Darlene

I have some hornwort in my 5 gallon betta tank. My problem is it won't stay planted. Is there anyway to get it to stay in the gravel, or is it best to just let it float? When it is floating it covers most of the tank surface. Will that be ok for my betta?

Blub

You could try making a mound in the gravel, so it is really deep, and plant the hornwort in the deep bit. It might help it stay down.

Darlene

Thanks, I have it at about 1 1/2 in. now, but I will try putting some more over there.

joy613

Hornwort doesn't put down roots so if you want it to look like it is planted try tying it loosely to a rock or driftwood. I have bettas that spend most of their time in floating plants resting.

ER9

mine did after being burried in the gravel for a couple weeks. it definatelly helps to bury the stuff a bit. it will anchor after a while.

pinky93

I have the same problem...i try burying them in the gravel but somehow they end up floating again so i dont bury them i jus rest rocks on them and it works

Butterfly

You have to put a rock against it after you plant it. Be sure to pull the leaves off the part you plant because they will die and rot in the substrate if you don't.
Carol

Darlene

Thanks again everyone. We have a little pot in there for Neptune to hide in, so I may try anchoring it with that if it continues to float up.

Blub

If you can get your hands on some aquarium sand, get a small pot, put the sand in it, and then plant the hornwort in the sand. Sand is the easiest thing to plant in!

Darlene

Thanks Hatchet, I had not thought of that.

Lonely Angel

If you plant it in sand, I would recommend covering the sand with a layer of gravel. Sand can sometimes be mistaken as food by bettas and eaten which can kill them.

I have some hornwort in one of my 5 gallons that held down with driftwood. I bought a piece of driftwood that had a few holes going through it, then I pushed the hornwort through the holes so it rose up on either side. It stayes down fine and looks neat coming out of the driftwood.

Darlene

Thanks, I had read on here about the sand, so was planing on covering it if I need to use it. So far the hornwort is staying put, but I did take the snail I had in the tank out, and I think he may have been part of the problem

J J Indy

My plants usually come with lead weights should you not keep those in the tank?

Darlene

I would say that a lead weight is not good for your fish, lead is not good for humans, so I would not put in my fishes home. I would think a lead weight could leach, if this is the right word, into your water and be harmful to your fish I would use something else that you know is safe for aquarium use, maybe river rocks or something like it.