Silk plants? Fake Flowers? How do you guys use em?

LyzzaRyzz

Im contemplating using silk flowers in my tank il i can get plastic ones or hopefully live ones.

But all the silk flowers/leaves have metal in the stalk. And on almost all of them, the very tip of the metal is exposed! Which means itll rust.

Is there anything i can do to stop the rust from happening? Put superglue on the tip? melt the plastic over it?

I notice a few of them members have silk plants in thier tanks...How do you guys do it?

Sanguinefox

Sometimes you can find silk plants that don't have metal in them at pet stores sold for aquariums.

LyzzaRyzz

Hmm..id actually never thought of that. I just figured, if your at a pet store, you'd buy plastic ones...lol!

Im just looking for a cheap way to add stuff to block the mirror...since aquarium plants are expensive for a big tank!

Varkolak

Bricks. Pile a wall of thin bricks and silicon it together into 2-4 peices so its removable but will cover the whole back - I think it would look nice

Romad

I wouldn't take a chance with anything metal in the tank. There are lots of silk plant online if you don't find anything you like in the pet stores.

aussieJJDude

What a good idea!
love it, simple and it would look great!

Varkolak

I've seen pictures of people who have done it, only issue is either leave space at the back for fish to swim and water to circulate or seal it up with aquarium foam to prevent then from getting trapped and for waste to build up

willow

i'll jump in.
i've used artificial plants in my tank,still do..
i change mine a lot because they get algea on them,and it's not easy to get it off,
so i buy new ones,i'm not a fan of the hard aquarium plants,they just don't sway
the same way that the silk ones do.
all my fish are healthy..perhaps i'm lucky...
i'm pants at live plants,i kill them very quickly,just don't have the knack.
so i brighten it up this way,many aqurists i've no doubt would cringe
if they saw the plants i have in with my cichlids,however i like how it looks
in my living room,they are all eating extremely well,no breeding as i don't have
females which i find keeps the aggression down better,and i like the way the
fish swim in amongst them.
when i have had a little rust on the end of a cut stem i have removed the rusty
bit. you could use aquarium safe silicon to seal them off.

LyzzaRyzz

I like to brick idea! But im really hesitant to put any heavy rocks or anything in my tank. I have horrible, horrible luck. I would clean them, try to put them back,and tap the glass, and smash!

I may get some AQ sealant for the ends...

Its not that i cant find any aquarium plants i like, i like all of them! I just have bins of silk plants from my grandfathers old florist shop...And some of them would be perfect!

aussieJJDude

Maybe have a strofoam backing and them put in the bricks (you could wedge the bricks in) or place it on the bottom for extra protection.