Want more information on live plants? Check out these videos! Beginners Guide to a Planted Tank: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mIls2tmFft22ncY.html Best Plants for Beginners: kzread.info/dash/bejne/Y4WLwdV7itC4prQ.html Our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch Want to become a Prime Timer and see behind the scenes fish room videos? Consider becoming a member: kzread.info/dron/YVN7EN0ALL6CE4U7NpMUTA.htmljoin For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics If you want to see all the cool stuff Joanna does with other types of scapes check out her channel! kzread.info/dron/PEZk1MpOTGiBVh6BtWjlRg.html

I prefer neither, but often will go with fake if I desire some green. I enjoy taking care of my fish in their health and don’t mind changing more water. Dealing with the life of plants is just an added layer of life to maintain.. I don’t want to stress about algae growing on the plants or them dying from lack of light or nutrients.. it’s just another layer of fish keeping I havnt begun to tackle yet 😝

Awesome debate! Love how you didn't just discount the artificial plants.Thank you for your content. I have only just started to get into this hobby and haven't even set up my first tank yet. You've both helped me so much. Thanks to Joanna, I am no longer intimidated by the idea of working with aquatic plants!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Have fun!

I will always only use real stuff, if we’re going to keep fish we might as well make their homes as natural as we possibly can. With a fully planted aquarium you’ll see way more different behaviors from your fish that you won’t see in an aquarium with artificial decor

@sergeiz.5815

Жыл бұрын

I will only use fake plants if I have plastic fish 😂

@Trevorstonge

Жыл бұрын

@@sergeiz.5815 Swear😂😂

@giantasiansticker8068

Жыл бұрын

Honestly tho I feel like artificial are sometimes are a cheaper option

@Trevorstonge

Жыл бұрын

@@giantasiansticker8068 first hand yes, but plastic eventually will need to be replaced. Plants however never be replaced if you have a good light and ferts, and you get free plants from trimmings. Plus it’s beautiful, and more related to our fishes natural homes, which is where we as fish keepers should prefer they live.

@giantasiansticker8068

Жыл бұрын

@@Trevorstonge silk I wouldn’t just make a careless decision and buy the first artificial plant I see at petsmart

Great video! I am a total fan of live plants. I can't even conceive of wanting fake plants or of having fish that destroy live plants. I find almost more pleasure in seeing my plants grow and propagate than in the fish. It's such a joy to see that aquarium thriving! Thanks!

Real plants for sure , I love watching the "environment" grow and change and evolve rather then just having the same set up continuously, it gives you more to look at.

Not gonna lie. The video was kinda fun to watch. I'm a live plant guy. I love the gardening watching the plants grow, etc. The video is well done.

You both make my Monday’s brighter!!!! Excellent video from you both!! I have all real plants in my big display tank, and live/artificial both in my other tanks. I do both but definitely appreciate my real plants!!!! My main display is looking like a jungle so I’ll be doing some trimming soon!! 💞

I love how you guys do these back and forth videos. keep up the great work guys

I use pothos / bamboo and sweet potato slips - their stems / roots are submerged and the leafy parts are out of the water... I also have pennywort ( that I do have fully submerged ) .. I use silk fake plants as decor.. So, you can use both, and have the benefits of each, not just one or the other.. 🤫☺

Great arguments for either point. Enjoyed considering the pros and cons. Thanks for sharing.

Great video and interesting to compare the two options. Jason- love the color description on the purchased “plant”.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Ya, as I was looking at it I realized I wasn't sure what color it was :-)

I like this channel among the various fish tube options, in part, because they are short and to the point.

Wow, I love your content! Happy that you posted this! I also am enjoying learning more about aquatic plants. I subbed to her small scapes channel, and I'm power watching the older vids. Loved the great escaping tips, already incorporated some in my tanks.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Good to hear!

You two are hysterical, even when you're droppin' the knowledge! I hope to be just like you when I grow up!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Too funny 😀

I am just considering getting a Tank for the first time. As a beginner I am a bit overwhelmed with all the thing to keep in mind to maintain fish healthy, therefore if I start I would do it with fake plants since it would be maybe too much to do it with real plants. However, if everything goes well maybe I will considerate it in the future. Thank you for the video, since the majority of other content creators tended to only talk about the good things of real plants that it even made me think that maybe having fake ones would be bad for the fish or the tank.

