Bamboo

Janmitch22 · April 14th, 2006

We've got bamboo in the yard. The thin kind. Would they grow if I stuck them in a tank, with a bit of it poking above the waterline, and also monitoring the rot propensity?

Butterfly · April 14th, 2006

Yes it will grow I have two stalks growing out the top of a tank. Looks really cool.
Carol

Janmitch22 · April 15th, 2006

Lol I breathed a sigh of relief when I read that you'd already done it, Butterfly.* What, did you just cut and stick?

Butterfly · April 15th, 2006

Actually what I have is lucky bamboo, it's a little different than what you have. The kind in the yard will do even better. Just cut it, rinse well and plant. Can you get a few roots with a small piece? Watch for it to rot as it does different in all tanks.
Carol

Janmitch22 · April 16th, 2006

Another good idea! Lucky bamboo is greener than what I have. I may end up switching to it; I like its look. Wait, what tank do you have it in? Can I get a picture? Or two?

Butterfly · April 16th, 2006

Sure you can have a pic

This is a ten gallon with play sand. You can't really see the bamboo for all the other stuff growing.
The next is over the top of the tank.
The two short ones to the right are growing in the filter.
Carol

fish_r_friend · April 16th, 2006

whats in the tank?

Butterfly · April 16th, 2006

There are 10 half black yellow guppy juveniles in that tank.
Carol

fish_r_friend · April 16th, 2006

kool when i lived in FL their was a place i would go to all the time that had a forest of bamboo

Janmitch22 · April 17th, 2006

I do like that! They're growing in sand?

Butterfly · April 17th, 2006

The tall one on the left is rooted in the sand and has been since last summer. No sign of rot. The short ones on the right are growing out of the filter.
Carol

Janmitch22 · April 18th, 2006

Wow, that really shows the tenacity of bamboo.* We had some in a small bit of the yard and it's just exploded in this southern humidity and heat. But to seed itself and grow out of your filter...! That's cool.

Butterfly · April 18th, 2006

Actually they didn't seed themselves. They are just shorter pieces of bamboo that I've put in the filter to grow. I keep plants in several filters, they use some of the nutrients in the water circulating over their roots and help keep the tanks cleaner.
Carol

Janmitch22 · April 19th, 2006

Ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...how clever <writes that down> They need a lightbulb smiley for things like this. I take it you don't need to rinse that filter?

Butterfly · April 19th, 2006

No I don't have to rinse the filters with plants in them near as often. the plants love the gunk and use it to grow. when I rinse it I just pull plant and filter media out rinse them in used tank water as usual and plunk plants and media back in until the next time it needs to be cleaned.
Carol

newbie101 · April 20th, 2006

I thought you can't use play sand in an aquarium

Janmitch22 · April 20th, 2006

I dunno about Butterfly, but I used pool filter sand in mine. I heard bad stories about all kinds of ick in playground sand.

Butterfly · April 20th, 2006

Yes you sure can use play sand in an aquarium. I really like the pool filter sand better, it's not as fine as play sand.
the problem with sand of any kind is having it pack and form anerobic air pockets. You have to stir it about once a month by hand or keep snails(preferably malasian Trumpet snails) to keep the sand loose and aereated.
I use MTS in all my sand tanks and have never had a problem.
Carol

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