Plants being pulled up 🙄

[Sparx]

Last weekend I added some more plants into my aquarium after my re-scape. Since then, every single day sometimes morning and evening I’m waking up or coming home to the Egeria constantly being pulled out of the substrate. Every time I re-plant them I make sure they are as deep as possible, in a good 2-3 inch deep but it keeps happening. I can tell the plants are being nibbled as well so I don’t know if it’s the constant pecking that’s pulling them out or if it’s the bottom dwellers having a constant party.
Any advice on what to do to try and prevent this from happening every day?

 

[MattW]

I would suggest using plant weights

These are available at Pets@Home for about £3.50 I believe. Another option is the terracotta rings you get in aquarium plant pots

After a while, the stems should send roots into the substrate so they'd become more sturdy and less likely to become uprooted.

 

[Sparx]

I would suggest using plant weights

View attachment 347117
These are available at Pets@Home for about £3.50 I believe.

How would you attach them the the plants? the plants haven’t really developed enough root yet.

Another option is the terracotta rings you get in aquarium plant pots
View attachment 347118
After a while, the stems should send roots into the substrate so they'd become more sturdy and less likely to become uprooted.

Yes we have these in the Betta tank which seem to be working but are better with a ‘clump’ of plant.
The Egeria is planted in 3/4 stems each across the back of the tank so not enough stem to fill the hole… kinda like throwing a hot dog through Dartford tunnel…

 

[MattW]

How would you attach them the the plants? the plants haven’t really developed enough root yet.

Just simply wrap around the stem. You could wrap around 1 inch above the bottom of the stem and push the bottom inch into the substrate to encourage root growth.

Yes we have these in the Betta tank which seem to be working but are better with a ‘clump’ of plant.
The Egeria is planted in 3/4 stems each across the back of the tank so not enough stem to fill the hole… kinda like throwing a hot dog through Dartford tunnel…

I used the terracotta rings with my Rotala in one of my old tanks. But I usually put 10-15 individual stems in them to make a snug fit. You can get smaller hole-sized ones as well. I suppose another option could be ceramic media rings? They have a much smaller diameter.

Another option could be this -

 

[Sparx]

Ahhhh I see! Great suggestions thanks @MattW !
I’m off out to pets at home now to see if I can get the wraps

 

[Magnum Man]

I use solid core lead free solder wire, as plant weights… it’s soft enough to wrap around the base of a plant, the roots, or rhizomes… depending on the plant size to retain, I cut it to length, and wrap it… for example, on Java ferns, that don’t get buried, I snip a piece about an inch and a half long, and wrap it around the center of a rhizome and it holds them nicely, without covering the rhizomes…