You guys are awesome! I love your vids. I wish I could give you more detailed feedback, but vids like this on reasons why or why not to do something and the species vids are great!! Keep it up Lady and Gent!! 🤙🏻

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for being here!

This is a great video! Informative and funny. I love my real plants even though my stems are looking a bit worse for wear

I'm hooked on my Anubias! When they really start growing and sometimes even bloom, it brings me joy. But my quarantine and hospital tank have some nice soft artificial plants.

Artificial come in handy. Presently I have Artificial with real growing slowly. I'd tried real but they didn't last till I found that swords , java ferns and anubius do well with my fish. The artificial give good hiding places and are hidden almost, behind rocks, driftwood and real. Lol. I was so happy to see the bare tank at the end. Been there done that. I like the videos that cover things like this and the cold water one you did was what I needed too

I enjoy these both sides videos. I like having more options and making educated decisions.

Thanks 🐠

nice vid - def some points I never thought of. I am still on the fence.

I love the real plants in my 32g, mostly crypts, looks like a couple of Joanna's examples. I am having hell getting the same results in my 125. I think I was cleaning out too many nutrients. Trying to remember not to over vacuum the substrate! Thinking about adding some fake to the background till I start seeing some success. Live plants are too expensive in the LFS in my area of Texas, to keep loosing them. Love the comparisons. Great Video like always

I started with one 6 dollar Anubis from Petco and learned from you how to split and get lots more thanks again 🐠

I have an Anubis jungle thanks to the small scape tips🐠

There was a timeI used both at the same because live aquatic plant availability didn't have the variety options you have now. By mixing them it gave the benefits of both. And if done right it made telling the fake from the real a little harder. It also allows using fake plants for plqnt that have intense/high light and co2 requirements; thus combining them with low light plants it brings variety and color to the aquarium you may not have success with using all live plants. Adding fake plants in dark water aquarium makes it far easier than using live plants in this type of environment. And in a goldfish aquarium plants are a real challenge but using good quality fake plants with the right type of light to focus on the fish and less on the plant helps to give the security to fish by breaking up the line of sight and places to hide. However live plants are safer on the fishes body and fins as fake plants are not as soft and forgiving to flowing fins and delicate scales on the body. However some silk plants help resolve that some what but silk break down over time and as fish nibble they could ingest parts of the silk causing them to get blockage in their intestinal track. However silk do give a more life like appearance. But if you remain alert you can remove and replace the silk plants before they begin to deteriorate. Maintainance live plants require much more care and fertilization, trimming to maintain shape an swimming space for you fish. Whereas fake planr are more set in place and enjoy the fish, no fertilizer required, no special lighting, no special equipment just an occasional removal clean and return to the same place. Bottom line there are positive and negatives for both types but in the end live plants wins with the most positives/pros over the negative/cons. Nevertheless I let the fish, the lighting, equipment, lifestyle and aquascape help me to decide and in some cases both is still a good choice. Just don't get your mind locked into one or the other or you will be limiting your creative and options.

@corinnakl

Жыл бұрын

Great ❤ .I can except combining because I did it myself during a behavior study and it works well when done correctly 👍

Good to hear both sides of the argument

Some times I long for the days as a newbie when I didn’t feel confident to try live plants. Now I have trouble staying interested in a tank with no plants!

Great video.

Good Morning! I do love live plants. With that said though I have one tank with the obligatory ship wreck and fake plants and (hate to admit it) I think it looks pretty cool. All my other tanks have live though. Great info!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Everyone should have a tank like that :-)

Good morning guys! Love all the info!!!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@crudnick

Жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics your very welcome my wife even loves all of it and now wants a beta!

love how you did this video lol recently got a 10 gallon and you're really a hero right now

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Happy Monday 😁👍

It was funny when you picked up the Topfin red plant, and said you can just put it in and instant red pink orange fluorescent plant😅 but yes I agree with all you said👍

Nice video, and really good point, so I put fake and real one in the same tank, I use fake one for red and purple color and real one for green background

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

We do the same sometimes.

