| When setting up your new aquarium, you will soon | | | | you should know that some fish species will only |
| realize that it looks bare without decorations or | | | | breed in an environment with live plants. Fresh |
| plants. These additions, besides serving a | | | | plants also add oxygen to the water and use |
| decorative function, are a necessary addition for | | | | nitrates, becoming a beneficial part of the nitrogen |
| the health of your fish. Plants make your fish | | | | cycle and helping to clean your tank. Live plants |
| more comfortable in their home by providing | | | | are eaten by many species of fish, and in fact |
| hiding spots. | | | | are one of the healthiest and most natural food |
| When it comes to aquarium plants, there are two | | | | sources you can provide for the herbivores in |
| main choices: real or fake. Live would require care, | | | | your tank. |
| just like houseplants. They will need to be chosen | | | | Despite the benefits of using real plants, they can |
| wish your fish species in mind, and will require | | | | require specialized care. If you do choose to plant |
| more of your time than fake plants, which require | | | | your aquarium with fresh plants, be sure that you |
| little effort and are easy to care for even if | | | | understand their care requirements. Plants also |
| you're not an experienced fishkeeper. While fresh | | | | require specialized aquatic fertilizers and lighting; no |
| may die if the water quality is not monitored | | | | plant can grow without lights, which are required |
| closely, fake plants can withstand everything. The | | | | for photosynthesis. Many varieties of aquatic |
| only care required is an occasional cleaning in the | | | | plants require specific pH levels or water |
| sink. | | | | temperatures. If these are incompatible with the |
| Plastic plants are also available in a wide array of | | | | needs of your fish, one or the other will suffer. |
| styles and colors, including neon shades, that | | | | You'll need to choose plant varieties that are |
| simply aren't achievable if you choose to plant | | | | compatible with the fish in your aquarium. |
| your aquarium with real aquatic plants. However, | | | | Cleaning a planted tank is more difficult than |
| neon plants do not create a very natural setting, | | | | cleaning one with fake plants, because real plants |
| and may stress out your fish. Many have found | | | | should not be uprooted for cleaning. As the plants |
| that plastic, even those with natural colors, simply | | | | naturally decay, there will be more waste material |
| do not have the realistic appearance they are | | | | at the bottom of the tank, which can reduce |
| after. | | | | water quality over time. While healthy plants will |
| If you're looking for aquarium plants that are | | | | improve the aquarium habitat, those that are not |
| realistic, yet easy to care for, consider silk. These | | | | cared for properly have the potential to harm |
| are just as easy to care for as plastic plants, but | | | | your fish. Aquatic plants require pruning, just like |
| lend a more natural appearance to the tank. | | | | your houseplants. |
| Always purchase silk plants designed for | | | | Only you decide whether planting your tank with |
| aquariums, because they will not contain any | | | | real ones is worth the additional maintenance. If it |
| chemicals that could leach into the water and | | | | is your first time ever having fish, choose fake |
| harm your fish. | | | | ones. The complicated care of real ones can get |
| There are advantages to using real plants in an | | | | quickly become overwhelming if you're not used |
| aquarium. If you are interested in breeding fish, | | | | to caring for an aquatic habitat. |