DeanAsploded

Well, the title really says it all.

What are the benefits of having plants in an aquarium?

Nutter

Plants assist in the filtrtion process by using up many of the fish wastes as nutrients. They also produce oxygen during the day. Fish also prefer the "feel" of live plants to fakes. They look better than fakes.

Short & sweet for a change.

ApolloX54

Pretty much hit the nail on the head... I would like to add that plants also provide comfort for a more cowardly fish and also some fish spawn in certain plants.

DeanAsploded

Thank ye, you two.

aquarist48

Why have a Planted Tank?
Aqua Botanic - Plants and biological filtration
Hello Dean. Here are a couple of links you may find interesting.
Ken

sirdarksol

Plants provide extra surface area for nitrifying bacteria, particularly if they're really frilly, like Java moss or water wysteria. I've actually had a filter stop working in a planted tank and not seen an ammonia spike.

Nutter

That is VERY, VERY cool. A perfectly balanced system. Do you still have that aquarium running like that?

sirdarksol

Not quite. I've added a tiny internal filter for water movement, so the surface doesn't get scummed up.