Great fun video that had me laughing quite a bit 🤣😂 So, how I solve the dilemma of which type to use is to use both! 😆 My 6 tanks are primarily live plants, however almost all have at least one or more fake/silk for a pop of color. I’m not experienced enough to keep fancy colored plants alive so fake it is!! 😄 I get lots of compliments on my “scapes” so I guess it’s working ok! I’m careful with the betta tanks that mostly have banana plants and Anubias but some silk is ok too. That’s my 3 cents 😉🤓 🤣

@Trevorstonge

Жыл бұрын

Try red tiger lotus and pink flamingo crypts, both do great in low tech setups and have great color

I have mostly live but do like the silicone neon plant I just put in my betta tank🙂

I have one planted tank one unplanted fake decor tank and theres benefits to both, i dont deal with algae in my ‘fake’ tank and maintenance is super easy but my planted tank is so much watching the tank and plants mature, having an ever changing and growing tank, i like both real and fake plants

I like your debates. But it's real, live plants for me. I enjoy creating aquascapes to grow and change the look of the aquarium along the way. The fish love it! It benefits the water. And since Joanna showed me how to propagate, I have been able to scape several tanks on a budget.

Best video everyone ever and everyone should watch before considering what type of plants they want

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

awesome vid

Awesome Vedio 🙂❤️

I like to play to the strengths of both. I had two huge aponogetons filling out my 40 until they suddenly died back and went dormant. My fish were extra skittish without plants to swim through. I threw in a couple of fake plants so they had something to hide behind. Now I've added in more variety of live plants and they've grown in a lot, but I keep the fake plants around just in case.

Team Real Plants!! I love them, and I love being able to propagate them and have them throughout many tanks. I do love more than other (water sprite ... Why won't you stick around?), but they do so much for the water quality, I wouldn't give them up.

Planted my tank several months ago with a few amazon swords and I am loving it!

Live plants every time. It's like having an indoor garden which you can tweek, nurture and enjoy along with your fish, shrimp and snails as a whole experience. It takes a couple of times to get the right plants that will survive but that's part of the fun of it. I currently have a 4ft long lowboy breeder tank with a variety of cryptocoryne of many colours that wows visitors. The inhabitants really enjoy darting in & out of them

@Tundra0524

Жыл бұрын

Is there a procedure that needs to be done with fake plants before putting into tank?🥰

When I restart with new tanks after a long time, I see real plants getting settled in & growing as an important part of the cycling process before adding fish. When I did have tanks, I considered plants as part of the filtration system. All this is in addition to helping tank appearance, providing cover for the fish & any offspring. If I planned a tank for cichlids, I would go for rock &/ wood decorations. I have a bias against fake plants derived from my parent’s tank with plastic plants, a high school job in a nursery, college summer work as a gardener in formal gardens & a 50 plus years as a home gardener.

Team live plant. Gives my clean up crew somewhere to hide, for the added water filtration, no sharp edges to tear up fins, and looks better.

Hi interesting topic I suppose there is for and against. I have always had fake plants But it's just what I am used to I may try real Plants one day. Thanks for posting.

I LOVE live plants, but I have NEVER gotten an infestation of pond-snails or shrimplette-eating copepods from fake plants. 🤨

I used to only have fake plants. But thanks to you two (especially Joanna) I now only have live plants. I haven’t killed them yet and they are doing well.

Would you do some videos on which plants to choose and how to care for them

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

I have a couple videos in the description that may be helpful.

I've never liked fake plants in or out of the aquarium, but I can totally understand the struggle of real plants. I have found that tags like "easy" or "beginner" mean nothing for me. I've had better luck with intermediate plants. Plants that are supposed to melt back don't and those that aren't supposed to do, in my tanks, lol.

you guys are awesome lol

Good Morning.

"Guess what will still be in there.... looking fake, fake alive? "😂😂. Great video lol

I love watching and caring for my plants as much as I do my fish.

I loved that video! I'm going to go with fake plants for now. Mostly, because my 6 year old daughter won't have the patience to wait for the real ones to grow. But I guess nothing stops me from changing them to real ones down the line.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Exactly - you can always switch them later.

I used both because I had such a hard time with color plants. So I put a med. purple fake the rest live plants /moses also tanks are beautiful.

