Live Plants vs Plastic Plants

What’s the first decision you have ever faced when setting up an aquarium? It must be to choose between live plants and plastic plants. Well, both can make a tank look good, but they work differently in the aquarium ecosystem. 

Live aquarium plants do more than just look good and improve the appearance of the tank. They absorb ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. These are the waste products that build up in aquariums and stress fish. They also produce oxygen and act as a defense system against algae for nutrients. Overall, they help maintain better water quality and improve the environment. 

Plastic plants do not need lighting, fertilizers, or maintenance. But they also don’t provide biological benefits because they can’t produce oxygen, remove waste, or support the natural nutrient cycle in the planted tanks. 

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Real plants can help create an environment that feels more like their natural habitat. When you choose live plants for your home aquariums, they improve water quality by absorbing carbon dioxide, consuming nitrates, and releasing oxygen into the water. 

In a tank with many live plants, fish can hide from bright light, feel safer from things outside the aquarium that might scare them, and reduce stress. Smaller or shy fish can use plants for shelter from larger or more aggressive fish.

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Care of Freshwater Aquarium Plants

Live aquarium plants need three main things to stay healthy and help your fish: 

Enough Light

Plants need enough light to make food through photosynthesis, just like outdoor plants that need sunlight. The deeper the aquarium, the stronger the lighting needs to be so the light can reach the plant. 

The Right Substrate (Bottom Materials)

Plants need a suitable base to hold their roots and get the needed nutrients. Fine gravel, aquarium sand, dirt, or special plant-friendly aquarium substrates work best. You need to avoid using regular garden soil, dirt, or pond mud in a freshwater aquarium because they can introduce harmful bacteria and even cause water quality problems. 

Nutrients (Plant Food) 

Plants need nutrients to grow well. Some nutrients naturally build up in the substrate. However, new aquariums lack sufficient nutrients, so plant fertilizer is needed. Even mature aquariums can benefit from extra plant nutrients to keep plants healthy and growing strongly.

Add Ground Cover Plants

Some aquarium plants, such as Vallisneria, reproduce by sending out long stems known as runners. New baby plants grow along these runners and develop their own roots. When the new plants get large, you can separate them from the parent plant and move them to another spot in the aquarium or even to a different tank. 

These plants are excellent for creating plant coverage in the aquarium. As most varieties grow quite tall, they are usually placed toward the back of the tank. 

Because these are true aquatic plants, they should stay underwater. They do not survive well when kept dry. However, taking them out of the water for too long can damage or kill them. Make sure to keep them in water or wrap them to keep them wet when moving from a store to your home aquarium or between aquariums. Even with less air exposure, it can harm the plants and make them look unhealthy for several weeks. 

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Fast-Growing Stem Plants Work Well for Beginners

Some aquarium plants, such as Acorus, Myriophyllum, and Ludwigia, can grow new plants from pieces of their stems. These are known as node propagators. They have long stems that can easily break off and float in the aquarium. 

Don't throw these pieces away. Instead, collect a few stems together, gently anchor them in the substrate, and plant them. After some time, they will grow roots and become new plants. 

When a stem breaks or is trimmed, the original plant can grow several new shoots from the points where the leaves attach to the stem (known as nodes). It makes the plant fuller and bushier over time. If you want to trim these plants, cut the stem just above or below a set of leaves. New roots and shoots usually grow from the nodes. It helps the cutting develop into a healthy new plant.

Bulb Plants Can Add Unique Beauty to Aquariums

Some aquarium plants grow from bulbs. Even when these bulbs look dry and lifeless, they can start growing again once they are planted underwater in the aquarium substrate. A good example is the Madagascar Lace plant. These plants are usually sold in aquarium stores and can be easy to grow, adding a unique look to the tank. An important thing to know is that bulb plants usually have a natural growth cycle: 

• The plants can grow quickly and produce a variety of leaves. 

• After a period of growth, it can produce a flower. 

• Once flowering is complete, the plant begins to decline and may look like it is dying. 

It is normal, but the plant is not dead. Instead, it enters a dormant (resting) period. In nature, it happens during the dry season, when the plant stores energy and waits for better conditions. When the plant starts to die back: 

• Carefully remove the bulb from the aquarium. 

• You need to find out whether the original bulb has been divided into two or more bulbs.

• Separate the bulbs if they are different. 

• Let the bulbs dry and store them in a cool, dark place for about 3 months. 

• After the resting period, replant them in the aquarium substrate.

New Hobbyists Can Use These Easy-to-Grow Aquarium Plants

Some aquatic plants can produce seeds, but most of them are not true underwater plants. Some plants, such as the Amazon Sword plant, can grow both underwater and above the water's surface. 

The ability can help them survive natural cycles of rainy and dry seasons. These plants can flower and produce seeds. Aquarium hobbyists usually do not grow new plants from those seeds. Instead, these plants reproduce by sending out runners, long stems that grow new baby plants attached to the parent plant. 

That’s why propagating these plants from seeds is uncommon, and propagation through runners is the normal and easier method.

Check out How to Keep Your Aquarium Clean and Thriving?

How To Use Artificial Plants For Aquariums?

You can decorate your aquarium with artificial plants, just as you would landscape a garden or arrange plants in a flower pot. Think of using different plants with different heights, colors, and shapes to create a natural-looking tank. Most artificial aquarium plants are designed to look like real freshwater or ocean plants. It helps create a natural underwater environment for your aquarium. If you want to create depth: 

• Place taller plants at the back of the aquarium. 

• Use medium-sized plants in the middle. 

• Put shorter plants and decorations near the front. 

• Mix different leaf shapes and textures for a more realistic appearance. 

You can also choose brightly colored or neon artificial plants to create a more creative look. These colorful plants can make an aquarium feel fun and unique.

How Can You Clean Artificial Aquarium Plants?

The best way to prevent algae from growing on artificial plants is through regular aquarium maintenance. You need to change some of the water regularly and keep the filter clean. If needed, replace filter media. Don’t keep the aquarium in direct sunlight. You can control algae growth with proper tank care and, if needed, aquarium-safe algae-control products.

Learn How to Prevent Algae Naturally Without Harsh Chemicals.

If algae is already forming on your artificial plants, remove them from the aquarium. Then scrub them gently using a soft brush or sponge under warm running water. Leave the plants to dry completely before you put them back in the tank. Do not use dish soap, ammonia, or other household cleaners. These can leave residues that can harm your fish. 

Make sure there is no bleach smell left before you put the plants back in the aquarium. 

Now, It's Your Call: Live or Fake Plants?

As you know everything about both artificial and real plants, you can easily decide which type of aquarium plant can better work with your tank. The type you choose is usually a personal preference. However, you need to choose based on your aquatic space and how you want your planted tank to look.