Riccia + HOB filter

[caffeine]

I just got some riccia today. I've been all happy and attempting to make a carpet out of it in my tank. I finish up and turn my filter back on and realize this is a bad thing. Bits of riccia float on the surface of my tank. I like this because I need to grow more, but it gets thrown all over my tank when it hits the output stream from my filter. Is there anything I can do short of a canister filter? I really can't afford to spend the cash right now. :(

[RTR]

Riccia is not a rooted plant, it will not carpet on its own. Folks make riccia rocks and slate pieces by containing the ricia in a hairnet pulled and tied over the rock, then trimming the result frequently.

[caffeine]

Yeah I've done that with a hairnet, most of my riccia is being held to the bottom of the tank right now. It's just that I still have some bits floating around on the surface and I want them to grow into more patches, but they keep getting blown around by the filter.

I put a hairnet over the water flow from the filter and it's catching a lot of the riccia, but now I have a bag of riccia flowing in the middle of my tank.

[kveeti]

OK, I tried attaching a picture but this smart program told me I couldn't because I've already attached it once before. But consequently, I lost my whole answer.

Anyhow, look for my name under this thread to find my picture: http://64.191.28.50/forums/showthread.php?threadid=11167

The tubing is 1/4 inch (inside diameter) bought at local home hardware type store for 35 cents (Canadian) a foot. The suction cups are regular aquarium ones you buy for holding tubing. I don't see why this wouldn't work for riccia as well. The tubing floats and allows for some evaporation in water levels... the only trouble is the floaties all escape at water changes.

[caffeine]

that's a really good idea! I have tubing and suction cups too. I think I may try to make a ring out of it so it could float downwards when I do water changes.

[caffeine]

I just made that ring and so far so good. I took a piece of 1/2" ID tubing and made it into a ring and cut a small piece of 3/8" ID tubing to fit inside of the two ends of the tubing to join them together and it floats! I put as much riccia as I could gather in there and it's not escaping. I tethered it to my hood so it won't float over to the flow of the filter. Thanks kveeti!

[kveeti]

No problem. The ring is a great idea... originally I got the idea because I knew I wanted something like those plastic feeding rings - but not so itty bitty. Even used as an actual feeding ring, they are still too itty bitty.