Looking to bring beauty and interest to your aquarium without the added hassle of live vegetation? Artificial aquarium plants can be an excellent solution. Artificial plants not only provide visual interest, they also create safe swim zones where your fish can hide and seek privacy. Unlike live plants, faux aquarium plants require little to no maintenance—you can just set them in the tank and mostly forget them. Mix and match a variety of types to create a lush underwater seascape for your fish:
Choose artificial aquarium plants that look incredibly realistic, or pick ones in fun colors that take your aquarium look to new heights. You can even mix fake aquarium plants with live ones to get the best of both worlds. Whichever ones you choose, your finny friends will be grateful!
Artificial plants can be good for an aquarium. Just be sure to get plants made specifically for aquarium use, and make sure they're appropriate for your type of tank and fish. Artificial aquarium plants provide places for fish to hide and an attractive look—plus they won't shed plant matter that can cloud your aquarium water. Although they don't clean and oxygenate the water like real plants, they can serve as places for beneficial bacteria to grow.
Fish can survive with fake plants, provided you choose the right type for your fish and your aquarium. Be sure to pick only fish-safe plants and, if you have a saltwater tank, make sure your plant décor is saltwater-safe to avoid deterioration and potential leaching.
Keep artificial aquarium plants clean by rinsing them under running water when you clean your tank. If they look really dirty with algae growth, you can scrub them with a toothbrush or gentle scrub pad. Avoid using bleach or detergents on your artificial tank plants, as these can sicken or kill your fish.
It is often considered better to have live plants in an aquarium for oxygenation and nitrate removal. However, for low maintenance and ease, artificial plants are usually better. Live plants require proper light and nutrients, and they may be finicky and die, or overgrow and take over your tank. Some fish also destroy live plants, so artificial plants may be a better décor solution.