my cichlids love to dig in the dirt, and i have a 3"sand base to play with, what i do i dig a crator(as close to th bottom as i can), place my plant where i want it, place a fertilizer stick or two in the base of the roots, then i cut i piece of pvc pipe cover it with hot glue and rocks and press it into the sand than burry the whole thing back up with sand, i dont have to worry about vaccuming besause of there is over 1500gph of current so the food goes right into the filter.