How Do You Hold Your Veggies At The Bottom Of The Tank?

[Maricalue]

Well, I think the title is selfexplanotory. I have 5 otocinclus (I bought 6 of them but I cannot find the last one so I presume he is dead :s). I gave them zucchinis last week, but I struggle to hold the piece at the bottom of the tank. Do you have any advice?

Also, anything I should know on the otocinclus?
So far, I love them. I have them in a planted 55G tank with lemon tetras (10), rosy tetras (12) and shrimp (3 bronze and 3 rcs) for now. Planning on adding sterbai, bolivian rams and a clown pleco.

Thank you

 

[California L33]

Blanche them- slice and cook in boiling water for three minutes or so then plunge them into ice water. They'll sink. There are plenty of YouTube videos that will demonstrate exactly how to blanche.

 

[Greg F]

I use plant weights.

 

[david1978]

I use a fork tied to fishing line so its easier to get out later.

 

[James17]

I use a fork tied to fishing line so its easier to get out later.

I like the fishing line idea, I'm going to do that right away, Thanks.

 

[Maricalue]

Wow! Thank you for your insight!

 

[California L33]

I use a fork tied to fishing line so its easier to get out later.

A fork tied to fishing line in your tank? I'd think the fish would be too nervous to eat with those things so close .

 

[Aureus]

I personally just use a fork.

 

[david1978]

A fork tied to fishing line in your tank? I'd think the fish would be too nervous to eat with those things so close .

They don't seem to care.

 

[david1978]

I personally just use a fork.

That's the way I started but kept getting tired of my whole arm getting wet getting it back out. Lol

 

[Aureus]

Lol. It can be quite annoying, but I don't mind it too much.

 

[david1978]

To touch the bottom of my 75 I gotta stand on the sofa and almost fall in. Lol

 

[Fashooga]

To touch the bottom of my 75 I gotta stand on the sofa and almost fall in. Lol

You could always use a tong to grab it.

 

[david1978]

You could always use a tong to grab it.

I guess. I have the line tied to my hood so nobody walks off with my fork.

 

[Fashooga]

I guess. I have the line tied to my hood so nobody walks off with my fork.

HAHA...I can only imagine when there's a family dinner party and your short one fork..."Grandpa won't know..."

 

[yukondog]

Walmart craft/hobby dept. 1/8" dowel rod sharpened on end, just skewer the veggie, I run it through a inch or two so it will go down in gravel to anchor.

 

[Bettanewb]

Fork or spoon and veggie clips

 

[david1978]

Glad I'm not the only one that doesn't use something fancy. Lol

 

[Bettanewb]

Lol I have a fork sitting in the bottom of my tank right now with a Brussel sprout attached to it

 

[Kay438]

I wanna feed my snails and silver dollars some vegetables. How do I keep them down so they dont float back up?

 

[StarGirl]

You can blanche them until they sink. I just use plant weights. You could even use a fork with the tines facing down.

 

[Passionfish]

I boil all of mine and pin them mid-water is with a barbeque or marshmallow skewer.

 

[Kay438]

You can blanche them until they sink. I just use plant weights. You could even use a fork with the tines facing down.

How do you blanche them?

 

[APColorado]

I use a fork to hold my zucchini down

 

[Kribensis27]

I just use a fork. It works pretty well as long as you keep the pointy parts facing down.

 

[dmk164]

I wanna feed my snails and silver dollars some vegetables. How do I keep them down so they dont float back up?

bend a fork and hang it from the top and put your veggies on thefork they will love it

 

[Islandvic]

I use bamboo skewers to feed raw cucumber slices.

I shove one end into the substrate and under a rock or driftwood decor.

 

[StarGirl]

bend a fork and hang it from the top and put your veggies on thefork they will love it

My pleco wouldn't come up to the top like that but very creative!

 

[Cherryshrimp420]

I boil all my vegetables and if I boil them long enough they all sink. Never had to pin them down!

 

[ProudPapa]

How do you blanche them?

Boil them for just a few minutes.

 

[barbiespoodle]

I have a set of metal kabob skewers, I thread the veggies on those and make sure the pointy end is down in the gravel. This gives the silver dollars, siamese algae eaters, cory cats and snails a longer area so each can get a share. Plus it's easy to remove once the veggies get down to nubs. I do this about once a week or so, when I have a salad, so do the fish, lol. Still doesn't stop the silver dollars from turning my plants into a midnight snack, but does curve it a bit.