Plastic plants or silk plants? - Aquarium Advice

gu2high · 11-17-2006, 08:53 PM

I want to chose some plants, not real ones. Which is better, the Plastic or Silk?

**An t-iasg** · 11-17-2006, 09:00 PM

Plastic plants are fine. They can take some hard scrubbing if necessary if they get dirty later on. Silk plants are better for delicate, long-finned fish like bettas and guppies. I have had plastic plants tear my betta's fins. When I had silk plants, I replaced them every 4 months or so as they became too dirty to clean anymore.

You'll be fine with plastic as long as you don't have bettas or guppies. Silk plants may look a little more "real", though.

**Zagz** · 11-17-2006, 11:24 PM

I prefer silk myself, more like natural. There was a member on here that said cleaning silk plants with peroxide I think it was, worked like a charm. Not sure if that is true or not.

TomK2 · 11-20-2006, 01:07 PM

Silk tend to look better, but are more expensive. I have a mixture of plastic and silk in my tank.

NeonJulie · 11-20-2006, 01:12 PM

Have you seen these? These are what I have. They feel as soft as anything, have withstood much rinsing and re-scaping. They're said to last 2 years. (They are a little pricey though at 6-10 each.) Look around for other sizes/colors as well.

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.as...amilyID=13735&

7Enigma · 11-21-2006, 12:59 PM

If they are getting dirty from algae/diatoms then a simple dip in peroxide will kill the attached organisms and the silk should clear up (or get more on them). I prefer live

, but would choose silk if I had to make a choice.

Sicklid · 11-22-2006, 08:33 PM

You can get silk and plastic plants "on the cheap" from fabric and crafts stores... I got the Same exact ones that Big Al's sells for $18 for $3 minus the slate base... so what, slate is practically free anyway. Check Michaels craft store, they have em all...

jamesrm · 11-27-2006, 05:25 PM

I prefer silk, I have lost a fish who was trapped near the base of one of my previous plastic plants. Of course, you can't beat live plants

11-17-2006, 08:53 PM	#1
gu2high Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NJ Posts: 355	Plastic plants or silk plants? I want to chose some plants, not real ones. Which is better, the Plastic or Silk?

11-20-2006, 01:07 PM	#4
TomK2 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 1,953 Images: 2	Silk tend to look better, but are more expensive. I have a mixture of plastic and silk in my tank. __________________ Tom's Tank - The web's best (only?) Motorcycling, trap shootin', aquarium site - IS BACK! With a new url. Oceanic 55+,two Fluval 404's,In-line 300W heater,Moderately planted with Polyvinylus Chloridus sp.=the only plants that last in my tank

11-21-2006, 12:59 PM	#6
7Enigma Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Havertown, PA Posts: 2,624 Images: 5	If they are getting dirty from algae/diatoms then a simple dip in peroxide will kill the attached organisms and the silk should clear up (or get more on them). I prefer live , but would choose silk if I had to make a choice. __________________ 20G High -Currently in tank: 1 checkered barb, 1 cory, 1 BN pleco, MTS, variety of platy (fry, juvi, adult), lots of plants. http://www.photolocker.net/images/7Enigma/milfoil2.jpg

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11-20-2006, 01:12 PM	#5
NeonJulie Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 102	Have you seen these? These are what I have. They feel as soft as anything, have withstood much rinsing and re-scaping. They're said to last 2 years. (They are a little pricey though at 6-10 each.) Look around for other sizes/colors as well. http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.as...amilyID=13735&

11-22-2006, 08:33 PM	#7
Sicklid Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tarpon Springs FL Posts: 658 Images: 4	You can get silk and plastic plants "on the cheap" from fabric and crafts stores... I got the Same exact ones that Big Al's sells for $18 for $3 minus the slate base... so what, slate is practically free anyway. Check Michaels craft store, they have em all...

11-27-2006, 05:25 PM	#8
jamesrm Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 211	I prefer silk, I have lost a fish who was trapped near the base of one of my previous plastic plants. Of course, you can't beat live plants