Holding Plants Down In Sand Substrate

[offutt_chris]

hey all,

another easy to answer question here. just woundering how to hold the plants down in a sand substrate without using weights. i read in a post a while back about using window screen to do it. just cut a little slot in it to to insert the roots and put it inbetween two layers of sand. but if i do this, can i use any type of window screen, or does it have to be some sort of nylon/plastic kind, or can i use the normal metal window screen?

 

[houndour]

I have sand and I don't have any trouble keeping the plants in the sand. How deep is it?

 

[offutt_chris]

1.5"-2" depends daily, my problem is that the darn fish dig them up lol.

 

[Lateral Line]

Having diggers is a problem in any substrate. This is one of the situations where planting in pots is a good idea, then burying the pot in the sand.

 

[offutt_chris]

yea, i guess thats an option, but i really dont want a bunch of pots in my tank since i am going to have a fully planted tank. is there some sort of reason on why the window screen would be a bad idea for my tank?

 

[houndour]

I'm not sure I get the window screen idea...can you elaborate?

 

[offutt_chris]

yea no problem..... lay your first layer of substrate, sand, gravel, moon sand, whatever you want to use. then take the window screen and lay it on your your table, or floor anything large and flatt so you can cut it to size, (width and length of tank). then lay your plants out where you would like them to be in the tank, and just cut a little slit, in the screen. just large enough for the roots to stick through the window screen. then place the whole thing into the tank and put your top layer of substrate down to cover the roots, and the window screen. by doing this it will only allow the fish to dig down to the screen, and if they do get there then the plants wont just float to the surface. at least this is my thinking. you could even put some lead fishing weights on the corners to ensure that it will not rise.

does that help?

 

[houndour]

Oh right. Makes sense now.

Sounds like a good idea, but...I guess you won't be able to move plants around very much (any stem plants need constant cutting and replanting). And you won't be able to prod the sand below the screen (to prevent build up of toxic gases).

What type of fish have you got? Would it not be possible to hold the plants in place with a pebble or similar till they take root?

 

[offutt_chris]

tank has some cichlids and an albino catfish, that is soon to be moved to out fish pond at home due to its size. and for the proding of sand that does make sense, but i guess you could take a little screwdriver like ones for fixing eye glasses, and since it should fit between the screen holes, and stir it up some with that.

 

[Lateral Line]

A "fully planted" tank and digging fish is not going to work.

The things you call window screens, (and yes, I was wondering myself - gravel tidies), are only effective if you have your plants established with good roots below the screen before the diggers move in. If you can slip the roots through a small hole, they will be able to slip them out again.

 

[offutt_chris]

well then that would be an easy to solve problem. just simply attach some lead weights to the plants until the roots take off. and then later just remove them so you do not have to see them when the sand moves around. and what i was referring to as window screens is exactly what i ment it is, a window screen. because we have some left over at home from repairing a door that our dog thought he could walk through.

 

[Dubby]

I think I would prefer the pot route. Since the pots have a mesh like structure it allows the roots to grow freely. It also allows you to rearrange them without too much effort.

 

[jimbooo]

try floating the plants for a few days before planting, this will allow the roots to grow so you have more to "bury".

 

[offutt_chris]

the pot idea isnt bad, but i dont want a lot of pots in my tank though, just my opinion though.

 

[Jen]

I have that problem with stem plants... I tend to let them float for a day or 2 until more roots have grown, then they stay in easier.