@FinnegansFish
I find that this hobby is all about personal taste, and some think that their taste should be the only way to keep fish. Do what you love and what you can handle, fake plants or not.
@Dekraakjes
Looking good Matt and yes I am in a wheelchair and started with plastic and it's very simple to maintain 30 years later now have 3 tanks not big but with real plants and shrimps and fish it was 30 years finding a way to learn how to do it for me in a wheelchair and I still love the hobby
@CrestedNeut
Ooh, I bet plastic plants could also be useful in a planted tank if you can't afford loads of plants straight away but want to give you fish cover and security while the live plants are growing in. Or even long term, keeping the benefits of having some plants but also cutting down on the amount of maintainance needed. Thanks for always being so inclusive and non-judgmental, it really helps to make this hobby feel more accessible.
@MyyllLing
This is what I love about this channel- you’re so good at including everybody, fish keeping is for everybody 🙌🙌🙌
@NicoleBolas
Long time viewer, first time caller -- THANK YOU for this video -- FISHKEEPING IS FOR EVERYONE <3
@paulawicks-farr3078
Love it Matt! Don’t sweat the haters, life is too short to worry about whatever anyone else’s tastes are. If it makes the hobby more accessible to a wider audience that’s great.
@GeorginaSherman
This is so great! There are so many hobbies that are inaccessible with very little information out there on how to adapt said hobby. I have a non-visible disability and keep heavily planted tanks. Fish keeping/aquascaping is a double edged sword - fantastic for mental health but physically taxing therefore negatively effecting mental health. It’s only in the past year and a half that I’ve figured out how to make this hobby work for me, my taste preferences and my fish - nano tanks with loads of slow growing and epiphyte plants (+ a couple of fast growing stems), house plants out the top, learning to love snails 😂 over filtering and finding a way to do water changes without needing to lug heavy buckets. After years of falling in and out of the hobby due to accessibility issues, I now have multiple tank syndrome and don’t ever intend on curing it! 🐠🐌🌿💪🏼🥰
@jonstrocity
I'm 52 and have been in the hobby since I was 10 years old. I started on plastic plants but wanted to ensure they looked real. And they looked great! Now I only do live plants but I think you did a fabulous job with this and that you did a great thing by testing this type of video. Kudos to you from the States!
@cyndifalk
I'm so glad you made this video! Beginners are often inspired by my planted tanks, but I find myself hemming and hawing about encouraging them to do the same. As you know, plants are SOME work. I really like your plastic plant scape!
@sosonic12000
Obviously not everyone’s cup of tea but love the diversity and brilliantly done Matt. Low tech, low maintenance fish keeping for the beginner and can clearly look equally stunning to be fair…
@gibbnasta
I keep Duckweed in some of my tanks just because my chickens LOVE it.
@wirtification
When i kept fish the 1st time, I used realistic looking silk and plastic plants... there just wasn't anything around as far as real plants back then in my area. So, i think this is a brilliant idea Matt, showcasing the imitation plants. Excellent idea reducing the stigma 🎉🎉🎉
@terifrazier3768
I think it’s AMAZING that you’re addressing this. We all know the judging that goes on with that. You have got me using 100% real plants now and it’s hard work, well for me it is. I’m definitely NOT a pro at this. I too grew up in a house hold always having fish but never with real plants. It’s been a challenge for me but I haven’t totally committed to all the drops.
@KellyC.-zs1ec
Thanks for this video. I appreciate that you are open to helping all levels of people in the hobby.
@pattykake7195
This tank looks really cool…one of my tanks has a blue green “Buddha” as the central feature surrounded by fake plants and a school of Daisy’s blue rice fish. It never has algae problems, is sparking clean and is super easy to maintain…I love it..🩷
@aidandalton7404
That looks fantastic Matt. Absolutely ideal for beginners and busy people. The guppies won't complain. 10/10.
@ricardotolosa2671
Hi Matt, you know what? On video they do not look that fake! Well done, it should work all right for a lot of people.
@kzookid2051
I got my first fish tank in 1966 for my 11th birthday. It was 5 gallons, had some red wags, a couple marigolds, neon tetras, a cory, a small box filter and no plants, plastic or live. It came from a local fish store that was closing. I loved it, and it started me on always having at least one aquarium at any time. Back then, I had never seen live plants in a fish store. Now, I feel like they're as necessary as the water. Even my goldfish tank has live plant roots growing like a jungle where they breed. But for someone just starting out, plastic plants are a great way to decorate their tank without having to worry about them. I really like how the lava stones looked just like the magma had poured out of the volcano.
@SharleaneBailey-b2k
Absolutely no shaming here. I’m happy for people enjoying the aquarium experience, in all forms. I’ve also used both real and plastic plants at the same time. That way you don’t have to break the bank buying a lot of plans at one time, until they fill in. God’s blessings to you and your family.
@FishShopMatt