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Planter-balls for aquariums

Started by Guest_Usil_* , Aug 28 2011 05:35 PM

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13 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 05:35 PM

I have been exploring how to best add plants if I did not go the route of having soil throughout the tank. While I am not ruling this out, what about something like this for rooting and growing plants placed under the aquarium gravel? Maybe something like this from Walmart for plant starts. Any one tried this?

I am still reading in the forums so please excuse if this has been reviewed.

Posted Image

Been reading this too.

http://www.aquabotanic.com/?p=460

Usil

Edited by Usil, 28 August 2011 - 05:51 PM.

#2 Guest_smilingfrog_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 06:30 PM

The above product appears to be a chunk of lava rock or other porous material with a hole drilled in it and some plants stuffed inside. There may be more to it, but in my opinion it seems a bit gimmicky.
I haven't tried this myself but have heard of people taking sections of nylon pantyhose, filling with soil, kitty litter, or whatever choice of medium, and planting in that. It is then tied loosely around the plant to hold everything in place. This can be sized and shaped to fit the area you want to put the plant and is easily buried in the gravel. Long sections can also be used with slits made for multiple plants.
As I said, I haven't tried it myself, so don't know how well it would hold up long term, but think it should last a while.

Edited by smilingfrog, 28 August 2011 - 06:46 PM.

#3 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 28 August 2011 - 08:05 PM

I was thinking this was some organic ball. If it is just a rock then this is not what I was thinking and you are right - a gimick. I was thinking of something like the little plant balls that you get at Walmart - soak in water and add a seed.

Usil

Edited by Usil, 28 August 2011 - 08:06 PM.

#4 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 07:11 AM

Looks like a gimmick to me.

I might try using small clay orchid pots (with holes in the sides) to hold soil for plants. Line the pot with a coffee filter (to keep the soil in until things get settled), add soil, plant, then top off with gravel. Sink into your existing substrate at the proper level.

I've used regular small plastic pots as well, but the clay will look better.

#5 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 08:59 AM

I agree with the previous posts about the nylon or the submerged planting pots.

And you said soil in your post and I just wanted to let you know that kitty litter is just as nutritious, and it doesn't make nearly half the problems (the fine organic debris, the algae blooms, the rotting and decay, etc, etc). Kitty litter looks just like gravel, look at this image: http://gallery.nanfa... photo.jpg.html
If kitty litter gets dug up, the filter clears the dust out of the water column within a few hours. There is no smell and fouling of the water like there is if soil is dug up.

Here's an image of a tank with kitty litter: http://gallery.nanfa...ageViewsIndex=1
Kitty litter substrate analysis: http://www.thekrib.c...rate-jamie.html

#6 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 29 August 2011 - 09:24 AM

And you said soil in your post and I just wanted to let you know that kitty litter is just as nutritious, and it doesn't make nearly half the problems (the fine organic debris, the algae blooms, the rotting and decay, etc, etc).

I'm going to disagree with you again. Good clay based soil... like out of my backyard in north georgia... does not cause any of the problems that you are talking about... soil does not rot or decay. If I can convince people to use the good dirt out of their back yard instead of supporting evil empire, he who shall not be named (W@!m!#t) then I will do so... dont spend money buying dirt... some of you already spend money buy water!?... stop the madness.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#7 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 09:54 AM

I am learning a few things today that I had not considered. Dirt, I thought would simply make for a mess in the tank and kitty liter - I have not even considered. What the heck is kitty litter anyway. The small clay pot idea buried is sounding good too.

I will read a lot more on these subjects before I start assembling the tank next week.

Usil

#8 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 12:09 PM

I am getting over loaded on information as I read. New links keep appearing and I follow those threads. I think I am going to slow down my schedule to assemble my tank in the next week and continue to read and study to formulate a plan of action. I know I can do a tank quick and dirty and it will look good as long as I use appropriate materials. I also know that I can put a lot of time into one and get similar results with longer lasting results.

Since I am just going to set up one 55 gallon tank in my home office for the pleasure of watching my longears I think I will just relax and see what sorts out with all the information out there I am reviewing. I am sure a plan will eventually come into mind for what I want to do.

Usil

#9 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 01:20 PM

...If I can convince people to use the good dirt out of their back yard instead of supporting evil empire, he who shall not be named (W@!m!#t) then I will do so... dont spend money buying dirt... some of you already spend money buy water!?... stop the madness.

