bubbles1 Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Hi whats best in a tank live plants or fake plants? I have live plants but are not growing very well and fish wreck them all the time? i have; 1 angel 2 electric yellows 9 barbs 2 parrot fish 1 red tail shark 1 pleco in the tank thanks bubbles1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 LIVE live live!!! :bounce: you need good lighting, good substrate (ferts in the substrate although fish poop is good fert), and good supplements in the water. and once your plants establish there should be no problem. Some red spots eat plants, so you may want to avoid broad leafed plants, but i get mine young and feed them well and never have a problem with plant eaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 You have an odd mix of fish there. Angels, for instance, like an acidic tank whereas the electric yellows are African cichlids that prefer very alkaline water. They should not be together. The plec will tend to uproot plants when it moves :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 I think fake or no plants is best. Then you don't have all the leaves and chunks of plants floating everywhere, don't need heaps of lighting, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 It depends on what you mean by "best." To me, live plants are the best because they look natural, help keep the water chemistry nice for the fish, and are part of the pleasure of the whole hobby. IMO, thetre is nothing more beautiful than a tank full of healthy, thriving fish and plants. Ira's comments would indicate that he thinks fake plants are best for ease of maintenance, and because they aren't demanding about what kind of conditions you keep them in (lighting, substrate, etc). So really it comes down to what you think is "best" and what is the most important to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Ira's comments would indicate that he thinks fake plants are best for ease of maintenance, and because they aren't demanding about what kind of conditions you keep them in (lighting, substrate, etc). And fish can't eat them. Well...Most fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 to me fake plants look fake... so goes against what you are trying to recreate (if like me a "natural" habitat" ... looking after fish is time consuming so meh what is removing a few dead leaves here and there or replacing a few plants so my answer is live and whatever you can get cheaply that has the look you want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 I had some Silk one's awhile back, It was amasing just how Real they looked, they even moved with the current of the water, and didn't seem to get the horrible algae growing on them either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 I have seen the most amazing fake (silk) plants for sale in the US. Nothing like the awful-looking plastic ones we get here! But I still prefer live plants, for the same reason I prefer live plants inside my house. Personal preference I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 mj wrote: to me fake plants look fake Now I have to admit all my fake plants do look fake :-? To me, no question about it! However, I have seen some pics on here of fake plants that you wouldn't know if not told. Personally I keep fake because they are easier to maintain :lol: :lol: and I can move them anywhere I want in the tank without distrubting any roots. Plus, I'm not brave enough to try real ones, plus laziness is part to play too 8) Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 live but yea get some strong light or low light + hardy plants eg java fern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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