Fish Tank vs Planted Tank? 7 Differences

Fish Tank Lighting

Planted Tank Lighting

• ‘Brightness’ matters to see fish / colours.
• Applicable measure: Lumens / Watt.
• Stock lighting that came with the tank works, fishes will not complain about light quality.

• Strength and colour spectrum critical for plant growth and coloration.
• Relevant measure: Umols of PAR.
• Much larger range of products to choose from, with large price variance - with very different outcomes. Potentially expensive. 

Fish Tank Dimensions

Planted Tank Dimensions

• Dimensions fit size and number of livestock.

• Dimensions must fit size /number of livestock, plants as well as hardscape.
• Greatly increased scaling of costs & maintenance with tank size.
• Cost of hardscape and light often cost much more than tank/filter systems. Newer aquarists always underestimate costs and buy overly large tanks with little budget leftover for proper equipment.
• Certain tank dimensions are more suitable for certain aquascaping styles. Tank dimension must match lighting system so that sufficient light can hit substrate level.

Fish Tank Substrate

Planted Tank Substrate

• Impact on water parameters important (eg. Alkalinity / Acidity). 
• Capture point for floating debris.
• Aesthetic value.

• Impact on water parameters important to plants as well.
• Horticulture considerations - ease of planting, nutritional content.
• Aesthetic value in aquascaping; does it match the rocks and hardscape ?
• Aquasoil/soil is commonly used rather than gravel/sand, and require specific knowledge to clean and maintain in the long term.

Fish Tank Filter

Planted tank Filter

• Sufficient filtration capacity important to livestock health.

• Sufficient filtration capacity important to livestock health, but may have a little leeway as plants absorb ammonia directly.
• Filter is often the main source of water flow in a planted tank. Flow is critical as it provides carbon dioxide and oxygen for plants and circulate nutrients. Dead-spots and poor flow lead to algae issues, which is the number 1 pain of planted tank hobbyists.

Fish tank Maintenance

Planted tank Maintenance

• Water changes, substrate vacuuming, servicing of filter.
• Feeding of fish.

• Plants require regular fertilisation.
• Regular trimming and replanting required to prevent over-crowding.
• Trimming and removal of old deteriorating growth to prevent algae issues.
• Water changes, substrate cleaning, servicing of filter.
• Checking and tuning of CO2 injection system if used.

Fish tank WATER PARAMETERS

Planted tank WATER PARAMETERS

• pH, KH, GH, TDS impact livestock health.
• Water quality impacts livestock.

• pH, KH, GH, TDS impact livestock health and plants.
• Balance between needs of livestock and needs of plants.
• Water quality affects livestock health, plant health and algae.

Fish tank Aeration

Planted tank Aeration

• Sufficient levels of oxygen matters to fish/ livestock.

• Oxygen levels important for livestock, especially when CO2 levels are elevated.
• Carbon dioxide matters a lot to plant growth as 40-50% of plant mass is composed of carbon.