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Best Artificial Aquarium Plants: Our Top Picks 2024

If you want some nice aquarium plants that you don’t actually need to take care of, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at the five best artificial aquarium plants out there. 

Best Artificial Aquarium Plants

Top 5 Best Artificial Aquarium Plants: Reviews

Let’s take a quick look at the top five best artificial aquarium plants that your money can buy.

1. Fishdance Aquarium Plants: Our Top Pick

Fishdance Aquarium Plants, Artificial Fish Tank Decorations Decor Plastic Plants...
  • [Pack of 16]: Various colorful styles, 10 x small plants (2'' - 3.7'') 、3 x medium plants (5.9'' -...
  • [Convenient Care]: Near real for fresh and salt water fish tank decor, not require specialized...

Here we have a wide variety of artificial aquarium plants, 16 to be exact, and you get them all for one very low price. Here, you get ten small, three medium, and three large plants, therefore making them ideal for the foreground and background alike.

They also come in a wide variety of different colors, shapes, and types, so you can set up a whole aquarium with these plants alone. They’re definitely some of the more attractive artificial aquarium plants out there.

These artificial plants are made out of PVC or Poly vinyl chloride, which means that they are pH neutral and also won’t affect water chemistry. They are also designed to resist fading, so they should maintain their color over a long period of time.

On that note, this material is also designed to be very easy to clean, therefore allowing for simple maintenance. Plants are also soft enough to be safe for fish, not to mention that they come with a stable ceramic base to keep them in place.

Pros

  • Look great
  • Lots of variety
  • Low price
  • Stable base
  • Safe for fish
  • Won’t affect water chemistry

Cons

  • Have to be rinsed before use

If what you are looking for is plenty of variety and color, then this is probably the best option for you.


2. BEGONDIS 14 Pcs Artificial Green Seaweed

BEGONDIS 14 Pcs Artificial Green Seaweed Water Plants, Fish Tank Aquarium...
  • GORGEOUS COLOR --- The Life-like BEGONDIS soft plastic water plant is made from a vibrant bright...
  • NATURAL ENVIRONMENT --- Your fish will enjoy the environment that these plants provide. They can...

Whether you have a marine tank or a freshwater tank, some natural looking seaweed is always a bit off to consider. What we have here is some very natural looking green seaweed that actually looks very real. Furthermore, it is made out of very high quality plastic that should not fade or degrade over time.

This type of material is designed to be quite durable, so your fish should not be able to rip the plants apart or anything else of the sort. The vibrant green color should also stay vibrant for many years to come. Keep in mind that this option is also ideal for both freshwater and saltwater tanks.

The plastic itself is very light and airy, so it should float and move around in the water column, but also comes with a stable and relatively heavy base to keep everything in place as should be.

Pros

  • Looks natural
  • Stable
  • Great price
  • 14 pieces
  • Should not fade
  • Should not affect water chemistry

Cons

  • May be to tall for some fish tanks

if what you want is some natural, basic, and green seaweed, then this is a fantastic option to consider.


3. PietyPet Fish Tank Accessories Green Plants

PietyPet Fish Tank Accessories Green Plants, 10pcs Green Fish Tank Decorations,...
  • Green Aquarium Decorations: 10 Pieces green and different styles aquarium Green plants: ( 2 - 4.9...
  • Soft leaves allow your fish to shuttle and hide in the water plants, which won't hurt your fish or...

Here we have another set of aquarium plants that include several small, medium, and large options. Here, you actually get ten different pieces for one very low price, and each of the plants looks slightly different. This way, you can outfit a whole freshwater or marine tank with just these plants alone, as there is more than enough variety and color to go with.

The leaves of these plants are made out of very soft plastic. This means that they won’t hurt your fish as your fish explore around them. Furthermore, they’re also light and airy enough to float in the water column and to look natural. However, they also come with a firm and heavy pedestal to keep them firmly planted in place.

The material that these aquarium plants are made out of is also very durable, so it should stay in one piece for quite some time. There’s also the fact that these aquarium plants are ideal for both saltwater and freshwater tanks alike, and they should not affect the pH level either.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Stable
  • Colorful
  • Plenty of choice
  • Great price

Cons

  • May fade over time

If you need enough artificial aquarium plants for a full tank, this is a great option for you to look into.


