Live Vs. Fake Aquarium Plants

A fully planted underwater garden of live plants can be breathtaking; however, it takes a lot of work to maintain that lush garden. A simple way to avoid the hassle is with fake plants, but they do not provide all the benefits and realism of live plants.

  1. Oxygen

    • Live plants absorb carbon dioxide in the water and release oxygen that is available for fish to breathe. Artificial plants do not contribute in any way to oxygenation.

    Water Quality

    • Artificial plants do not change the water quality at all. Live plants absorb fish waste but dead plant material can add debris to the water that needs to be removed.

    Maintenance

    • Live plants require regular trimming, fertilization and light. Artificial plants do not require any maintenance unless there is an algae build up, and can be easily removed and cleaned.

    Compatability

    • Goldfish with fake plants

      Not all fish are live-plant friendly. Some herbivorous fish will quickly devour a plant while other fish, that like to dig or brush up against things, tend to uproot them before they can become established.

    Cost

    • Artificial plants can be relatively inexpensive and usually only need to be purchased once. Some live plants need specialized equipment like intense lighting or carbon dioxide fertilization.