I totally agree; if you can find a kitty litter that is pure baked clay at a store other than Walmart (which does not allow unions), then please by all means go for it. I just happened to be transportationally challenged and near a Walmart, whose Special Kitty litter does come in a "pure baked clay" variety. Not everybody has access to their own backyard where they can dig up soil. Not everybody wants to buy potting soil, which most people agree needs a capping layer over it. (Kitty litter doesn't.)

And Usil, if you have any questions about using kitty litter, please don't hesitate to e-mail or private message me. I'd love to share my experiences with others so they don't have to repeat my mistakes. *coughs* Don't use Miracle Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix. *cough*

#10 Guest_Usil_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 01:45 PM

Thanks Erica, I appreciate the offer and may do this as I review. ( I love the little videos you created. Very nice little fish. Would they survive along with Longears?) Right now I see two paths developing.

1. A tank that is set up with appropriate hardware and a few plants and is healthy for the fish where the fish are the key element and require the main maintenance

- or -

2. A tank that is set up with appropriate hardware and designed for specifically growing plants and also keeping fish.

The first option provides for the maintenance of the aquarium for the benefit for healthy fish. The second has a twofold need and that is the maintenance for the plants plus the maintenance of the fish. I think that the second option requires more thought and more effort in the maintenance plan. I am not sure I want to go this route for this tank but will continue exploring the information available and keep an open mind. I think by my waiting a few weeks to review before starting the setup will work to my advantage. I have the hardware now I just need to establish what setup plan I want to use. No sense in rushing all this.

Usil

Edited by Usil, 29 August 2011 - 01:48 PM.

#11 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 01:51 PM

( I love the little videos you created. Very nice little fish. Would they survive along with Longears?)

Elassoma gilberti max out at around an inch in length. The longears would find them very tasty.

Scaled photos:
Female: http://gallery.nanfa... photo.jpg.html
Male: http://gallery.nanfa...mber 3.jpg.html

Edited by EricaWieser, 29 August 2011 - 01:56 PM.

#12 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 29 August 2011 - 02:15 PM

The first option provides for the maintenance of the aquarium for the benefit for healthy fish. The second has a twofold need and that is the maintenance for the plants plus the maintenance of the fish. I think that the second option requires more thought and more effort in the maintenance plan. I am not sure I want to go this route for this tank but will continue exploring the information available and keep an open mind. I think by my waiting a few weeks to review before starting the setup will work to my advantage. I have the hardware now I just need to establish what setup plan I want to use. No sense in rushing all this.

You are taking a thoughtful approach and that almost always leads to a better result in the long run.

I will throw in that I hate maintenance and try to do as little as possible. That is why I like the deep soil, live plant combination... I find that there is actually less tank maintenance. I mean heck, one of my tanks doesn't even have a filter... the only maintenance is taking out overgrown plants and throwing them in the compost. That is not true for all of them, but it does seem like the deeper substrate seems to correlate with less maintenance

check out this old thread and look at the substrate depth and fish density on the tank...
http://forum.nanfa.o...ch__1#entry8103

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#13 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 29 August 2011 - 02:19 PM

(which does not allow unions)

Except I am not allowed to talk politics on the forum I would say that is the only thing they do that I agree with...

my problem with them is:

the gouging of both their suppliers (I have been one) and their customers (I have not been one for over five years now)
their destruction of mom and pops and the associated intelligent customer service (see above) and
their desire to pave everything creating excess run-off and associated water and habitat loss for local fish

see I got fish in there at the end... I will stop now before I have to moderate myself.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#14 Guest_MrCatfish_*

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Posted 29 August 2011 - 05:06 PM

I f you decide to go with a planted tank with longears I would recommend soil capped with gravel or sand. I have done soil capped with gravel and I have done soil capped wit sand. I have also used kitty litter by itself and capped with sand. The kitty litter is nice with small fish I use it in my two 10 gallon tanks(E.Evergladei and H.Formosa). But with larger fish it kept my tank cloudy(150 with sunfish and grass pickerel). This is because the larger fish kept it stirred up. I capped it with sand but the sand slowly works down into it revealing the litter.
Now for the soil. I use soil from the back yard. As said above it doesn't contain all the stuff that causes problems with Miracle grow. I have soil that I capped with sand and in some parts of the tank the soil is exposed. I have no algae and no cloudiness problems. When I used soil capped with gravel it stayed that way. I also didn't have very large sunfish(a couple 3 inch orangespots). The only thing I recommend here is using a small sized gravel.It makes for easier planting.
Know don't get me wrong I like both kitty litter and soil from backyard. But I prefer soil. This is just my experience.