Real Plants or Live Plants?

I wonder if there are other couple differences, that are not mentioned. For example:

1. Is there a difference in cleaning the fish waste and food from the floor of a tank? I keep reading, that this waste is useful to real plants (= you don't need to vacuum the floor?). And in case of fake plants - you need to vacuum the floor? Is this the case?

2. Is it true, that in case of real plants you need to have a lot of them to take care of algae and good chemistry in the tank (many planted tanks look planted heavily). And with the fake plants you can have a more minimalistic looking tank? I mean, if there are just a few real plants in the tank, you need to take care about the good chemistry of water using other means, cause those few plants don't do much? Is this true? Adding extra air-pump? Anything else?

I love not too over-crowded tank setting - just a few rocks, gravel/sand and a few nice looking plants. In such case - should I compensate for the lack of plants? How? Vacuuming? Adding another air pump? adding any chemical supplements (like a good bacteria?)

3. Probably the acclimatisation of fish with fake plants (or just few real ones) will take faster? Or not? And without plants - how will water get good bacteria? Is it only through the supplement, that I can buy at the aquarium store?

Please have patience with my newbie's questions! I google a lot, and I ask only if I can't find a clear answer anywhere else...

 

Welcome to fishlore! Not everybody uses plants they are not needed they are just another part of the hobby. What size tank are you planning on? Plants have nothing to do with bacteria. Bacteria is part of cycling a tank.
Some fish may acclimate quicker with plants others may hide in them so you dont see them.
As for cleaning with or without plants you should still vacume your substrate regularly.
Algae is it’s own problem . Plants do help but other things are needed. So yes you can have a lightly planted tank or heavily planted tank it’s your preference.
Lightly planted 125

Heavily planted 15g

 

I wonder if there are other couple differences, that are not mentioned. For example:

1. Is there a difference in cleaning the fish waste and food from the floor of a tank? I keep reading, that this waste is useful to real plants (= you don't need to vacuum the floor?). And in case of fake plants - you need to vacuum the floor? Is this the case?

2. Is it true, that in case of real plants you need to have a lot of them to take care of algae and good chemistry in the tank (many planted tanks look planted heavily). And with the fake plants you can have a more minimalistic looking tank? I mean, if there are just a few real plants in the tank, you need to take care about the good chemistry of water using other means, cause those few plants don't do much? Is this true? Adding extra air-pump? Anything else?

I love not too over-crowded tank setting - just a few rocks, gravel/sand and a few nice looking plants. In such case - should I compensate for the lack of plants? How? Vacuuming? Adding another air pump? adding any chemical supplements (like a good bacteria?)

3. Probably the acclimatisation of fish with fake plants (or just few real ones) will take faster? Or not? And without plants - how will water get good bacteria? Is it only through the supplement, that I can buy at the aquarium store?

Please have patience with my newbie's questions! I google a lot, and I ask only if I can't find a clear answer anywhere else...

1. It can be useful as fertilizer, but you shouldn't have a significant amount anyway, especially not food. If you do you're overfeeding.
2. Live plants will always help with algae more than an equal volume of fake plants. If you don't want a lot of plants just plant a few. They of course won't absorb as much nutrients from the water, but the will definitely use more than plastic plants would. So basically, with only a few plants you should need a little needed maintenance than you would without them.
3. I'm not aware of any scenario where it's better to introduce fish in a tank with plastic plants instead of live. Since live plants use ammonia and nitrates they will help with introducing new fish.

To sum all this up, live plants aren't so much about reducing maintenance as they are about improving water quality and fish habitat in general, at least in my opinion.

 

1. While the waste is useful to plants, you can and should vaccum the top on the substrate. The main difference is with live plants, you don't vacuum down into the substrate, while with fake plants, you do. You don't want to damage or uproot plants, and they are commonly used with soil, while fake plants are usually in inert gravel.
2. Not really, but kinda. Plants help clean the waste out of the tank and lock it up in their roots and leaves. They do provide a huge benefit to heavy and over stocked tanks, but in those cases, 1 is better than none. Most of the case with controlling water quality still falls on the user regardless of the amount of plants and plants can only do so much. They aren't really a "maintenance" shortcut as they often require their own maintenance. In short, you shouldn't let plants dictate your cleaning habits and should do all the regular things as if you didn't have them for the most part. Adding occasional ferts would be a recomend addition.

3. The bacteria comes from the environment. It's everywhere. It takes time to build up, but some bottled bacteria can accelerate the cycle. Plants can also accelerate the cycle due to already having some of the bacteria needed.
Fish acclimation has everything to do with the water and nothing to do with the plants. Plants will, over time, change water chemistry tho. But almost never in a harmful way. There are a few methods to acclimate fish to a new environment as well.
Welcome to Fishlore and the hobby!!

 

1. Is there a difference in cleaning the fish waste and food from the floor of a tank? I keep reading, that this waste is useful to real plants (= you don't need to vacuum the floor?). And in case of fake plants - you need to vacuum the floor? Is this the case?

2. Is it true, that in case of real plants you need to have a lot of them to take care of algae and good chemistry in the tank (many planted tanks look planted heavily). And with the fake plants you can have a more minimalistic looking tank? I mean, if there are just a few real plants in the tank, you need to take care about the good chemistry of water using other means, cause those few plants don't do much? Is this true? Adding extra air-pump? Anything else?

I love not too over-crowded tank setting - just a few rocks, gravel/sand and a few nice looking plants. In such case - should I compensate for the lack of plants? How? Vacuuming? Adding another air pump? adding any chemical supplements (like a good bacteria?)

3. Probably the acclimatisation of fish with fake plants (or just few real ones) will take faster? Or not? And without plants - how will water get good bacteria? Is it only through the supplement, that I can buy at the aquarium store?

Please have patience with my newbie's questions! I google a lot, and I ask only if I can't find a clear answer anywhere else...

My two cents (hopefully not too redundant with other replies):

1. I find it's still important to vacuum up the floor (though not as deep) with a planted tank. There are reportedly some planted tanks out there that don't require much maintenance to look nice, but I've never seen one. My planted tanks have always needed a fair bit of maintenance--more than my nonplanted tanks.

2. This depends. Heavily planted tanks are easier to keep algae free (if you maintain the tank) than sparsely planted tanks. Plants still produce waste in the form of dead leaves and such, so a neglected heavily planted tank can be even more of an algae magnet than a sparsely planted tank. In a nonplanted tank, algae control is usually much easier--just lower the light levels.
A good filter with decent water flow is something you should use regardless if your tank is heavily planted, sparsely planted, or nonplanted. Vacuuming is good regardless, and so is surface agitation. It doesn't matter if the surface agitation is coming from an air pump, a filter/powerhead outlet, or a surface skimmer. Adding bacterial supplements is mostly useful just during cycling.

3. There are a number of benefits live plants can offer to your fish. But, you don't need them to create a healthy aquarium. I haven't noticed a difference between the speed at which fish acclimate in a planted vs. nonplanted aquarium. Bacteria spores are everywhere, you don't need to add plants to introduce good bacteria. Adding a bacteria supplement or anything from another aquarium (I find dirty filter water is the best) only speeds up the process (it would happen anyway).