4. Smoothedo-Pets Aquarium Plants

Smoothedo-Pets Aquarium Plants Fish Tank Decorations 4inch/10pcs Set Plastic...
  • Size as Picture Show and Annotation.
  • The product uses gypsum/polyethylene/plastic/environment-friendly pigment with stable properties....

If you are looking for some super small and basic aquarium plants, 10 small and ten small-medium ones, then this is a fantastic option to consider. These are very small plastic plants, so they are ideal for small fish tanks. They work really well for both foreground and backgrounds, even in nano aquariums.

These plants feature really vibrant green coloration, and thanks to the materials they are made of, should not fade even with many months or years of use. The plants themselves are also made out of very soft plastic, so they should move around naturally in the aquarium, and they shouldn’t hurt your fish either.

Just beware that these plants have a slight smell to them due to their sealed shipping method, although this is completely natural and will dissipate with time.

Pros

  • Look very nice
  • Natural movement
  • Vibrant color
  • Good size for small tanks
  • Great price
  • Will not change water chemistry

Cons

  • Could be a bit more durable

If you need artificial aquarium plants for small aquariums, then this is likely one of your best options.


5. M2cbridge Artificial Fish Tank Plants

M2cbridge Artificial Fish Tank Plants Silk Aquarium Plant Aquatic Water Grass...
  • Material: plastic stems and silk leaves, ceramic base shaped of tree trunk or rock, sizes measured...
  • Life-like leaves move easily, making it look very realistic and beautiful in the water. Add green...

When it comes to high quality aquarium plants that actually look real, then this is by far the best option on the list today. Here, we have some different types of simulated water grass and leafy water plants, and they look about as real as humanly possible.

One of the reasons why they look so real is because the leaves are made out of silk, combined with plastic stems. The silk looks much more authentic than regular plastic, plus it moves more naturally in the water as well.

On that note, the color here is also very vibrant and long lasting. Thanks to the materials which these aquarium plants are made out of combat they also won’t affect pH or water chemistry. The only slight downside with silk aquarium plants like this is that they are not overly durable, so you need to be careful how you handle them.

Pros

  • Look very real
  • Color does not fade
  • Does not affect water chemistry
  • Easy to insert into aquarium
  • Decent price

Cons

  • Silk isn’t overly durable

If you want the most authentic looking fake plants possible, then this is my top recommendation.


Artificial Aquarium Plant Buyers Guide: What To Look Out For

Before we call it a day, let’s quickly talk about some of the most crucial considerations for you to keep in mind when choosing any sort of artificial aquarium plant.

Type

There are tons of different aquarium plants out there designed to look like many natural plants. Of course, you want to choose the specific type of plant that will help you most closely recreate a natural environment for your fish. The world is your oyster here!

Size

Just like normal plants, artificial aquarium plants can also come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Therefore, consider whether you want foreground, middle ground, or background plants, and also consider the overall size of your aquarium in comparison to the plants in question.

Material

These artificial aquarium plants will usually always be made out of either plastic or silk. Plastic tends to be a bit more durable, but not nearly as natural looking. There is a clear trade off between the two.

The Base

You always want to go for aquarium plants that have a pretty heavy and solid base. You want something relatively heavy so that the plants are weighed down and don’t end up moving, tipping over, or floating around in your tank.

Safety

You also need to go for aquarium plants that are rated as being safe for your fish and other plants. This means that they should not change the pH level in the water, or change the water chemistry in any way. They also should not leach any toxic substances into the water.

Color

Although it’s not the first consideration you should keep in mind, the color of the aquarium plants in question is important nonetheless. After all, you want them to look nice in combination with your other fish and plants. Something else to consider is that not all aquarium plants are built with the same in terms of coloration. With some aquarium plants, the color may fade in a very short period of time, and therefore, investing in relatively high-quality plants is recommended.

Underwater Plants and Stones for Aquarium Reef Decor

Price

Although it’s also not the first consideration I make when purchasing aquarium plants, I would still never pay additional money for something when it is available from a different source for a lower cost.