Anyone know where to get realistic plastic plants ?

[Alan Silver]

Hello,

I am setting up a new cichlid tank and, due to the veggie nature of
these fish and the fact that the tank is 24" tall, I'm contemplating
plastic plants instead of real ones.

Trouble is that most of the plastic plants I've seen look horrible. They
look so, well, plasticky !! I did see some in one shop that looked
pretty realistic, but they were very expensive, about 20 UKP (about $30)
for a moderately sized plant.

Following a link in another thread, I just saw a web site for an LFS in
the US and their plastic plants were way cheaper. I don't mind where
they come from, as long as I can get some realistic ones at a sensible
price.

Anyone any advice ? TIA

--
Alan Silver

[0rion]

"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> Hello,
>
> I am setting up a new cichlid tank and, due to the veggie nature of
> these fish and the fact that the tank is 24" tall, I'm contemplating
> plastic plants instead of real ones.
>
> Trouble is that most of the plastic plants I've seen look horrible. They
> look so, well, plasticky !! I did see some in one shop that looked
> pretty realistic, but they were very expensive, about 20 UKP (about $30)
> for a moderately sized plant.
>
> Following a link in another thread, I just saw a web site for an LFS in
> the US and their plastic plants were way cheaper. I don't mind where
> they come from, as long as I can get some realistic ones at a sensible
> price.
>
> Anyone any advice ? TIA
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

i bought silk plants from foster smith online, and they worked out great.
people usually can't even tell that they're fake unless they know what to
look for. remember, though, that a lot of cichlids will redecorate their
tanks without your permission and your beautiful new plants could become
damaged or a pain in the ass to replant later on.

[Dinky]

"0rion" > wrote in message
...
>
> look for. remember, though, that a lot of cichlids will redecorate their
> tanks without your permission and your beautiful new plants could become
> damaged or a pain in the ass to replant later on.
>


Most cichlids I've kept (mostly oscars) dig up anything they can move. I
don't keep them anymore, mostly for this reason. I'm hoplessly anal about
tanks being presentable, and my oscar tank always had the sub pushed to one
end etc.

[Alan Silver]

In article >, 0rion
> writes
>i bought silk plants from foster smith online, and they worked out
>great. people usually can't even tell that they're fake unless they
>know what to look for.

Thanx. I just had a look at their web site, but all of the plants seem
to be plastic, not silk. Do you know which you bought.

The prices make me sick. They are selling plants for a couple of dollars
that my LFS is asking about 10 UKP (approx $15).

> remember, though, that a lot of cichlids will redecorate their tanks
>without your permission and your beautiful new plants could become
>damaged or a pain in the ass to replant later on.

Yeah, I've heard that. I'm probably not actually going to plant them,
rather I'll fix them on to the fake rock wall at the back, or wedge them
between rocks.

Thanx for the info

--
Alan Silver

[0rion]

"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> In article >, 0rion
> > writes
> >i bought silk plants from foster smith online, and they worked out
> >great. people usually can't even tell that they're fake unless they
> >know what to look for.
>
> Thanx. I just had a look at their web site, but all of the plants seem
> to be plastic, not silk. Do you know which you bought.

i believe they stopped carrying the exact brand but you might have luck with
this

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9120&Ne=1020&R=14058&N=2004+113149+2147011521

and btw google is your friend

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=silk+aquarium+plants

> The prices make me sick. They are selling plants for a couple of dollars
> that my LFS is asking about 10 UKP (approx $15).

unless the lfs is very good and cheap, small items like this should always
be bought from online retail stores. leave lfs for fish and other livestock,
tanks, and really expensive breakables (metal halides etc). otherwise you
end up spending too much extra.

> > remember, though, that a lot of cichlids will redecorate their tanks
> >without your permission and your beautiful new plants could become
> >damaged or a pain in the ass to replant later on.
>
> Yeah, I've heard that. I'm probably not actually going to plant them,
> rather I'll fix them on to the fake rock wall at the back, or wedge them
> between rocks.

to a big oscar this is probably a challenge to be surmounted and ultimately
conquered with grim satisfaction.... i wouldn't bother with plants.

> Thanx for the info

chill out

> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Alan Silver]

In article >, 0rion
> writes
>> Thanx. I just had a look at their web site, but all of the plants seem
>> to be plastic, not silk. Do you know which you bought.
>
>i believe they stopped carrying the exact brand but you might have luck
>with this
>
>http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9120&Ne=10
>20&R=14058&N=2004+113149+2147011521

Thanx.

>and btw google is your friend

I searched Google, but the trouble is that it's very hard to tell how
realistic the plant is from a picture. I saw loads of artificial plants,
but I have no idea which looked awful in real life and which didn't.

Thanx again

--
Alan Silver