@rockyandmiles9889

Жыл бұрын

I do the same thing lol 😆

I have fake plants but realest ones possible. I'm not educated enough, I would have to study and learn more about real plants. I highly enjoy the hobby. I I really enjoy your videos, thank you for having your channel on KZread! 🙂

I have snails that eat certain kinds of plants (yes, everyone says snails don't eat plants, I wish someone would tell my snails that) so, if I want a mix of different plants, I use real plants the snails find yucky, and fake plants in place of the snail snacks. I don't think it has to be either/or; whatever works for your taste, your needs, it's your aquarium.

I've had fake plants of all kinds and never cared for them. I love watching my live plants grow and appreciate how they benefit my tanks.

I know this comment is late in coming, but thanks for the video. I'm currently starting to cycle my first aquarium. Your video gave me some things to think about. I have plastic plants in the tank for now, but may switch over when I have more experience. Personally though, I don't think fish know the difference between a real plant and a fake one. Unless they try to eat a plastic plant. Marine life can adapt and take advantage of unnatural things in their environment. Think ships being used as artificial reefs.

I had fake plants with my mbuna in the 90s. I have 10 tanks now, all full of amazing live plants. I'll never go back to fake. Not even with my Geos - I just gave my rooted plants a head start before acquiring them.

Hi all friends nice to meet you 🤝

would a grow led bulb work for hornwort and duckweed? I want to try these in my turtle tank and don't want to spend a lot on a light when there's a high chance my turtle will eat them.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

It should work - they don't require a lot to grow.

I prefer live plants only. Not for the nitrate removal, but for the natural beauty they bring to the tank. As a Betta keeper I know that fake plants can wreak havoc on their fins. Silk plants are better than plastic but they are often frayed and they do fade much quicker. Bettas love live plants. Especially floaters. Great video though. To each his own.

How often do you fertilize your REAl plants :) I use liquid fertilizer

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Never

@sergeiz.5815

Жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics I guess the fish fertilize the plants plenty:) I'm just experimenting with liquid fertilizers next is CO2 :)

YOU JUST CANT CHOOSE like this.... I agree on all facts here no arguments there. but here is a case that you all need to know. Plants and plastic plants both have unique uses. I am using plastic plants for the carpet looks on my tank because I cannot maintain CO2 but Vallisneria and Rotalla quite cheap(in my country) and live plants that help you in life of the tank and shrimp needs a lot of live plants. so here is the case. WHAT IF you want life benefits added and along with fake looks from plastic LONG STORY SHORT BEST OF BOTH WORLDS plastic and live plants. as the HULK BANNER would say, LOL liked the video guys. So many tanks at your place I cant imagine how much maintenance.

For fish that swim among or rest on plants like bettas or corys, does fake versus real plants feel different to them or affect their mood/happiness? I presume fish could be indifferent if plants are real or fake but just wondering if they are like us and prefer a comfy couch over a concrete bench. I think plastic is also more forgiving to beginners using siphons as I always fear damaging the live plants if I am too rough cleaning the substrate and scapes. does it make sense to do both and then migrate to all live once they grow in?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

I have never really noticed a difference regarding fish interaction. :-)

I love to garden, so real plants for me! 🌱 But...a good quality fake can have its place for certain fish or when you want a pop of red without CO2. (But once you go all real plants, it’s hard to go back.)

I have both in my tank

I like totally plantless tanks. Rocks yes

Live plants hands down. I breed live bearers, and angel fish and have had the best success with live plants. Check water parameters and feed your plants some. Remember they may die back a bit when you buy them , but they will come back 95% of the time.

I have to agree on both arguments about plant's, real & fake you have a lot of opinion to think about along with what fish your going with for the tank, real plant's are good for certain fish that don't dig them up or eat them, fake plants are good for the fish that do, so you have to decide on the fish 1st.

Although I found the video entertaining and somewhat informative, I still am left with a lot of questions. I am trying to figure out, other than looks, why live plants? How do you clean a tank that has live plants in it...move the live plants around/stir up the soil, wouldn't that harm the plants and stress the fish out? What do you do when the plants out grow the fish tank or are eaten by the fish? I will check out the other live plant videos, but was thinking this video would address those concerns in a pro/con way with fake plants a little better.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

This may help: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mIls2tmFft22ncY.html

Whenever you put the live plant in a tank do you have to leave the fish tank cover on or off

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

I leave the cover on.

what fish is that at 5:38? it looks like a cichlid

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Maybe the bifranatus?

