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I have two fake plants in my 10 gallon tank. What are the benefits of real plants and how do you take care of them? I also have 5 pounds of blue colored gravel. I have a common pleco, platys and gouramis

Sorry, I'm on my way to work but you might want to do a bit of reading here until you get more replies.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I am sorry to be the one who tells you, and I know it's not what your post is about......but I am sure I won't be the only one......the common pleco will become too big for your 10g VERY quickly. I have had 2 friends have to give back their gorgeous common plecos because they outgrew their 2 foot tanks, which is a lot bigger than 10g. They were both very upset, having grown attached to them. A Bristlenose will not grow nearly as big, and they are really cute. I have one in my 15g and he's great. He also produces a fair bit of "waste" but not nearly as much as a common, which was another reason my buddies had to give theirs up.

so.... benefits of real plant.... they generate oxygen during the day, they take away nitrate from your water as well as some other minerals, fish like real plants better (i think), real plants look a lot better, your tank looks more "natural", plants consume fish waste, plants fight off algea (some), some fish will eat the plants... i think its worth it to try to keep some plants in yer tank

My fish seem much happier since I added some real plants. They're more active and my glow lights seem to school much tighter than before.