Floating Elodea

[Sorrell]

Hi, my livebearer tank is planted and the elodea that I have in there won't stay rooted, even with weights, and it always floats at the top of the tank. I actually think this looks pretty, but I was wondering if it will survive ok up there. Thanks.

 

[endparenthesis]

It doesn't need to be rooted. Floating is fine.

The only way I've been able to keep them rooted is whenever a new bud forms and the roots start coming out of it, I cut the top of the plant off maybe an inch below the bud and plant it in the gravel. After a few days the roots have wound their way around down there enough to hold the plant down firmly. If you let the roots grow out straight an inch or two (which happens very quickly) before putting it in the gravel it gets much much harder to keep it in.

I only try to root them if roots are already forming. The plants seem to decide on their own where the roots should be coming out.