with or without the pot(container)

[jemanser]

I am presently planting and am elbow high in water. I have had mixed opinions on wether to keep the plant in the small pot(with rockwool) or plant in the substrate...I did remove the anubias already knowing they like the rhizome on top of the substate. The roots are growing out already. I don't know how rock wool holds up...wil lit shred over time and make a mess (substate gravel and 30% eco-complete)?

[Roan Art]

Good question, I'd like to know, too.

I heard that if you have fish that like to dig, you can leave them in the pots and it makes it harder for them to dig the plant up, and easier to replace if they do get dug up.

Dunno how viable that info is. Can someone confirm that rockwool is okay?

Roan

[CharlieV]

Rockwool is merely a rooting medium for the plants and as far as I know has no ill effects on water chemistry.
As for it breaking apart i guiess anything will degrade over time just how long?!

I have a couple of plants that have rockwool in the centre of their root systems as it would have damaged them too much to take out - seems to be ok as they are in my 30g which has been going since Feb.

[reiverix]

I always remove the rockwool. I was under the impression that it was loaded with nutrients that could leach into the water column. This is something I've never tested though so I may well be wrong. Still, I would remove it anyway since it would be something in my tank that's not really needed.

[happychem]

Rockwool is full of hydroponic ferts. in the growing house, but after sitting in the tank at the lfs for a while there won't be much left, so long as they are at least a little dilligent with their water changes. So I don't think that there is really an issue with the ferts in the rockwool, so it's up to you. My preference would be to remove the plant to give it more room to grow.

[phanmc]

I've heard that the fibers in the rock wool can be dangerous to your fishes once it begins to break apart. I remove it just because it doesn't look good when it gets dug up.