How Do I Anchor Plants Down?

So I went to my LFS and got 3 plants and 3 weights and they gave me 2 plants for obe and the weights for free anyways how do I srap the roots around to anchor? Hurry as my plabts are still in the bag unless I can just float them.

 

Are they lead weights that the growers use? I don't keep those in my tanks due to toxicity questions. I have seen people posting on the internet that these lead weights aren't toxic, but lead is lead. I use some fishing line and tie plants to anything that doesn't move, such as decorations, clay pots, plastic mesh bags with some pebbles, submersed heaters, you name it.

 

Ok here is a pic of the weights I was given. Also I am freaking out because I don't know how to plant plants!!! I am gonna die at 16 of a heartattack!! Help! I planted 2 by just putting there roots in the gravel because idk how to use the weights. Someone help!

 

Here is what I have done so far I have not took the crypt out of the pot yet.

 

What kind of plants are they? Planting is pretty simple, just rinse the plants before putting them in the tank and then bury the roots under your substrate. If they are potted, remove the foam stuff around the roots before planting as well.

 

What kind of plants are they? Planting is pretty simple, just rinse the plants before putting them in the tank and then bury the roots under your substrate. If they are potted, remove the foam stuff around the roots before planting as well.

One is a crypt letus and the other two I have no clue. I did not rinse but they were already wet. Also for the two long ones I just buried the roots but I don't know if that's right. I was provided weights. You can find a pic above in a recent reply.

 

You can take he crypt out, pull it apart into smaller pieces then plant them into the substrate. The other one looks like dwarf pennywort, cardamine lyrata. They’re not really low tech plants. Is the 3rd plant you’re talking about the marimo moss ball?

 

If the moss ball is one of your new plants, it does not need to be "planted". It is supposed to roll around the floor of your tank with the flow of the water, as the fish move it around, and when you do water changes. So it's perfectly good where it is!

 

You can take he crypt out, pull it apart into smaller pieces then plant them into the substrate. The other one looks like dwarf pennywort, cardamine lyrata. They’re not really low tech plants. Is the 3rd plant you’re talking about the marimo moss ball?

No, the long one you called a pennywort. I have two of those.

 

If the moss ball is one of your new plants, it does not need to be "planted". It is supposed to roll around the floor of your tank with the flow of the water, as the fish move it around, and when you do water changes. So it's perfectly good where it is!

I know I was talking about the tall one. I have two of those that are new

 

I love to tie them down on some wood. Even a small piece works. Then eventually the roots grab on.

 

I love to tie them down on some wood. Even a small piece works. Then eventually the roots grab on.

Which one the crypt letea?

 

Which one the crypt letea?

I haven't owned that one but looks you can either stuff it in between some of the woods cracks or tie it down by the roots. You can try separating it to do so.

 

Look guys. The two tall viny plants and then the crypt in the pit are the new plants. Not the moss balls. I have no idea what I am doing and I am freaking out. The two tall viny plants I buried the roots into the gravel. The crypt is still floating in the pot. I did not rinse before putting them in but they were a little wet so I put them in. How do I know if my plants fie? I am sure they will because I don't know anything about live plants as I am new to plants. HELP!!!

 

I haven't owned that one but looks you can either stuff it in between some of the woods cracks or tie it down by the roots. You can try separating it to do so.

No I watched a video and I can plant it in the gravel but I am going to watch the video again and plant it. Then take pics and see if I planted these plants correctly.

 

Ok so like I said I don't know how to plant plants. Are these planted correctly?

 

Ok so like I said I don't know how to plant plants. Are these planted correctly?View attachment 448214 View attachment 448215 View attachment 448214 View attachment 448215 View attachment 448217

Yup.

 

Yup.

Thanks.

 

One thing I did was wash up Powerade bottle lids really well then drill a hole in the center and then make a slot to slide it in from the side like how semI trailers attach. The weight of the water holds the lid down and the hole in the center just needs to be smaller than your root ball, but big enough for your plant stem.

 

Yes, those are planted correctly. HOWEVER, those are not really low-tech plants so you might have a hard time with them thriving..... or even living for that matter. Get some root tabs and jam a few in the substrate. The Flourish tabs work great.

 

I don't like the idea of weights in the aquarium so I either use a couple rocks from around my pond (I soak in 5% bleach for 10 minutes then rinse very well) or I put some gravel over the roots. its fine to plant them into the gravel unless you have a plant like anubias with a rhizome, in that case its still okay to put the roots into the substrate but make sure not to bury the rhizome. I just place it where I want it then anchor it down by placing a rock ontop of the roots. if you have low light I would recommend anubias or anarcharis, every other plant ive tried with low light starts to wilt even with eco complete substrate and flourish tabs. anarcharis takes off in my low light and I have to trim it every two weeks.

 

Yes, those are planted correctly. HOWEVER, those are not really low-tech plants so you might have a hard time with them thriving..... or even living for that matter. Get some root tabs and jam a few in the substrate. The Flourish tabs work great.

Ok I will and also how often do I put root tabs in and how many?

 

I use the Flourish tabs about once a month. For small plants like those, 1 tab near each plant. Stuff it into the substrate within an inch or so of the plant. If you watch them on Amazon you can get the big bag on sale cheap, but even if you buy them at the store for $10 per 10 tabs, that's a few months worth for a few plants, so not too bad. My larger plants, like 15" Amazon swords with 20 leaves, I use 3 around the plant.

 

I use the Flourish tabs about once a month. For small plants like those, 1 tab near each plant. Stuff it into the substrate within an inch or so of the plant. If you watch them on Amazon you can get the big bag on sale cheap, but even if you buy them at the store for $10 per 10 tabs, that's a few months worth for a few plants, so not too bad. My larger plants, like 15" Amazon swords with 20 leaves, I use 3 around the plant.

Is their any correct amount? Also I am not gonna be able to by any tabs for a bit because I am low on allowance money. Will they be ok? They seem to be doing fine. Especially my crypt. The tall plants are Cardamine lyrata and the one I identified earlier in this post is a crypt lutea which you know.