Big pothos added to goldfish tank

[FishHobby99]

I have been motivated to step up my roots in the tank project by @desaltmelosguy. Was rooting pothos in water to be added to tank, but bought a plant to jumpstart the process. Took hours to wash soil from the compacted roots. Much white gravely looking stuff, probable perlite per quick Google, clung to the roots.

I cut the bottom from a flimsy pot & attached it to the tank with a S hook. The leaves are kept out of the water by the LED light strip & a section of the same grid @desaltmemosguy uses. The grid will support the “bamboo” he favors. His largely quantitative data says drastic nitrate drops in 2 weeks with pothos & 4 for the other plant. Will be interesting to see if mine drops to zero given a low level is present in the tap water.

 

[OliveFish05]

Wow, it looks really nice! I bet the fish like the roots. I didn't realize they could actually rest in the water! Do the fish eat the roots? I know the stems and leaves are toxic, but not sure about the roots. It looks really lovely. Makes me wanna move my golden pothos around a bit...

 

[FishHobby99]

Nothing is toxic: neither roots, stems, or leaves. Let me see if I can find a brilliant recent post on this topic for you by @desaltmelosguy. He researched the issue with an ichthyologist & 2 other marine biologist types. I initially hesitated on going all out on pothos due to posts here, however all my own research found pothos safe. @dasaltemelosguy provides scientific rationale as to why. So I’m jumping into faster as he also says how to support the plants. He didn’t use a potted plant like I did today, rather a grid for cuttings that I purchased at Lowe’s & will use to add more plants.

You wouldn’t want the leaves in the water anyway. Some dropped into the tank & turned white & died. The stems would do ok. So far the fish are ignoring the roots.

 

[OliveFish05]

Nothing is toxic: neither roots, stems, or leaves. Let me see if I can find a brilliant recent post on this topic for you by @desaltmelosguy. He researched the issue with an ichthyologist & 2 other marine biologist types. I initially hesitated on going all out on pothos due to posts here, however all my own research found pothos safe. @dasaltemelosguy provides scientific rationale as to why. So I’m jumping into faster as he also says how to support the plants. He didn’t use a potted plant like I did today, rather a grid for cuttings that I purchased at Lowe’s & will use to add more plants.

You wouldn’t want the leaves in the water anyway. Some dropped into the tank & turned white & died. The stems would do ok. So far the fish are ignoring the roots.

Ohhhhhh ok, interesting! I know pothos are toxic to cats, dogs, and kids, but I guess must not have any affect on fish/tanks?

 

[FishHobby99]

Ohhhhhh ok, interesting! I know pothos are toxic to cats, dogs, and kids, but I guess must not have any affect on fish/tanks?

I don‘t know how to get his post from me to you. It’s fascinating with some of the finest photography I’ve seen. Professional quality. Try doing a search here on @desaltmelosguy & you should get to it. His posts are recent.

I have cats & dogs & pothos & many plants all over. They’ve never bothered any. I am extremely cautious with my parrots, they may very well nibble on leaves.

 

[NannaLou]

Pathos is toxic, but as the article explains the crystals that contain the irritant can’t be broken down in water.

 

[NannaLou]

Alternative Nitrate Reduction Method$​

This is the name of the thread…not sure how to make a link

 

[OliveFish05]

I found it and read it. That is incredible! Now I wanna go out and get more pothos, some monstera, and lucky bamboo lol!

 

[FishHobby99]

I found it and read it. That is incredible!

Did you see those pics? OMG! Beautiful! I bought that grid he has for $17 at Lowe’s. Replaced the mesh axie lid with it, cut out a section for the HOB filter. Will shove many pothos cuttings in soon. Enough grid left for a rear strip in the goldfish tank & still some. Think it was 2x4 feet.

 

[FishHobby99]

Pathos is toxic, but as the article explains the crystals that contain the irritant can’t be broken down in water.

Yes, it requires strong acid to be broken down. @desaltmelosguy explains all that.

 

[OliveFish05]

Did you see those pics? OMG! Beautiful! I bought that grid he has for $17 at Lowe’s. Replaced the mesh axie lid with it, cut out a section for the HOB filter. Will shove many pothos cuttings in soon. Enough grid left for a rear strip in the goldfish tank & still some. Think it was 2x4 feet.

YES! Incredible clarity. Wow, I might just have to grab some of that grid too! Definitely moving my pothos out of its pot and into the tank soon!

 

[FishHobby99]

Be prepared to spend a LONG time washing the roots! I swirled them in a bucket of water that had to be emptied many times.