a plant in your gravel when you use your gravel vac to clean your gravel.How do you clean your gravel if the plant is growing roots in your gravel?
2007-08-01 12:48:39 · 5 answers · asked by sweetansassy 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
I wondered that myself before I converted all of my tanks to live plants (except my African cichlids) and I have come to understand. The live plants "eat" the fish waste and extra fish food and break it down to produce oxygen and act as a kind of filter so there is not so much need to vaccuum the gravel. It is helpful though to vaccuum it in between the plants when possible but really the plants cyle all of the waste on their own. It is of course still not adviseable to overfeed your fish and is recomended to have an even balance of fish to plants so that this natural cycle works most effectively.
2007-08-01 12:58:17 · answer #1 · answered by Ash 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
For larger plants like amazon swords, etc,.. I prefer to plant them in a small plastic pot. Butter bowls and such work great for this. This also allows you to place a layer of fertilizer in the tub which makes it nice when you siphon since you wont suck up the fertilizer on your waterchanges.
If you dont use pots just do not siphon deep when you do your water changes. If you do siphon deep there is a good chance you will damage the roots and your plants will either decline or fail to thrive.
If you do put your plants in pots and down the road notice the plant doing poorly just pull the pot out and put the plant in a larger tub.
2007-08-01 20:19:20 · answer #2 · answered by Matt G 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You vacuum around the plant. The area the plant is in will be relatively clean because the plant is consuming all the nutrients in that area. Just siphon the crap off the top layer of gravel.
Nosoop4u
2007-08-01 20:01:22 · answer #3 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You can get a small pot and cut it, and place it under where the plant(s) is so the roots only have a limit when they grow and that you know where the root are.
Shame on you for who ever gave everyone thumbs down!!!!
WT
2007-08-01 19:56:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You just replant it and try not to damage too many roots.
Edit - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i1/Planted_tank_substrates/Aquarium_Substrates.htm
This site will tell you how to properly plant and care of a tank with plants.
2007-08-01 19:52:33 · answer #5 · answered by fivespeed302 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