Correct Method Of Planting?

[Bazza57]

Does anyone out there know the right waty to plant vallisneria?

When bought from the shop, they are bunched together with a lead weight wrapped around them. Do I:
1/ Remove the lead weight, seperate the bunches & plant separately?
2/ Plant them with the lead weight still attached, & in a bunch?
3/ Should the root be fully planted in the substrate?

Every photo I see of well planted aquaria,I cannot see the lead weights. In fact, every article I read on planted aquaria seems to avoid this issue. I currently have a group of 4 bunches tied around a small plant container in a tight formation, they looked good at first, but now don't look too healthy - should I separerate them & plant them individually? Can anyone help out here?

 

[jameshughes1989]

Take the lead off and plant indivually. Plant the roots in the substrate but make sure the bottom of the plant is not buried. Hope that helps,

James

 

[Athena]

Ha! I was going to ask the same question today. Thanks - I've always kept the lead thing and sponge on the bunch - ooopsie!

So...if you have to take the lead weight off...what stops the plants from floating back up. I mean, some fish do pull at the plants and if they're not weighted down, surely they will just become uprooted? How do you stop that happening?

Athena

 

[justjon]

Athena - you can always tie to rock (or just buy some aquarium safe one)... then bury, then the plant will route around the rock and into the substrate

I didn't need to do this but was thinking about it thismorning whilst doing it, thankfully no fish seem to care about pulling them out, just shoaling around them

Edited due to below (I'm obviously not being very helpful!)

 

[ian]

Do not boil rocks! They may explode causing a lot of damage.

As for planting, make sure you substrate is deep enough and push the roots to the bottom, your plants shouldn't be coming back to the top.

 

[Athena]

Thanks guys - I'm sure I'll have a lovely planted tank one day, once I've got to grips with it all.

I'm in the process of trying to beautify my community tank with more live plants - I think it's just the sailfin molly in there that I've seen having a go at the vallisneria. In my cichlid tanks they would uproot everything and drag the plants around the tank to position them where THEY wanted. They shredded plants every week, so I gave up and they've got silk plants now.

Thanks for the advice.

Athena

 

[RadaR]

Do not boil rocks! They may explode causing a lot of damage.

I've always poured boiling water over my rocks. Or soaked them in boiling water from the kettle.
I dont reccomend placing rocks in a saucepan and then putting them on the boil though.