Artificial plants are low-maintenance and do not require specialized lighting. Artificial plants are a terrific way to add life and color to your aquarium without having to keep live plants alive.
However, even though they’re not real plants, artificial aquarium plants still need some regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them looking their best and prevent them from getting overgrown with algae and detritus.
A gunk buildup on your fake plants can make your whole tank look dirty and unhealthy. Cleaning artificial aquarium plants is pretty easy.
With just a few household items and about 30 minutes of your time every few weeks, you can keep your artificial plants looking vibrant, clean, and just like new, Here are 5 simple steps to get it done.
1. Remove the Plants from the Aquarium
First, you should carefully remove every artificial plant and ornament from your fish tank. Do not introduce too much dirt into the water as you carefully remove it with your hands or aquarium tools.
Give each plant you remove a little shake in the tank to get rid of any loose debris.
To move the artificial plants to the location of your planned cleaning, place them on a towel, in a bucket, or in another container.
The aquarium will be much easier and more thoroughly cleaned if the plants are removed.
When taking out any plants that are linked to anything or that are weighted down, proceed with caution. To completely remove the artificial plants, you might need to temporarily move decor or other items in the tank out of the way.
Pro Tip
This is a great chance to siphon off 25–30% of the aquarium’s water into a bucket and do a partial water change at the same time. Reintroducing clean plants will help get rid of fish waste and debris.
2. Prepare Your Cleaning Solution
There are a few different options for solutions you can use to clean your artificial aquarium plants:
- Vinegar and Water Solution: Combine one part of warm water and three parts of white vinegar. Algae, mineral deposits, and discoloration are all removed with the use of vinegar. This is a pleasant, organic choice.
- Bleach Solution: Mix 1 part bleach with 9–19 parts water to get a 5–10% bleach solution. Bleach works wonders to get rid of algae and sanitize, but afterward, the plants need to be completely rinsed.
- Dedicated Aquarium Plant Cleaner: There are also a lot of highly efficient commercial plant cleaning solutions available that are designed especially for aquarium use.
Prepare the cleaning solution in a clean sink or bucket large enough to completely cover the artificial plants. It’s best to have enough solution to completely submerge the plants.
3. Soak and Scrub the Plants
After soaking all of your artificial aquarium plants in the cleaning solution, give each one a gentle wash from top to bottom with your hands or a soft brush.
Keep a cautious eye out for any cracks or difficult-to-reach places where debris can be stuck.
Give the plants a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes to soak to allow for the solution to get inside and dissolve any accumulated dirt, mineral deposits, and algae.
You might need to soak the plants for up to an hour if they are filthy.
About halfway through the soaking time, give the plants another light scrape to remove any debris that has begun to loosen up.
This scrubbing and soaking is what will really make your fake aquarium plants look fresh and vibrant again. Don’t be afraid to use a little elbow grease on any particularly stubborn, dirty spots.
Pro Tip
When cleaning large, bushy plants, start by immersing only the top part in the cleaning solution, then scrub it, turn it over, and proceed with the bottom part.
This enables you to explore each crack and corner thoroughly.
4. Rinse Thoroughly
After soaking for the appropriate time, it’s important to very thoroughly rinse all the cleaning solution off the artificial plants before putting them back in the aquarium.
Any residual bleach, vinegar, or chemicals can be harmful to fish and other tank inhabitants if not rinsed off properly.
Rinse each plant individually under running fresh water from your sink, or use a bucket or tub to dunk the plants in fresh, clean water a few times.
Rub your hands over the plant to help dislodge any debris or chemicals stuck in the cracks.
You may need to rinse quite vigorously if you used a bleach solution to really get any residue off. Keep rinsing until you no longer smell any bleach or cleaning solution coming off the plants.
Let the plants fully air dry on a towel or rack before proceeding to the next step. Getting them completely dry is recommended before putting them back in the aquarium.
5. Return Clean Plants to the Aquarium
Now that your plants are alive, fresh, and nearly new again, it’s time to take the rewarding step of returning them to your aquarium!
Reposition the artificial plants and decorations with care, securing or weighing down those that require them.
If you want to switch up the general appearance and landscaping of your aquarium arrangement, now is a fantastic opportunity to renovate or rearrange.
To remove any water stains or streaks, quickly wipe off the aquarium glass as well. You may now kick back, unwind, and take in your fresh, light underwater surroundings!
A Few Extra Artificial Plants Cleaning Tips:
- When caring for and cleaning artificial aquarium plants, use extreme caution to prevent ripping, tearing, or harming the fragile plastic components.
- To effectively reach into the small openings and nooks of plants with complex designs, use an old toothbrush.
- After rinsing, if using a bleach solution, let the plants soak in fresh, clean water for at least an hour to help get rid of any remaining bleach.
- After introducing the plants, add a dechlorinating solution to the aquarium water to remove any remaining chlorine from the rinsed-out tap water.
- Cleaning artificial plants should be done every three to four weeks as part of routine tank maintenance.
By making this a regular habit, your artificial aquarium plants will continue looking their best for years to come!
Just a small amount of maintenance will go a long way toward keeping your tank healthy, vibrant, and eye-catching.
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