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October 19th, 2009 by Leonard Boyler

If you are setting up an aquarium and you don’t yet have any decorations or plants, you may notice that your tank looks incomplete. In fact, plants aren’t just decorative, but a necessary addition to your aquarium. Aquarium plants provide hiding spots for your fish, making them more comfortable in the tank.

There are two main choices for aquarium plants: real and fake. Keeping real plants alive requires specialized care, above and beyond keeping your fish alive. Plastic plants, on the other hand, are easy to care for, even if it’s your first aquarium.

Plastic plants are more durable and require very little maintenance. They only need the occasional cleaning with a brush. Plastic plants come in wonderful colors that are sometimes even more vibrant than real plants. Just remember to choose colors that will not stress your fish. Some fish will automatically adjust their color to blend in or to appear less conspicuous to avoid attracting predators.

Another kind of fake plant that you can buy is the silk plant. They are more realistic but admittedly, more expensive than plastic plants. Just be sure to buy those designed for aquarium use and not the ordinary craft store variety, which might be unsafe to put in aquariums.

Fresh plants will give your aquarium a more realistic environment. However, like some of your fish, they survive only in specific pH levels or water temperatures. Determine first the needs of your fish, and then find the plant that will thrive in the same environment.

Besides being more realistic, there are additional benefits to using real plants. Some fish will only breed in a planted tank. Fresh plants also help in the nitrogen cycle by using nitrates, and add oxygen to the water. Live plants are eaten by many fish varieties, and for these herbivores, fresh plants are the most natural food source.

Despite their benefits, fresh plants can be hard to care for. Many varieties require specialized fertilizers or lighting. No plants can grow in the dark; lights are necessary for photosynthesis, which happens in aquatic plants just like in your garden plants. Some aquarium plants require more lighting than others. Many require special aquarium-specific plant fertilizers. Never use your garden fertilizer on your aquarium plants, because doing so will likely kill your plants and your fish.

Unlike fake plants, cleaning fresh plants must be done in the aquarium where they are planted. Over time, dead and decaying leaves will accumulate on the bottom of your tank and will reduce water quality. You can prevent this by pruning the dying parts of your plant and by using a special product like EcoBio-Block. This product can provide the beneficial bacteria needed to convert the organic wastes, such as decaying plants, into safer by-products that will keep your water clean and healthy. With proper care and maintenance, real live plants will really give your aquarium the ideal natural habitat that your fish need.

Leonard Boyler has been keeping fish for more than 20 years. His favorite products make aquarium care and maintenance really easy from start up to clarifying cloudy fish tanks. To find out more about how to keep your water clear and your fish healthy, please visit ONEdersave.com.