@ChazVR

Жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you!!

😃

I'm moving my fancy goldfish from a 30 to a 75. I'm getting a mix of both real and fake plants. 75 gallons is a large area to wait for real plants to grow in. I like the instant gratification of fake. Goldfish are also jerk faces to real plants so there are a limited variety I can keep.

Good debate! I use mostly fake just because I suck and growing anything green!! I have a brown thumb! 😂

I went live plants with my Severums but only different Amazon swords since that’s the only ones they won’t really mess with

Live plants for me!

All my plants are real some I even plant from bulbs is very cool

Every time I think I’ve cracked it with real plants I get a new form of algae which sets me back. Really thinking of just going with fake ones so I don’t need the light on as much

Real plants is and will always be my first choice. When setup correctly (= the right amount of plants =75% and above), than there will be no algae or hardly any algae and therefore no need of cleaning. The fish also enjoy life plants more than fake plants as any animal behavior specialist will tell. I kept fish for over 40 years and had both over the years. Real plants, when planted in the right amount and in the the right substrate and temperature- are saving a thousand $/£/€ AND HOURS on maintenance. I have tanks which I never cleaned the glass or hardscape because it was setup correctly with the right thickness of substrate,life plants and the right amount and species of fish and crustaceans/snails. My first question to my son was, when he wanted a aquarium with artificial plants because they looked ' good and funky in colour' : ' would you like to live amongst funky colours and an environment that NEVER changes until the day you die?' His answer was 'no of course not...I would get bored..) So why are we allowing to keep an animal which is been placed under our care to live a life in boredom and 'prison conditions'? These guys came from a natural background and can never be compared with man-made pets such as cats and dogs.So why are.we.so heartless not to let them live in a species correct environment?. Because of our ego to think that we know everything better.and ignore the science studies on species and modify their environment to our liking without considering the natural needs of a species.

ive had fake plants in my tank and ive had a few fish get stuck and die in them. but ive had real plants my fishies were caught in and also died. i have jungle val and the one runner a cory was caught in and i didnt notice til it was too late

I like the plants, however my red devil isn’t a fan of new things. She destroys them, so it’s been tough trying to grow them and keep them around her.

I struggle to find realistic artificial plants in the UK.

Lol... "in there looking fake alive" haha

I got rid of my fake plants after my first 10 gallon tank. Someone told me, I'm not trying to create a picture of a fish habitat, I'm trying to create an actual habitat. It's also when I stopped using anything other than a solid background.

A great overview ! I am a live plant fan. Nitrates, the joy of care, and the journey are all factors. However, consider the “Family” analogy. Would you prefer a “Fake Family “ with a fake spouse, fake offspring, and fake pets or a Real Family ? 🤔 Sure the Fake Family requires less food, less hair cuts, and does not object when nipped by pets. Sure a dermatologist can create a plastic wife with injections of fillers and Botox, but she’ll never smile ! 😱 Sure one can get a son with fluorescent pastel hair who never moves off the couch while on his cell phone, but where’s the parental satisfaction in mentoring a youth to excel ? 🤔 Sure they sell robot dogs, but can a circuit board really be “man’s best friend?” 🧐 Sure an inflatable family may get one on the carpool lane, but where is the comradeship and conversation? 😞 The best things in life are often not easy or without effort. Choose reality and enjoy the journey. Carpe plantabo, carpe nitrates, Jim

@FlyTyer1948

Жыл бұрын

Well said!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

Now that's something to think about :-)

Cool! I didn’t know Triple H from WWE loved fish keeping too! Lol no offense

Aquatic Aquascaping Army!💪😂

I think, you dont need 8 reason, just only one: LIVE! Or you just use a plastic fish in empty bowl. Or just aquarium screensaver. It is much easer to maintain. :)

Yes the first comment⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤟🤟🤟

Real plant maintenance is costly in long run.

Having plants makes missing a few water changes not a big deal. I don't think I could keep fish alive without them.

In my opinion I prefer both real and fake cause both can provide appeal (fake) without all the major hassle and function (real) with controlling my no3