If you are considering artificial plants for your new aquarium installation, there are a few issues you need to review. Some people might debate the matter of live plants versus artificial ones, but if you are just beginning with the hobby of fish-keeping, choosing artificial plants can be more advantageous. There may be an impulse to consider live plants, but the beginner should take some time to learn the differences live versus artificial plants make.

Why Real Plants Can Be a Problem

Although live plants can add some good to the environment of a fish tank, for the novice fish-keeper there are some maintenance challenges involved. Live plants will require a specific type of bottom strata, as well as fertilizer. The chemicals of the fertilizer for the plants can become toxic toward the fish. Also, because they are alive, real plants will go through a life-cycle, shriveling and dying, and then they would need to be replaced. The maintenance necessary for live plants might be beyond the time and patience of a fish-keeping novice.

Benefits of Artificial Plants

There are several benefits in choosing to decorate the tank habitat with artificial plants.

  • No biological waste from the plants in the aquarium system
  • Over all, artificial plants cost less than live ones
  • No need for a specific substrata in the tank
  • No risks of carrying parasites
  • Artificial plants won’t be eaten by the aquarium residents

Selecting the specific type of artificial plant to use takes some consideration. Plastic plants will be very durable. But if you choose fish that have delicate fins, you need to make certain that the edges of the plants will not damage the fish. A simple test of the edges can be done by running stockings over the edge: if the stocking snags and tears on the edge of the plastic plant, you can assume that it would hurt the fish. The other alternative is silk plants. The silk plants would have a more natural movement in the water, as well as not having the cutting hazard.

 

Seek Advice

It’s always a good idea to seek advice when you venture into a new activity, such as keeping fish. There are many details to consider when setting up a new aquarium, such as the tendency of a fish to nibble on the plants, or the energy required to maintain live vegetation. The possibilities with artificial plants give you a wide range of looks from the brightly colored truly artificial plants to synthetic vegetation that can look natural and move easily in the water.

Contact the team at Aquatech Aquarium Services today for advice on how to design your new fish habitat, and then enjoy hours and hours of pleasure.