Spawning mops vs artificial plants - does it matter?

Hi everyone! Aside from cosmetic reasons, is there any reason to prefer one over the other? I am ok with a spartan tank if the fish thrive. Thanks

 

Depends on your purpose. What are you trying to do?

 

Plants will keep your water cleaner

 

Depends on your purpose. What are you trying to do?

Provide cover for the fish chiefly...the fish will most likely be spawned in a separate tank.

Plants will keep your water cleaner

They would...IF I could avoid having my tanks inevitably get overrun with algae. Alas, I can't seem to achieve that no matter what I do...so, I am opting for the 'non living' decor route.

 

Live plants combat algae

 

Plants will keep your water cleaner

OP is asking about artificial plants.

If for cover, I would say go with floating artificial plants. a) More surface coverage for volume, b) easier cleaning.

 

OP is asking about artificial plants.

If for cover, I would say go with floating artificial plants. a) More surface coverage for volume, b) easier cleaning.

Oh, whoops. I must have missed that part. In that case, I would go with spawning mops because fake plants are just ugly imo

 

Live plants combat algae

My algae infested tanks were all planted. I almost gave up on the hobby out of the frustration of not being able to keep the algae at bay (ironically, my houseplants are doing fantastic...I am just bad with aquarium plants for some reason).

 

OP is asking about artificial plants.

If for cover, I would say go with floating artificial plants. a) More surface coverage for volume, b) easier cleaning.

Are those built from a spawning mop and a piece of styrofoam, or are there really synthetic floating plants round about?

 

I think the answer to your question partly depends on what you are trying to breed.

 

I think the answer to your question partly depends on what you are trying to breed.

I am more looking for cover for the fish than a spawning site (the fish would be spawned in another tank, and may or may not be a species that would use a spawning mop for that purpose).

 

lol I just use Java moss. That stuff WILL NOT DIE. It just sits there and grows until you either move it or get rid of it.

 

Then it depends on the fish. As a simple example my observation is swordtail frys hang out at the bottom of the tank and guppy frys hang out at the top. So for guppies i'd want something floating at the top to mid tank; and for swordtails i'd want something that provides coverage at the bottom of the tank.

 

I am thinking of making simulated floating plants with green styrofoam and large (likely tan colored) spawning mops. How does that sound?