Good Idea or not? Live plants?

[MyFishAteTheCAt]

I have a 75 gallon tank with several clown loaches, a couple of cory catfishes and a cichild.

Good idea to get live plants.. or stick with the plastic ones. I have three filters therefore, carbon and nitrates are not a big issue as of yet.

What are the benefits of having plants? What are the negatives?

[Cearbhaill]

Live plants consume nitrates, produce oxygen for your system, provide a feeling of security and naturalness to the fish, provide a food source for umpteen nibblers, add valuable organisms to your system, and enhance the aesthetics of any aquarium a thousandfold.
Once you have them you will not be able to abide plastic.
There is just no comparison in terms of beauty.

That said- many fish will eat them, or keep them uprooted. What kind of cichlid are you housing?

[Blinky]

I just switched over, and what Cearbhaill says is true - I look at my plants and wonder why I ever liked plastic.
Benefits - plants use up excess nutrients in the water (as well as things like metals that are dangerous to fish), are absolutely beautiful to look at, fish can't cut themselves on a leaf like they can with plastic, they change and grow so your tank doesn't look the same day in and day out, and they offer a new dimension to the hobby - there is so much more to it than just fish!
Disadvantages - you'll need to cater to the needs of the plants as well as the fish - they need enough light, CO2, and fertilizer; some plants may not suit the conditions in your tank (with plastic you can choose any shape/colour you like, with real you have to buy based on suitable conditions, as with fish), you'll have to dedicate a bit of time to pruning them regularly if you get fast-growing plants (otherwise your fish will live in a jungle), plants can be initially expensive (though unlike plastic they grow, so soon that little tiny $12 plant may be 10" high and producing six plantlets).
Take a look online for information on planted tanks - there's a lot out there, and I think most people will tell you it's a little extra work for a lot of extra joy.

[Swimfins]

I never thought about the plastic one cutting the fish, but it suppose it could happen. There are lots of plants that grow even in low light, like I have. Yesterday I had to cut down a leafy plant that was growing all over the place.
Last week I cut a piece and just transplanted it and "voila!" new plant.
The plants also soften my moderately hard city water. When I added my Black Ghost Knife, (blind fish) he couldn't stop shmoozing up and down the plants. He had none in his fish store tank. So, I assume, he thinks he's "free" or as free as he has ever known in his life. The plants do make a nice difference. :D My 2 Canadian cents worth.

[NowherMan6]

i can personally vouch for the 'plastic cutting fish' thing. many years back me and my family had a goldfish tank, and one day we came home and found one stuck between two blades of a hard plastic plant - he was cut up really bad :sad even now i'm getting a lump in my throat thinking about the poor guy... :(

that said, you could always go with silk instead of plastic. but my vote, like the others, is for live. i just ordered a new bunch of plants for my tank. and think of it this way: i think someone mentioned this, but in theory, you only need to buy a group of plants once even if they dont initially fill out the tank. give them the right conditions and they'll grow like crazy. for example, i earlier bough 10 individual italian vals - now each one has sent out about 5 runners - you do the math!

[cdawson]

Like what has been said already, I'll never use another plastic plant. In fact, I won't setup a tank that I can't use live plants in because it doesn't look natural (or pleasing enough). IME fish just generally don't act normal when put into an un-natural setting.

[Cearbhaill]

"voila!"
Swimfins- thank you from the bottom of my heart for not spelling that "walla" :D :D :D

[Swimfins]

Bienvenue! :D ..I'm sure

[cmndave]

Oooops! Should have done some plants thread search before I went to pets Mart. Just bought two plastic plants yesterday .... I thought plastic would be low maintenance .....

Well, good to read up this thread. I was ready to order a bunch of plastic plants for my 55G tank.

Thanks!
CM

[Gunnie]

This (http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=17) article should be helpful to you. It looks a little overwhelming when you first get started reading, but after you see the beautiful low maintenance tanks at the bottom, I think you will opt for the live plants. :)

[RTR]

Some fish however are incompatable with plants, so additional research is needed in selecting fish as well as plants.

Also, many LFS sell emerse plants which are not suitable for life underwater, so caution must be used there as well.

[cmndave]

I like the lush look of the planted tank. Green and tranquail ....

As RTR pointed out, some fish just are not too plants friendly. I have 4 good size goldfish - 2 lionheads, 1 fantail, and 1 oranda in the 55G tank. According to the goldfish book I read, GF are not plants friendly. The book actually lean toward having plastic plants for goldfish for low maintenance.

Cannot have the best of the both worlds, can I?! :(

Take care,
CM :) :) :)