Artificial plants for the aquarium: application, pros and cons

Living plants in the aquarium perform a number of important functions - they help maintain optimal microflora in an artificial reservoir and saturate the water with oxygen. So that living plantings are not sick and do not grow randomly, they need to be properly looked after, and this will require a lot of time and certain knowledge. If the owner of the fish tank does not have one, he can choose artificial plants.. Consider their pros and cons, as well as give tips on choosing and proper care.

Aquarium artificial algae can be an alternative to live grass. Of course, they will not be able to emit oxygen to support the vital functions of fish and the numerous microorganisms that inhabit the artificial reservoir. However, modern air aerators are able to solve this issue. If you compare natural aquarium plantings and artificial, you can see the many advantages of the latter.

1. Unpretentiousness. Non-living algae do not care about the state of microflora in the aquarium; they do not require specialized care (proper lighting, making nutrient substrates). To maintain aesthetics, it is only necessary to systematically wash the plants under water - such manipulations will not require much effort and time from the aquarist.
2. Long service life. High-quality plantations are able to not change their appearance for 5-7 years. They do not rot and are not eaten by fish.
3. Financial availability. Artificial grass is almost always cheaper than real.
4. Huge selection. Thanks to the rich assortment of inanimate flora, everyone will be able to acquire artificial analogues of the rarest exotic plants that visually will be difficult to distinguish from living ones. A large selection allows you to realize any fantasy and create an original and unique design of an artificial reservoir.
5. Ease of use. Plantings can be transplanted, change compositions - and all this without prejudice to their appearance.
6. Harmless to the inhabitants of the aquarium. High-quality artificial plantings are made from environmentally friendly and safe materials.
7. Artificial grass is “not afraid” of digging aquarium inhabitants, since it does not have a root system.

Despite the advantages described above, some aquarists still prefer natural algae. People argue their choice by the presence of significant shortcomings that are inanimate vegetation. Consider the main ones:

• the impossibility of purifying water from nitrates and other compounds harmful to the health of fish;
• the appearance of stagnant zones due to the lack of a developed root system;
• risks of fish wounds when they come into contact with sharp edges of products (this applies to cheap low-quality grass);
• loss of colors during prolonged use (low-quality products are most susceptible to fading).

In pet stores, the selection of artificial vegetation for aquariums is rich. Among the motley goods on the shelves, low-quality products are often found. To choose plantations that are safe for your health, it is important when buying to be guided by a number of rules.

1. Poor artificial vegetation during prolonged use it begins to decay, endowing water with toxic substances. To avoid this, you should make sure that there is no unpleasant odor in the plastic. It is worth giving preference to hard types of rubber, rather than soft.
2. You should not buy algae, having an unnatural bright color. Most likely, aggressive coloring compounds were used in their manufacture.
3. You must carefully inspect the product. - it should be uniformly stained, and the paint layer should adhere well to the base. When pigment detachment is best to refuse to purchase the goods.
4. Experienced aquarists advise choosing vegetation with massive smooth leaves. - wash them much faster and easier than decor with carved small leaves.

Their only drawback, compared with plastic and rubber decor, is their fragility. After a year of operation, the plants begin to intensively lose their aesthetics and will soon require replacement.

Designing an aquarium requires a creative approach. Having shown imagination, you can create a luxurious and elegant home for fish from an unremarkable aquarium. Containers are made out in various ways - here everything will depend on the personal preferences of the fish breeder. It is up to him to decide what decor and in what quantity is needed. However, there are some practical tips that you should consider:

• if you planted flashy, vibrant flowers, you need to pick up the soil in more calm colors (for these purposes, you can also take shells);
• first of all, you need to hide equipment (for example, a filter or compressor) behind the vegetation;
• the farthest part of the aquarium (the back wall) is formed by long algae, however, their length should not exceed the height of the aquarium;
• in the center you can arrange plants whose length will be approximately 1/3 of the height of the aquarium;
• To decorate the space near the front wall, you need to use small decor of various sizes, otherwise the composition located at the back will not be visible;
• To attract attention to the center of the aquarium, you can arrange snags, beautiful large stones or other decor in this area.

In order not to overdo it with an abundance of vegetation, you should not buy a lot of different decor - 2-3 types of grass for medium aquariums will be enough. It is best to choose algae of various shades and sizes that maximally mimic the natural flora.

Artificial aquarium plants, like living ones, need some care. The fact is that in the reservoir there is its own microflora - useful and harmful microorganisms live there. Because of these inhabitants, on the walls of the container, decor items, and on the surface of natural or artificial grass, a coating forms over time. The situation will be aggravated if harmful algae (for example, black beard) start in the aquarium. In this case, the decor is able to become coated with a layer of various microorganisms.

As plantations become contaminated, they must be thoroughly washed. There are several effective ways to treat plants.

1. Using boiling water. To do this, place the decor in a container of boiling water for 15 minutes. After this time, the plants are removed, plaque from their surface is cleaned with a hard sponge or scraper.
2. Bleaching agents. For cleaning, you need to prepare a special solution. For this, whiteness is mixed with water in a ratio of 1/9. Decorations should be placed in the resulting solution and wait 15-20 minutes. After this, the artificial stands should be thoroughly washed under the pressure of running water.

The above methods are ideal for cleaning plastic and rubber aquarium decor. But to remove dirt from silk products, they are not suitable. To clean the silk decor, it is recommended to use a product made from salt and lemon juice. The resulting mixture is applied in a thin layer to the surface of the plantings and distributed using a toothbrush. After removing plaque, the products are thoroughly washed under warm running water.

See how to fix artificial plants for an aquarium in the next video.