Do plants need fish?

[Tacit Blues]

Kind of backwards from what it seems the question usually is, but I can't find the answer. Obviously, plants don't need fish, but does it require more effort to keep aquarium plants without any fish--having to add more fertilizers and such? Is there a minimum amount of fish for optimum plant growth?

This is just a general question I was wondering about, not anything specific, but I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

 

[jetajockey]

It is easier to keep plants happy with fish. I don't know of a general rule of thumb, itd just depend on how many plants and how many fish, how much light, etc. Ideally you'd want enough fish to keep a slight reading of nitrates in the tank at all times.

 

[Tacit Blues]

If you "overstocked" on plants relative to fish, though, you're not going to starve the plants? At least keeping things somewhat short term?

 

[jetajockey]

You might, it just depends on how much you feed, how much light and co2 the plants have to work with. Several factors play into it.

I do know that plants can stunt also if they run out of nutrients, or start showing deficiencies.