Converting To Planted Tank!

[ace61502]

I've got a 75 gallon tank and decided I want to go planted. I picked up some driftwood and java fern last weekend. Got a wicked huge mass of java fern for $8! Anyway, I split this huge mass up and started tying it to my driftwood pieces and a river stone. The bits I separated off look pretty good, but the two long strips of rhizome I put along the base of my big driftwood have so much "root" that the rhizome is like 2" away from the driftwood. Would it help to trim back those roots and would that encourage growth of new "root" rather than the existing root having to "slither" around the wood? It does give my baby platies some great hiding areas, but it's just not aesthetically pleasing to me, and there are plenty of leaves for them to hide in. I've searched and searched online and haven't seen any mention of "prepping" the fern in any way prior to tying.

Here's a closeup of my off centered centerpiece. LOL You can't really see the roots because they are toward the back. Just want to give it the best chance of getting hold firmly before the string disintegrates on me. Would hate to come in from work and find it floating away and having to start over. Also the ones on top of the upright piece of driftwood back in the corner have tried to float away on me. Snipping the roots would make it so much easier to get a good tie. The strip on the river stone was the easiest, surprisingly.

And another question... all the roots that have floated away... My tank is (for now) heavily "planted" with plastics I plan to remove as I add more real plants and they start filling in well, which makes it hard to vacuum all those little bits up. Are they going to degrade my water? Or will they help my plants which will in turn help my fish? I could pull all the plastic out to vacuum real good and then replace them if need be, but I do have those babies who would be left without cover. I have a nursery tank I move them to as I can, but would rather not have to worry about them as I vacuum and can't get to the net quick enough without worrying about overflowing my bucket!

 

[ace61502]

No one?

 

[aaronnorth]

Hi, ideally with any plant you should trim the roots back to about 1cm,
this promotes new growth but it also makes it a lot easier to work with


Aaron

 

[ace61502]

Thanks, Aaron. I've been itching to redo the scaping and thin out some of the plastic a bit to see if my clown loaches will school up better with more room and being able to see each other better in there. One of them seems to prefer the company of my emerald cory cats and dances with them. LOL I'll redo it tonight.

 

[ace61502]

BTW... I found a stowaway in my java fern. Would someone mind identifying this? And a recommendation for how to get it going well would be great, too.

 

[StandbySetting]

That's just Java Moss, just leave it at the surface and it should multiply pretty quickly

 

[ace61502]

That's just Java Moss, just leave it at the surface and it should multiply pretty quickly

"Just" Java Moss? LOL That's what I was HOPING it was! Thanks!

I've got someone who has yellow iris she's pulling out of her water garden. Has anyone ever used something like this in an aquarium setting?

 

[aaronnorth]

That would need to be grown emmersed,

Aaron

 

[ace61502]

That would need to be grown emmersed,

Aaron

Can you clarify? Do you mean the roots or the entire plant? In the pictures of her watergarden the plants are growing a good couple feet out of the water. I'm worried I may be getting in over my head trying something like that, but I love irises. Always have.

 

[aaronnorth]

Just the leaves, the roots should be submersed constantly, or at least have constant moisture around them.
If they are are a few feet tall already then go for it, just be careful not to introduce any unwanted organisms

Aaron

 

[ace61502]

Thanks, Aaron.

Now I'm having a problem with my Amazon swords not staying put. I don't know if my loaches are uprooting them or if they are just floating away. Could I try putting them in my q-tank until they get better roots and then moving them?

 

[StandbySetting]

You could always weigh down the plants using rocks, or you could let the plants float for a bit, this will increase the rate of root growth as the plant will want to anchor itself into a medium containing nutrients.

 

[ace61502]

OK, I think I'll just let them float then. Thanks!

 

[aaronnorth]

OK, I think I'll just let them float then. Thanks!

By doing this though the leaves may not grow straight, as the plant is constantly spinning therefore it has to change the direction it is growing to reach the light.

I would either tie the roots to a small rock or put some rocks around the base of the plant for a week or 2

Aaron

 

[ace61502]

OK, I think I'll just let them float then. Thanks!

By doing this though the leaves may not grow straight, as the plant is constantly spinning therefore it has to change the direction it is growing to reach the light.

I would either tie the roots to a small rock or put some rocks around the base of the plant for a week or 2

Aaron

Thanks again, Aaron. I have some rocks my son picked up when we went to gawk at the three mile wide Mississippi River (I'm just outside Memphis, assuming you've heard about it?). I remember reading once upon a time there was a test you could do to make sure the calcium content or something was safe? Like putting them in vinegar or something and watching for bubbling? Do you know what I'm referring to? I didn't bookmark it because at the time I wasn't planning on using anything I found anywhere, but he wants to put them in the tank.