What are the pros

**ldoerr** · 05-30-2012, 12:40 AM

For a fun thread I thought that I would ask everybody to post a reason to keep planted tanks. I will go first.

I was watching my 29g planted tank today and saw that some new fish were nibbling on the plants. This was a platy, but I have seen my dwarf gourami and a few others do it as well. I beleave that they get a snack from what is growing on the plants (algae and other stuff). My fish have not damaged my plants and my plants are providing food for my fish.

What are your thoughts on the benefits of a planted tank.

**Aeonflame** · 05-30-2012, 12:45 AM

For me, they are as follows in order of importance

1) Appearance. I think that a well planted and scaped tank is gorgeous
2) Natural for fish. Many fish feel more comfortable in a planted environment.
3) Water quality. This may rank higher for other people, but I do large frequent water changes so not much of an issue. What I am glad for is the extra buffer against nutrients in my tank.

**Goes to 11!** · 05-30-2012, 01:04 AM

Same as Aeon, Slightly different order.

**Cliff** · 05-30-2012, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by Aeonflame

For me, they are as follows in order of importance

1) Appearance. I think that a well planted and scaped tank is gorgeous
2) Natural for fish. Many fish feel more comfortable in a planted environment.
3) Water quality. This may rank higher for other people, but I do large frequent water changes so not much of an issue. What I am glad for is the extra buffer against nutrients in my tank.

+1 to Aeonflame and 850R

The top two are my main reasons for having a planted tanks and the third is a big added bonus for me

**es31710** · 05-30-2012, 01:33 AM

Agree With all the above said.
I also think it is fun to plant and watch the plants grow out.

**dizzydezzy** · 05-30-2012, 02:31 AM

+1 to all of the above.

I honestly don't think I could go back to an un-planted tank anymore, the water changes would drive me mad (it's not that I don't do water changes, it's just that I can be a lot more relaxed about the amount/frequency/regularity of them when the plants are keeping the nitrites at 0).

I also love to see the plants grow and thrive...
and I secretly like looking at plants for sale at the lfs, and thinking how much $$$ worth I have in my tank, and how that value just keeps going up as the plants grow and multiply... for example just over 10 years ago I "splashed out" and bought a single plant of anubias nana, for $12.95. Fast forward to now, I have a tank FULL of the nana plants, literally over 200 if I bothered to split them up... all came from that one single plant I bought many years ago. I like to think I have thousands of dollars worth in there

(No, I don't sell them... I have given about 50 away to other aqarists who needed some).

**ldoerr** · 05-30-2012, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by dizzydezzy

for example just over 10 years ago I "splashed out" and bought a single plant of anubias nana, for $12.95.

You spent HOW much on an anubias nana?????? I have paid that much for all 3 of mine combined.

**wijnands** · 05-30-2012, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by ldoerr

For a fun thread I thought that I would ask everybody to post a reason to keep planted tanks. I will go first.

I was watching my 29g planted tank today and saw that some new fish were nibbling on the plants. This was a platy, but I have seen my dwarf gourami and a few others do it as well. I beleave that they get a snack from what is growing on the plants (algae and other stuff). My fish have not damaged my plants and my plants are providing food for my fish.

What are your thoughts on the benefits of a planted tank.

A planted tank looks way, way nicer than something with a few strands of plastic chucked in. A lot of community species are more relaxed and therefore less disease prone. Plants act as buffers and improve water quality.

Oh, did I mention a properly planted tank is a lot nicer to look at?