able to get the full beauty of live plant tank, but if I can get something that still adds a good look to my tank, I would love to have it.


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Here's a pic of my fake planted tank. I also keep SA/CA cichlids. All the bigger plants I bought from Michaels.


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...ome-updated-pics-of-the-125-gallon-CA-SA-tank

 

[petspoiler]

......
So I am looking for some thoughts on fake plants. Are they worth it? Are there good fake plants that won't harm fish if they swim by them or run into them (I think I read silk plants are okay to use)? How do you control algae growth on fake plant leaves? What types of fake plants look the most real?

.........

at least I can get them to keep "looking" alive ;-)
Michaels & such stores are waay cheaper than actual aquarium plants. Divide them up and put your own weights on, or attach to wood etc. I have those and also some old aquarium specific ones.

Real planted tanks are gorgeous when healthy. but half dead plants look worse to me than fake.
My tanks are mostly bare now, BUT I can just put bunches back in whenever I want without spending $$
:-/
If I can get to a petco dollar-a-gallon sale EVER, might snag a 40G and try not to kill plants :-[

Yeah, sighhhh- every time members post awesome planted tanks I dream about trying that in my 40G. then I remember it's for qt & other switch ups.