Real plants or plastic plants?

If they're higher class fish get real plants. Either way it's doesn't matter, you have to change the plants every so often, and they look a lot better.

Each option has benefits, and down-sides. Real plants are much more fun to have in the tank as they grow, reproduce, and give the fish something to pick at. Biologically, they remove some nitrogen from the system and produce oxygen for the fish. I know some people who have tanks that are just completely planted and have no fish because they enjoy the planted element so much. You can add CO2, high lights, and ferts, and turn your tank into a jungle in a matter of weeks. There are some big down sides though. If proper care is not taken with the water, plants can rot, which can be poisonous to the fish. There is also a lot of pruning with the fast growing plants, which can be a bother to some. As mentioned above, planted tank set ups can be expensive, but if you stick to low light plants such as java fern, you can get by with the stock aquarium kits. If you do go planted, try java fern and java moss at first, and make sure what you are buying is not meant for a terrarium. Plastic plants are great because you can set them and forget them. You pick out what you like and that's pretty much it. They don't do anything to benefit/harm the chemistry of the tank, and don't require any work (except the occasional rinse). Most fish won't care if you use real or fake so it ultimately comes down to what you like. For your daughter, I would recommend using fake plants and add in low maintenance real plants as the tank matures (you can have both). You can get an air pump, tubing, and an air stone for about $15-$20, which will add plenty of oxygen to the water. You can buy ornaments with air stones built into them and they are pretty cool as well. Pet Store employees rarely know what they are talking about when it comes to aquariums, so just do the research first and you will be fine.

real plants require quite a lot of hard work really!! you need to be green fingered!! If don't have the right lighting a lot of plants will die - also some will require added co2 to make them thrive.

however, fake plants can look really cheap and obviously fake which isn't a good look.

If you are prepared to put the extra work in and change your lights then go real - they look fantastic and can be a good challenge in their own right. If not have you thought about silk plants, they are fake but look so much more realistic than the plastic ones, i think they are a little more expensive but the effect it alot better - also ideal for fish with long flowing fins(ie betta) that can get caught and tear on some plastic plants.

It depends on the size of your fish tank and the size of the fishes.

A small tank will not provide adequate space for live plants which require nutrition and light to really show their best.

I have a few tanks from 2 footers to 3 footers and a smallish 10 inch tank. The real plants are doing well and look good but the plants in the small tank are struggling.

Just picked up a 4 footer, already starting to look good. And i am planning to set up a really nice 'water-scape' with different varieties of aquatic plants.

If space permits, get a larger tank with live plants, the fishes will be happier and if you put the lighting on auto, you can even go away for a short holiday . The fishes will still be swimming around happily after your return.

You should definitely get real plants and other decorations from nature. NEVER use anything plastic or otherwise store bought unless you just have to (like the filter and heater etc). Would your fish encounter plastic plants in the wild? No. Your fish will be happier in as natural of environment as you can make it.

You should get real plants as they produce the oxygen that the fish need to breathe!

Real plants requires more care. They wilt and cause water chemistry to change and need better lighting and unless you are very familiar with fish care already, you should stick with fake.

Hi,I would have said real however I once got snails & that was it.I now have plastic plants that look real.Also real plants at night absorb the oxygen.

I would get fake plants, real plants tend to get the tank dirtier, quicker.

real plants help add benefits to the water and to the fish, another thing you can also add is a slice of orange or lemon to the water every couple of weeks again to add benefits to the water and fish that they do not get in their food.

if the cost of pregrown plants is high for you they sell bulb packs and the plants in them really do grown fast.