Gwenz

In my tank I have 2 live plants and a fake plant. The 2 live plants are doing well.

For some reason though, the tips of the leaves of the fake plant is turning brown. Anyone know why? Should I take it out and buy some new ones?

Thanks
Gwenz

atmmachine816

You need to clean them periodically, maybe once a month or every other month, depends on how dirty they get.

chris02_84

are you talking about the fake plant? or the real plant?

0morrokh

Ohhhhhhhh, you're supposed to clean them...
The brown stuff is probably some sort of algae. My fake plants have gotten really dirty, but of course I wouldn't think to clean them. : Do you have to though? I actually think they look better, more natural, with algae on them.

Isabella

LOL, the brownish patches on your fake plant are algae I know this because in the past when I had only fake plants, and no live ones, I had the same problem. You should clean them every once in a while - that's all. The reason algae often start growing on fake plants is that they're not a very accessible place for an algae eater to clean them. It's much easier for an algae eater to eat algae off the glass rather thank off a fake plant. So, as a result, you end up having algae growing on fake plants but not on the glass or anywhere else in a tank.

newbie101

fake plants are algae MAGNETS!!!!! it is really annoying, they collect algae really fast! Grgh....

fish_r_friend

same here

Gwenz

Thanks, I didn't think to clean them!! :

I'll clean it then and see what happens.

Gwenz

Butterfly

yep they get algae really bad. This is what I do, swish them in plain water to get any debris off of them. Then soak them in a bleach solution for about an hour. Then rinse in tap water to get most of the bleach solution off and then soak in a dish full of heavily dechlorinated water for about an hour. if they still smell like bleach when you take them out soak a little longer in dechlorinated water.
This will kill any beneficial bacteria growing on the artificial plants. I only have a couple of them, but if you have a whole tank full , don't do the whole tankfull at one time.
Carol

Gwenz

Thanks. I only have 1. the rest are real. I'll try what you said!!

Gwenz