Fake plants and silicone

[debiasir]

Hi Forum

In my tank i have three fake plants that have a scoop on the bottom that goes under the gravel to hold them down. They are quite annoying to clean as pulling them out disturbs the gravel etc.

I was thinking of filling the scoops with gravel and aquarium safe silicone then the plants wont be under the gravel and to clean will just be a case of lifting out of the water.

any opinions on this

 

[bartender_in_ny]

your fish store also sells lead weights for these as well, but your idea is great!!!!

 

[OohFeeshy]

No offense, bartender_in_ny but can you cut your sig down? Its way over the guidelines, and takes up a lot of space on the page.

I have the same plants in my betta tank. I'd try it, but even with gravel in they sometimes float. Its a good idea though.

 

[debiasir]

illgive it a go i think seewhat happens

 

[nc_nutcase]

Make sure you give the silicone ample curing time before reintroducing the plant into your tank. Most silicone bottles say it will cure in 24 hours. But remember... that is when using a 3/8 of an inch bead. If you clump more than that on (which is fine to do) then cover it with gravel... it will take longer to cure.

I siliconed an elaborate shelving system into a 55 Gal not too long ago to create a terrarium and didn't allow enough curing time (and I waited 2 days). The soft silicone is toxic to fish and plants and killed two of my fish and destroyed about $15 in plants. Since then the tank has been broken down, allowed to dry (which I'm sure it hardened while underwater, but I wanted to be sure) and is cycling now. I did a cycle with fish for a few reasons and one was to make sure there wasn't still silicone toxins in the tank. But my guppies have made it a week so I think I'm good

Ooops... sorry... I forgot... this thread is about your plants not my tank... But yea, sounds like a great idea, just make sure ya let it cure for a few days! lol

 

[Paul_MTS]

i'ved used these plants before and often find just gravel isn't enough to hold them down so maybe you can fit a bit of lead strip in there aswell.