How do I keep floating plants from going all over the place?

[PattyCakes81]

Today I just received some dwarf lettuce. Also some water spangle aka Salvinia*'Salvinia minima' (it came free Yay!).

How do I keep it from being dragged all over by the current.

I already reduced the flow all the way down on my AquaClear 50. Didn't really want to do that.

Any suggestions welcome,
Patricia

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[rufioman]

Any way you can put something floating up top to act as a current-blocker?

 

[tanker]

Get a short length of air hose and make a flaoting hoop. The hoop would keep an area clear of pants for the "water-fall" of the filter output.

 

[wesleydnunder]

Get a short length of air hose and make a flaoting hoop. The hoop would keep an area clear of pants for the "water-fall" of the filter output.

Yep
Much like the booms that are used for corralling spilled oil.

Mark

 

[FreshyFresh]

Yep, floating plants and HOBs can be a difficult combination. IMO, your average planted tank does better with little surface agitation. You'll have to get creative like suggested above, or eventually replace the AC50 with a canister filter.

 

[Fishfriend1]

As said above, canisters are a blessing for floating plants. I also suggest the use of some well placed airline tubing.

 

[Fish_Bone]

Never fear! I am here to save the day...well sort of.

I am having the same issues. I have a crater in my substrate right now because of my HOB filter.

I have devised an idea to rectify the problem. I was thinking about how to redirect the flow of water, without looking terrible. So after kicking around some ideas with an industrial engineer I work with. It hit me. Plexy glass. It would be practically invisible and be able to handle the force of the returning water. My idea ( which I have yet to try, seeing how I just came up with it today.) Is to drill small holes in the four corners of a say 4x4 piece for fishing line to be fed through. You could run in one hole out the other, then use the remaining line to either attach to the hob or use a suction cup (or two) and attach to the glass.

The idea is that the Plexy will divert the water. Shorting or lengthening the fishing line will control the direction the water should go. On a side note maybe drill holes in the square to diffuse/ reduce the power of the stream.

Let me know if you try this, and I will do the same.

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[Fish_Bone]

Sweet the mobile app won't let me edit...

What I was going to add is at the right height, I think it would be just be low the water line, the floating plants won't be able to climb on top of the Plexy, but will be gently pushed away. In theory anyways.

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[PattyCakes81]

Thank you all for the great tips. Fish bone, will let you know what I end up doing!

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[Fish_Bone]

Hey I got a chance to do what I suggested for my tank, thought I would share.




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