Quick Question

[zkemper]

Hey all, I want to get live plants for my betta tank. 5 gallons. Was wondering, I use a mini siphon water changer. To change water and clean out extra food debree. How would I do this with live plants that root themselves into the gravel? Because when I do water changes I normally go all the way to the bottom of the tank with the siphon tube to get all debree just to be safe. I don't wanna chop off or kill a live plant/bulb by digging to hard with the siphon. So how do I go about doing this correctly. Thanks. P.S. I haven't decided on which plants I want so idk if that makes a difference.

 

[Aquascaper]

Not 100% sure but doubt you'd be able to grow plants in gravel anyway so you would need to change your substrate.

 

[Tizer]

If its only 5 gallons, look at plants like Anubias that don't need to be rooted into the substrate and can be attached to a piece of wood instead. Not really much room in a 5 gal to go bananas anyway.

 

[mossonthemoon]

I usually avoided the base of my plants when I was rooting in gravel with a siphon, and I didn't have problems with water quality. I would siphone just above the root base, and did around the other parts of the tank. Mine was much bigger than 5 gallons, though. Plants can root in gravel very well, but the footprint (that I imagine of a 5 gallon) of your tank would mean that you wouldn't have room for too many plants with big, strong root systems anyway.

 

[zkemper]

Thanks guys I may upgrade soon but my Berta is the only one in the tank so its like why lol he's happy. Just wanted to give him some live stuff to lounge in.

*Betta