Any ideas on ways of anchoring plants

[Dman]

What are some good ways to anchor plants in the tank.

I've used lead strips which can't be very healthy for the fish and plant plugs which seems to be a piece of fiber glass insulation with fertilizer injected into it and some plastic netting. But my fish still pull the plants out or kicks up all the rocks from around the plants and then they come loose.

I'm about to buy some small plastic potting containers and put some pot ash or something like that to help the plants grow.

Any ideas?

[F.sparverius]

I tied the rizomes on my Java ferns to things, they are very strong and flexable. I leaft the lead weights on my canomba plants and other stemed plants until they developed some roots then buried those roots. It seemed to work pretty well for me.

[OldVamp]

if your haveing a really hard time with loose plants, you could put a plastic grid under the gravel and tie the plants to it.

[Leopardess]

You can also tie the plants to lava rocks or other types of rocks.

[Timmain42]

What kind of fish are you keeping, Dman? I ask because I had to remove a dozen or so barbs that the Missus had her heart SET on putting in the tank (they pulled up EVERY small plant in search of food)...

[jeffro426]

I use some low test fishing line...its very stong and disapears once you put it in the water

[Dman]

I only have a 29g tank but would like to get 150g tank soon.

I have a calico ryukin goldfish, red & white fantail goldfish, 3 catfish looking fish (don't remember their breed names), 2 apple snails, and a huge 8 inch comet goldfish that I bought about 7 years ago when it was a little 1/2" fish.

I have 2 other tanks, one that has a 6" golden chinese algae eater in it because it is aggressive and sucks the scales off of the other fish. And a little 5g tank that I use for plants and it also has a smaller brown chinese algae eater in it.

[Timmain42]

I would go with Jeffro's suggestion, becaues it seems to me that you have fish that don't take to planted plants too well.

Tie those suckers down! :)

[Must4ng s4lly]

Wouldn't fishing line cut or injure the tank inhabitants?? I have been using some lead weights all along with no problems for a year. Don't think Lead weights are an issue???? Also a great way to weigh down the plants is to bury them in a heavier smooth gravel or use smooth river rocks to weigh them down. I have a lot of fish in my tanks that love to root up the plants!

[jeffro426]

Originally posted by Must4ng s4lly
Wouldn't fishing line cut or injure the tank inhabitants?? I have been using some lead weights all along with no problems for a year. Don't think Lead weights are an issue???? Also a great way to weigh down the plants is to bury them in a heavier smooth gravel or use smooth river rocks to weigh them down. I have a lot of fish in my tanks that love to root up the plants!
How would it cut or hurt tank inhabitants?? Its tied to the rock...i.e. its touching the object completly and nothing is exposed to get snaged or caught on.

[Leopardess]

Fishing line is fine to use. Its often used for tying riccia down and holding plants like nana down (for the newly planted ones). It doesn't rot away like cotton either. I use it in all my tanks for a variety of reasons, mostly riccia-related.

Lead can be harmful to fish just like other organisms. i'm not sure if most fish live long enough for it to show its effects, but its something I'd rather not be touching myself.

[Must4ng s4lly]

OK I guess I didn't understand that it was not bare fishing string in the tank. That it is directly tied to the object. I only have three lead weights in a 60 gal, so I figured it was not too many. I use mostly the heavier gravel or rocks the hold the plants down anyway.....

[promethean_sprk]

I've read that lead anchors are okay if the ph is above 7, but in acidic water they will slowly dissolve - making the water toxic.

I usually place several small flat stones around the plant to let it's roots take hold. I leave the rocks there until another plant needs them.