Can this be done?

[koop171]

Ok so I am in the middle of seting up a new 125 it will have black sand substrate. and I want to put some (lots) of fake plants in it. Here's the problem I HATE the fake plants with the cupshaped bottom They don't stay put very good at all. And the weighted ones mostly come in a natural rock color/look. Like the one in the pic. So what I want to know is there any way that I can afix the black sand to the weighted bottom of the fake plant. Like a aquarium safe spray on glue or mixing sand with black silicone and "dipping" the base for a good coat.
The reason I want to do this is my fish have a tendancy to move the plants around and I don't want to have to reseat the plants everyday so the natural color isn't showing and it all matches.

So is there any way to afix sand to the base of weighted fake plants perminitly?

P.S. the pic is dark color I know but this is for the most part the style of bottom I am talking about

 

[fishoverlivingspace]

Silicone is definitely an option.. also I use a super glue in my reef tank for gluing coral frags called "duro quick gel". It is non-toxic for fish/plants/corals and works pretty well.. keep it out of water for about 20 seconds and then it is capable of curing the rest of the way underwater.

 

[koop171]

What's the consistancy of this stuff? My biggest worry is it being realy thick and not having a good amount of time to play with it before it sets up b/c I will be doing at least 10 plants with varying base sizes.

 

[soggysandwich]

you could use the ones with the cups on the bottom and then silicone them to the bottom of the tank

 

[koop171]

I was thinking of siliconing them to the bottom but then what do I do if I want to redecorate when the tank is still up ? I don't feel like sticking my hand in a tank with RBPs and try to pry anything off the bottom


But good idea if it were different fish

 

[chesterthehero]

just smear some silicone on the base and dip them in the sand... i found using a rag/sock works well for smearing silicone around

 

[koop171]

^^^ thanx I think this can be done and I think ill have to LFS order me some black silicome when I do this

 

[fishoverlivingspace]

that duro quick gel stuff has the consistency of standard superglue, and you've only got about 20 seconds of work time before it starts to cure.

 

[koop171]

that duro quick gel stuff has the consistency of standard superglue, and you've only got about 20 seconds of work time before it starts to cure.

I know I will need WAY more time then that like I said above I will be doing around 10 plants I think. If I were to only do one that duro would be the way to go but I just need more then 20 sec. I can work fast but not that fast lol

 

[fishoverlivingspace]

well what about doing one plant at once?? Coat individual plants with it, then dip it in a cup full of sand or something...