Can Plants Live Without Substrate?

My frogs got unfortunately got chytrid and I had to scrap my whole tank.

The thing is it’s heavily planted with at least $100 worth of plants. I was told that chytrid dies after 3 months without a host, so I can quarantine them and use them later. I’m planning around four months. Do I need to plant them in something or can they survive just free floating in a container with some fertilizer?

 

I don’t know about chytrid, but I guess it would depend on what plants you have. What do you have?

 

Stems will probably do well, but heavy root feeders like swords and crypts might not do so well. Also, flow is pretty important. I don't really know anything about chytrid, but is it possible to keep the tank running as it is for 4 months without moving anything?

 

Mostly Anubis varieties, some green wendtii, java moss, and Marino ball and some others I don’t know the name of.

 

I have seen root feeders kept bare bottom planted in pots. The ceramic ones are cheap and probably would be less of a hassle then substrate.

 

Stems will probably do well, but heavy root feeders like swords and crypts might not do so well. Also, flow is pretty important. I don't really know anything about chytrid, but is it possible to keep the tank running as it is for 4 months without moving anything?

I already tore it down because I didn’t have the room for two set ups and after I bleach it I’m going use is as one of the two QT tanks I need for the next twoish weeks.

Hmm I didn’t think about the flow. I was hoping to be able to keep them in vases temporarily but I know a few months is a long time. I might be able to keep it on the floor after I’m done treating the frogs. Could they at least survive two weeks without flow? I can probably get some cheap sand since I don’t want to keep disrupting the roots

 

I have seen root feeders kept bare bottom planted in pots. The ceramic ones are cheap and probably would be less of a hassle then substrate.

Root feeders?

 

Root feeders?

Plants that rely heavily on feeding through their roots such as carpeting plants, swords, and cryptocorynes.

 

You have column feeders that get their nutrients threw the water column, think floating plants. Root feeders get their nutrients from what ever their planted in, sand, soil or something similar.

 

My cryptocorynes kept most of the gravel when I pulled them up. I didn’t shake anything off any of the plants, I was trying to be gentle as possible. And I’m pretty sure there is a ghost shrimp and assassin snail in there with them because they’re missing right now. Everything is just siting in a bucket at the moment until I figure out what I can put them in and where.

 

You have column feeders that get their nutrients threw the water column, think floating plants. Root feeders get their nutrients from what ever their planted in, sand, soil or something similar.

I’m guessing the Anubis will be fine since it can grow on rocks and wood? I can put the gravel I took out of the tank in the temp vases but would like to get sand when I put them in their own QT.

I’m concerned about the water flow now though, can they live two weeks without it?

 

I’m guessing the Anubis will be fine since it can grow on rocks and wood? I can put the gravel I took out of the tank in the temp vases but would like to get sand when I put them in their own QT.

I’m concerned about the water flow now though, can they live two weeks without it?

Yes they can, it just becomes an issue long term

 

They can survive just fine if theyre not root feeders. Java ferns, moss & anubias are not root feeders and theyll do fine without substrate. Cryptocorynes is a root feeder and requires very specific substrate to thrive. They prefer soft water similar to a bog with moss, sand & leaf litter substrates. I have not had much luck with them, even in supposed ideal conditions.

 

They can survive just fine if theyre not root feeders. Java ferns, moss & anubias are not root feeders and theyll do fine without substrate. Cryptocorynes is a root feeder and requires very specific substrate to thrive. They prefer soft water similar to a bog with moss, sand & leaf litter substrates. I have not had much luck with them, even in supposed ideal conditions.

Thank you! Cryptocorynes (if I’m thinking of the right plant) did really well in my old tank. I was actually looking at them earlier and I had planted them when I was a newbie first setting up my tank and didn’t take off all the stuff from the pot it came in, so now they are on little mats of that and the gravel. I think that might be enough for short term.