Terrestrial plants roots make a great habitat option

[Magnum Man]

Along with many other benefits, like ammonia absorption, terrestrial plants roots make great habitats… while I have several above tank plants growing out of my tanks, one of the most productive at growing rootballs, is the pothos vines… I have 2 very prolific pothos in my South American tetra tank, and I expect someday I’ll see “wrigglers” in the roots, as the rummy’s often group spawn… I’ve talked about “foot roots” before… the tank next to the South American tetra tank, is my Hillstream loach tank, and it doesn’t have any pothos vines in it, but the vining runners of the pothos vines are growing over the top of the Hillstream tank… the vine has put down a “foot root” into the water in the Hillstream tank… and some of the smaller Hillstream’s are really liking hanging out in them… not sure if the roots are drawing in water and there is more biofilm deposited on the glass here, or if they just like the perceived protection???
This is 2 different smaller varieties of Hillstream sharing the space, and there has been as many as 4 in this spot at a time… I was going to clip it, as it’s on the front, and in front of the pagoda, but may decide to leave it, as a natural habitat spot…

Panda on the pagoda roof, behind the root

 

[Magnum Man]

This is my thickest rootball, from the same plant, in the South American tank...perhaps the perfect hiding place for future tetra fry???

 

[Mazain]

Along with many other benefits, like ammonia absorption, terrestrial plants roots make great habitats… while I have several above tank plants growing out of my tanks, one of the most productive at growing rootballs, is the pothos vines… I have 2 very prolific pothos in my South American tetra tank, and I expect someday I’ll see “wrigglers” in the roots, as the rummy’s often group spawn… I’ve talked about “foot roots” before… the tank next to the South American tetra tank, is my Hillstream loach tank, and it doesn’t have any pothos vines in it, but the vining runners of the pothos vines are growing over the top of the Hillstream tank… the vine has put down a “foot root” into the water in the Hillstream tank… and some of the smaller Hillstream’s are really liking hanging out in them… not sure if the roots are drawing in water and there is more biofilm deposited on the glass here, or if they just like the perceived protection???
This is 2 different smaller varieties of Hillstream sharing the space, and there has been as many as 4 in this spot at a time… I was going to clip it, as it’s on the front, and in front of the pagoda, but may decide to leave it, as a natural habitat spot…

Panda on the pagoda roof, behind the root
View attachment 347058

Hillstreams I got love sandy substrate and camouflage them selves. The pothos roots must be providing cover and disloved oxygen at that level in the tank.

 

[Magnum Man]

There is a lot of oxygen in this tank, with 2 tidal 75’s, and a 20 inch bubble waterfall, but anything I can do to keep those levels up