best fake plants

best fake plants (and some low maint low light plant talk)

I've been searching in here and haven't really found what I'm looking for. Looking to setup my first tank this weekend (72 or 75 gallon bow, can't remember how many gallons the lady said it was).

I kind of wanted to do a planted tank. But now I think I am just going to go fake for this first while and worry about the fish first.

Is there a brand of fake or silk plants that is best and most natural looking? We don't have any LFS near our area so I have to rely on Petco and Petsmart.

thanks

 

I would just go with what you like to look at. To me there really is no "better" brand of fake plants.

 

I would just go with what you like to look at. To me there really is no "better" brand of fake plants.

Ok, thanks.

So if I wanted to do some low light low maint real plants like dwarf sag and maybe java fern, what would I need to mix with my PFS to get them to take well?

 

no you wouldnt need to mix anything with it for them to take.

 

my local petsmart carries javafern, which is pretty indestructible and will be able to go with just about any fresh water fish you want (except maybe hard water cichlids, their pH might be a little out of the javafern's range). It's a great beginner's plant, ime, and likes to root on driftwood, or rocks, or ornaments (I tied one to a fake dino skull and now it's stuck there...) or even gravel is ok. I like like plants because I'm lazy, and they help me keep my water parameters in check with less effort on my part. My local petsmart also carries anubias, which I would also recommend highly as a beginner's plant; it was my first one lol. They have both the regular anubias and then anubias which as been rooted in a piece of lava rock (the lava rock is a bit pricey but honestly I'd say it's worth it because it is 0 effort; just toss it in and your digging fish will never dislodge it).

As far as fake plants go, I've found that while the plastic ones are cheaper and easier to arrange, my fish like the silk ones better. Less sharp edges. Also, depending on what you're thinking about stocking in your tank, I'd suggest getting the fake plants with the weights on the base as opposed to just the little plastic boats that you bury in the gravel. That way you're not continually re-planting.

 

Thanks Wise! Great info. I haven't looked hard yet at our local petco and petsmart yet for plants. I've just browsed a couple times at tanks and whatnot.

I've also been wrestling with stocking after I start my fishless cycle this weekend. I was planning on a school of Zebra Danios, some Corys, and maybe some Rasboras. Still not sure what fish go well with each other.

 

Cories dig like nobody's business. stay away from rooted plants, go for things like the dig-resistant suggestions above. All those guys should be fine with each other, and you could get some really impressive schools going in a 72. You could do a few more tetra species, just to add some more variety, and/or some of the more peacful loaches (i'm biased I have a serious loach-love). the only thing i'd say is that while gravel is definitely the easiest substrate to begin with, cories and other bottom feeders really do appreciate a finer substrate which is easier on their delicate barbles.

It sounds like you're leaning towards a peaceful, soft-water, tropical community tank, which is a great tank for a beginner, with lots of fun, colorful stocking choices If your stuck with what you can find at large chain stores, some species to take a peak at (not stocking all these guys, just seeing what you like, and then going from there!) would be
-tetras of any kind
-rasboras of any kind
-fancy guppies (they'll breed which can be fun to watch, my sisters kids are really into it)
-cories
-a bristle nose pleco (later, if you find yourself scrubbing algae more often than you'd like)
-khulI loaches
-a red tailed shark
-shrimp
-mystery snails

there are lots of others, but it's a place to start.
also, completely forgot to mention miramo moss balls! they're a total hoot. highly recommended.