Live Plants Vs. Plastic Plants in Aquariums

Aquarists strive to create a natural looking aquarium habitat. Plants can help your aquarium look real, and they serve as a backdrop for showcasing the fish in your aquarium. Live plants and plastic plants both have pros and cons.

  1. Aesthetics

    • Live plants are attractive as long as they are healthy. While technological advances have produced realistic plastic plants, most people can still tell the difference.

    Maintenance

    • Plastic plants are easy to maintain, requiring only occasional algae cleaning. Live plants require more maintenance because they have their own set of optimal conditions, such as fertilizer, light and water flow.

    Habitat

    • Quality, properly maintained plastic plants do not contribute to the habitat except to provide hiding places for fish. Live plants, on the other hand, help oxygenate the water, absorb carbon dioxide and create waste that is an additional food source for bottom feeders. Live plants can also die and decompose, contributing to waste.

    Compatibility

    • Some fish may be harmed by certain plant species, and vice versa.

    Combination

    • Some aquarists use a combination of live and plastic plants. They use live plants near the front of the aquarium where most people look and they fill in with plastic plants.