Realistic Synthetic Plants

Discussion in 'Aquatic plants' started by Maxwell's Equation, May 14, 2015.

  1. Maxwell's Equation

    Maxwell's Equation

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    Hi Guys,

    Hope I'm posting this in the correct place. Anyway, I was hoping somebody might be able to give me some info about synthetic plants, and how well they look in an aquarium. I'm not really up for worrying about keeping both plants and fish alive, so I would rather keep synthetic plants in my aquarium. That being said, I don't want the plastic look and will keep real plants if the synthetic ones look to plasticky.

    More specifically, I am looking for amazon swords. Anybody know if you get good looking synthetic plants and what brands they are? I have seen some Marina plants online, but haven't seen them in any of the LFS.
     
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  3. Jwh

    Jwh

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    they are plastic, and look plastic, if you can keep a fish alive, you can keep a plant alive. Get Crypts, Amazon swords, Anubia's Java ferns, pretty much bullet proof, easier to keep alive than fish.
     
  4. Michealvdb

    Michealvdb

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    You do get some real impressive plastic plants. Just beware they are almost certainly gonna cost you more than real plants and a bottle of fertilizer (basic needs of most basic planted tank). I wanted to go the same route as you , did not want to bother with the extra stress (being a novice myself) , but boy am I glad I didn't!!! I do think your best bet to get a nice and full tank with plastics , is to get it online.
     
  5. MattLamm

    MattLamm

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    There is also the added benefit that live plants bring to water quality. Don't go plastic, just get the easy plants as @Jwh suggested. Anubias and Java Fern especially will require very little attention. Much less than the fish.
     
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  6. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    I have seen some fantastic setups with plastic plants.
    I think they key is in the lighting.

    Not sure of the mechanics and am not very clued up on this, but if the correct lights are used etc, a plastic "planted" tank can look quite convincing.
     
  7. MattLamm

    MattLamm

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    Agreed. The best way to achieve this effect is to view the tank at night and turn all the lights off in the house, including the tank. Once you have done this it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a plastic and real planted tank.
     
  8. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    would love some live plants in my tank
    Will the Amazon, Anubia and Java Fern survive Oscar's rearranging your tank?
     
  9. MHD

    MHD

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    Haha nice one!
     
  10. Jwh

    Jwh

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    @MariaS
    Amazons, probably not, unless they are planted in sturdy pots and well rooted and you don't have monster oscars, Java and Anubias should be tied to rocks/ driftwood, so you have probably a better chance with these, floating plants can be another option
     
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  11. Tetra

    Tetra

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    As long as you don't have Silver dollars they attend to eat almost all plants expect java and anubias. I've had platics plants before and they have there advantages and disadvantages but real plants just give more life to a tank. Just watch out for pleco's as well they attend to uproot everything.
     
  12. Broder

    Broder

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    +1. I've seen some pictures of beautiful tanks with synthetic plants. The advantage is that you can focus entirely on design and not be limited by the plants needs.
     
  13. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    Thanks to everyone for the advice. @Jwh, @Tetra, Oscars aren't monsters yet, only about 15cms but Grumpy already behaves like one! I have a decent shoal of clown loaches so made caves for them with rocks out my property, well.... had to take every thing out and build them up with marine silicone or I would have eventually had a cracked tank!
    I have the Oscar, second one will join soon, 1 spotted silver dollar, loaches and a Flagtail.
    They all love vegies but, they get cucumber, spinach, garlic cloves and occasionally corn so hopefully they will leave the plants alone...

    I bought some beautiful Mopane roots at the reptile show which I have soaking, but still letting out tannins.
    I will try the Java fern and Anubias and see what happens.
     
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  14. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    @Broder, I agree, there are some very nice synthetic plants and plastic which is what I have used ad I don't think the tank looks too bad but, as Michaelvdb said, they not cheap!

    I am passionate about gardening....so.... would love to have some live plants in the tank too....
    So... will give a try at @Jwh's advice and see what happens
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016

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