This is an introductory offer for a small combination package of tank planters, an apparently new kind of planted aquarium accessory. The tank planter is comprised of a threaded jar with a bottom covering that holds plant roots along with nutrient-rich substrates to create a favorable rooting environment. Tank planters work best with rosette-form or bulb plants that have sturdy root systems, such as Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus and Crinum. Here is shot of a Tank Planter with a rooted crypt plant.
The underwater plants in my 50-gallon setup are all planted in tank planters and have been growing in them for months with little special care. The sand/gravel substrate in that tank is deep enough to hide the planters for a natural appearance.
After a time many roots form in the planter. The planter substrate is comprised of a natural forest soil combined with other slow-release nutrient sources.
Since the plant roots and nutrients are contained within the planter cup they are totally movable within the aquarium environment. This addresses the need to leave rooted aquarium plants in place as they root in the tank substrate. There are a number of promising potential applications for tank planters, including use with the following situations/conditions:
Here is the "mini garden" combination package offered in this MFK Marketplace thread.
This design/concept is US Patent Pending.
The mini garden is comprised of two "medium" (2.25") tank planters (1) and three "small" (1.75") tank planters (2) with bottom coverings (3) for each. Planter screens (4) line the top inside surface of the planters, holding the plant in place and preventing substrate from spilling out of the top hole. Planter gravel (5), a baked clay product, fills most of the top part of the planter. A thinner layer of planter mud (6) fills the bottom portion of the planter and provides a long-term nutrient source for plant roots.
This is a lot of stuff.
The following offers the prices that I came up with for one or two of the combination packages:
An instruction sheet is also included with the combination packages. It is still in draft form, but the planters are easy to use and I'm sure that everybody in this audience will be able to follow along.
Two of the mini garden packages should be sufficient to plant up most of a 20-gallon (24" X 12") or similar tank with a few foreground plants, some taller background foliage and a centerpiece plant. The planter offers limited root run, so you should not expect plants to grow to a large size. The smaller planters works well for plants that grow to about 6" tall. Plants will grow to about 9" tall if planted in the medium planter.
I hope that this is clear so far. Please respond here or send me a PM if you have any questions.
Cheers,
The underwater plants in my 50-gallon setup are all planted in tank planters and have been growing in them for months with little special care. The sand/gravel substrate in that tank is deep enough to hide the planters for a natural appearance.
After a time many roots form in the planter. The planter substrate is comprised of a natural forest soil combined with other slow-release nutrient sources.
Since the plant roots and nutrients are contained within the planter cup they are totally movable within the aquarium environment. This addresses the need to leave rooted aquarium plants in place as they root in the tank substrate. There are a number of promising potential applications for tank planters, including use with the following situations/conditions:
- bare-bottom tanks
- coarse decorative gravels that create a poor rooting environment
- boisterous fish (especially cichlids) that tend to uproot plants
- ripariums
- low-tech tanks
Here is the "mini garden" combination package offered in this MFK Marketplace thread.
This design/concept is US Patent Pending.
The mini garden is comprised of two "medium" (2.25") tank planters (1) and three "small" (1.75") tank planters (2) with bottom coverings (3) for each. Planter screens (4) line the top inside surface of the planters, holding the plant in place and preventing substrate from spilling out of the top hole. Planter gravel (5), a baked clay product, fills most of the top part of the planter. A thinner layer of planter mud (6) fills the bottom portion of the planter and provides a long-term nutrient source for plant roots.
This is a lot of stuff.
The following offers the prices that I came up with for one or two of the combination packages:
- 1 Mini Garden Combination Package ($9.00) with USPS Priority Mail shipping ($6.00) to sum to $15.00
- 2 Mini Garden Combination Packages ($18.00) plus USPS Priority Mail shipping ($7.50) to sum to $25.50
An instruction sheet is also included with the combination packages. It is still in draft form, but the planters are easy to use and I'm sure that everybody in this audience will be able to follow along.
Two of the mini garden packages should be sufficient to plant up most of a 20-gallon (24" X 12") or similar tank with a few foreground plants, some taller background foliage and a centerpiece plant. The planter offers limited root run, so you should not expect plants to grow to a large size. The smaller planters works well for plants that grow to about 6" tall. Plants will grow to about 9" tall if planted in the medium planter.
I hope that this is clear so far. Please respond here or send me a PM if you have any questions.
Cheers,
