Alternatives to Pothos
- Thread starter duanes
- Start date
Thank you! Just responded to that question from someone else above. Must have been typing at the same time. The plants do grow quickly with a dedicated light on them, and have to be trimmed and reset periodically. I've come to rely on natural methods more and more after getting into planted tanks. Some fish just wont allow plants but this method has worked well for me. Haven't had any species mess with the roots at all.
That is some impressive nitrate reduction. Something like this will possibly be my next project on my 180g.
1. How are the individual plants anchored?
2. Are they each in little pots allowing the roots to creep out of the bottom into the water?
3. Do you use any type of gravel or soil for the plants?
4. How the hell do you vacuum your gravel?
5. Can they be individually removed or, by now, are they just one huge interminged plant that you just trim once in a while?
Terrestrial plants with their feet in the water are great for consuming nitrogenous waste. My latest fishroom is a finished garage with skylights (and windows) so there's enough light in some places to grow papyrus plants... I also have Pothos, several varieties of Philodendrons, Peace Lilly , wandering jew and Bolivian jew. There's a great nursery locally that has a houseplant hobbyist who propagates all sorts of tropical plants for sale in their store for a few bucks each. Between the ones I've bought and the ones I've propagated myself I've got plants in most tanks and/or their overhead filters.
How does the total dissolved solid levels compare to your tap/source water? Is it lower, by how much? Is it higher, by how much?
No fertilizer, or pots. Just plant cuttings in water. I have a standard aqueon versa top, and I use a hole saw that's about one inch to cut circular holes all along the plastic strip at the back. It's as simple as that. The plants do grow into a tangled mass, but I can actually open the lids push the slim light back, and lift the plants to sort of use them to keep the tops open if that makes sense.
Also they aren't always this overgrown.
Here is a different pic that doesnt have as much growth. The fish like the roots for cover.
Pothos?
They take awhile for all the terrestrial roots to convert into aquatic roots. The plant won't look or do great during that transition. I've had pothos growing out of a large marina brand breeder box off the back of my oscar tank for years. The kind of breeder box that uses bubbles and an air pump to pump water in/out of. I used to have the pothos winding around the room, but that kind of makes a mess of painted drywall walls, plus I've found sometimes the vines weep water, so you have to be mindful of that.
I don't measure for TDS, even in my shrimp tanks. Just regular tap water. I haven't used ferts in over a year, although I do need to start fertilizing my planted tanks again. Definitely starting to notice them slow down.
