| Aquatic plants can turn any ordinary aquarium into a | | | | follow is to see what plants naturally grow to be tall |
| beautiful, miniature sea. They add life to your fish's | | | | and lean. When you put their replicas in an aquarium, |
| habitat and keep it clean and give off oxygen. | | | | they will move to the natural rhythms of the water, |
| However, real plants are high-maintenance. They | | | | making them more convincing as real plants. Also look |
| require pruning and care, and if they die they leave all | | | | for a rock-like base. These tend to be weighted and |
| kinds of debris in your tank. If you lack the kind of | | | | blend in with gravel. |
| time for this much care (or just do not want to do | | | | The best one to pick is a false Ludwigia plant. |
| it), you might consider artificial plants. | | | | Ludwigias are tall and lean and naturally grow in |
| Artificial aquarium plants are great because they | | | | bunches. They have smaller leaves and lots of them, |
| require very little care. All you have to do is clean | | | | which can provide cover for fish. When fish have a |
| them. Even that is way easy; start by rinsing them | | | | place to hide, their stress is reduced. Less fish stress |
| under hot running water, then soak them in mild | | | | means your fish are less likely to get diseases. |
| bleach water for an hour. Rinse again, and then soak | | | | Anarcharis also provides great places for fish to hide. |
| them in water (with plant chlorine neutralizer in it) for | | | | Anarcharis plants are quite tall (about 24") and come |
| another hour. Rinse once more. Once there's no more | | | | in bright green bunches. They have a sort of bristle, |
| bleach present, they are ready to be put back in the | | | | pipecleaner appearance. Hairgrass is another great |
| tank. Another great thing about artificial aquarium | | | | cover. It resembles bunches of the kind of grass that |
| plants is that they still look great and they will not | | | | grows on land and is bright green. |
| die, so that eliminates one kind of potential waste | | | | Hygrophila and Cabomba are two plants that do not |
| from the water. | | | | provide cover but look stunning in freshwater |
| There are a handful of disadvantages to fake | | | | aquariums, even when they are not real plants. |
| aquarium plants. Plants help fish survive on so many | | | | Hygrophila are tall with very thin brown stems. Their |
| levels. They are a food source, so if you forget to | | | | leaves are a dark green translucent color and are |
| feed your fish for a day or two, they can eat off | | | | wide and veiny. Place these in the background of |
| the aquarium's plants. Oxygen is another thing an | | | | your aquarium to achieve a sense of balance. |
| aquarium needs, and oxygen is a byproduct of | | | | Cabomba is exciting and adds variation. These plants |
| photosynthesis. Fake plants can not keep carbon | | | | are a bright green. Their leaves are unique, consisting |
| dioxide or nitrate levels low like real plants can, and | | | | of thin greenery that gathers itself into lotus-shaped |
| real plants also fend off potential algae growth. If | | | | bunches. Add these for an exotic look! |
| you have few fish and a smaller aquarium, or are an | | | | Real plants do have their scientific advantages, but if |
| awesome advanced aquarist, then having artificial | | | | you seek a lower-maintenance aquarium there are |
| plants will not be too hard on your aquarium. | | | | definitely convincing replicas of the real McCoys out |
| Silk artificial plants are much more natural looking than | | | | there. As always, do your research before shopping |
| some of their plastic counterparts. Certain types of | | | | to consider what is best for your freshwater |
| artificial plant look-alikes are more popular than others | | | | aquarium! |
| due to their realistic appearances. A golden rule to | | | | |