How to grow aquatic bulbs from petco or petsmart

I bought some of those bulbs from petco. there is 2 onions, 1 water lilly and 3 aponogeteton bulbs.


instead of planting in the substrate. can I put them in a large bowl of fish water and leave them sort of by a window? I don't want to bury them and halve them rot. and I don't have room in the 10 gal.

 

You grow them like this:








I use ferts in my tank, though. Flourish Root Tabs, and Flourish Comp.

 

did you just set them on top of the substrate?

 

I use root tabs and flourish comp also. could I put them in a net?

I haven't put them in the tank yet. I just don't want to put them in the substrate and them rot.

 

They're gunna rot if they're gunna rot. You just need to check them every day. If it floats more than a day, take it out. You can't make them grow if they don't want to. However, you can mail them back to the company, and they'll replace them.

I suppose you could put them in a net, but why not just let them do what they were made to do? Its not like putting them in a net is going to keep them from rotting

 

Good morning,

Chickenfarmer I have moved your questions concerning Pond Snails and all related responses to a new thread so that this thread stays on topic.

Here is the link to your new thread:


Thanks!

Ken

 

What I do is I set the bulbs on the gravel after they sink (Which you have to make sure they sink because if they don't after 2 days, they are not going to work) and wait for them to sprout roots and/or leaves. Once they do, I bury them in the gravel (Bury them there the leaves are gonna point up).

 

You grow them like this:








I use ferts in my tank, though. Flourish Root Tabs, and Flourish Comp.

I LOVE YOUR RAVENCLAW TOWEL!! (they might be socks, kinda hard to tell from the pic)

 

Do the bulbs actually work? I've heard that they don't work very well, but if they do work I might get a pack.

 

I LOVE YOUR RAVENCLAW TOWEL!! (they might be socks, kinda hard to tell from the pic)

Its a scarf =D Its folded to be about 1 1/2 long, if that tells you how happy my lily is LOL

Do the bulbs actually work? I've heard that they don't work very well, but if they do work I might get a pack.

What, pictures aren't proof enough?

 

Its a scarf =D Its folded to be about 1 1/2 long, if that tells you how happy my lily is LOL

I want it!... :'(

 

I've seen bad reviews. I might try them sometime, after I get root tabs for my swords.

Random: In tech today the solder iron I was using fell apart and I didn't know part of it was hot, to I picked it up to move it. Now I have 4 parallel lines on my finger...looks kind of funny. It doesn't hurt or anything, I just hope it doesn't leave a permanent mark.

 

Well they're incredibly cheap so why not take the risk and try them?

I just drop them in the tank and forget about them.

 

Well they're incredibly cheap so why not take the risk and try them?

I just drop them in the tank and forget about them.

Haha. I'll probably pick up a pack next time I go to Petco and stick them in the small tank. I would love another onion plant or two, they'd give the tank a really cool feel.

 

I put on in my betta tank once and the next day my betta was dead. I've never touched them again. What did I do wrong?

 

This probably sounds crazy, but I find the Walmart and Petsmart ones to work better. Lol

 

Woah. Maybe I'll start the bulbs in a separate tank thingy- I have a 10 liter one with about 5 platy fry and 4 baby snails. I can move the fry. If the snails die, oh well, I'll know it's not safe. They might have had some sort of chemicals on them, Wendy Lubianetsky. I wonder if they're fresher at Petsmart and walmart, Akari. I don't think my walmart has them, but I can pick up a peck next time I go to Petsmart.

 

Woah. Maybe I'll start the bulbs in a separate tank thingy- I have a 10 liter one with about 5 platy fry and 4 baby snails. I can move the fry. If the snails die, oh well, I'll know it's not safe. They might have had some sort of chemicals on them, Wendy Lubianetsky. I wonder if they're fresher at Petsmart and walmart, Akari. I don't think my walmart has them, but I can pick up a peck next time I go to Petsmart.

I dunno. I think WalMart and PetSmart get theirs from the same supplier. I can't say for sure though, as I don't currently have a pack from them.

 

Whether or not they grow depends on how long they've been setting on the shelf. If they are too old they dry out and won't grow. But I've mailed the duds before in and the replacement bulbs always grow so there's really no risk involved.

 

Whether or not they grow depends on how long they've been setting on the shelf. If they are too old they dry out and won't grow. But I've mailed the duds before in and the replacement bulbs always grow so there's really no risk involved.

Agreed

 

I bought some from walmart that rotted, and may have killed a zebra danio or 2.

The Lilly and onion bulbs floated so I will send them in.

Did you put them all in one envolope?

 

Maybe I will give them a try again.... but not with fish in the container. I learned my lesson with one dead Betta.

 

Use the water from a water change to grow them in.

One of the onions that decided to float is getting green on it.

 

Its hard to get Onion bulbs to root. I just finally got mine to stay down not too long ago. Even still, though, if it gets bumped just a little too hard by the frogs, I have no doubt it'll pop out and float >.<

 

So far the onion is doing really well. There is another baby attached to it, so more like 2 are doing good. The neon tetras were nibbling on it, so I put it in a net.

 

So, who wants to know a secret?
The apontagen bulbs could care less if you burried them or not. True story my friends.

I add some to my 10gal 2 years ago, 3 survived and started to grow leaves on top of the soil, lack of good enviroment made them start dying so I moved them to my 29, they kept dying and eventually just dissapeared. 2 weeks ago I saw a green sprout in the 29, I watched it grow and then dug it out, 3" under heavy gravel was a bulb exploding with growth. Its in my 10gal now with new lighting.

That's my story.

 

Hello

Getting prepared to set up a 55 gallon planted tank and I had a few questions.
Substrate? I was originally going to do black sand and use oscomote tabs in under the root feeders. But I can't seem to find black sand around me other than the $20 bags from petco/smart. So at Petsmart, looking for other options, I saw seachem fluorite, and caribsea flora max for planted aquarium. Both cheaper than just plain old black sand, but I didn't want to buy one without researching and getting some opinions on them. Has anyone tried either of these out? Any thoughts on them?
Bulb plant? also while at PetSmart, I saw a 4 pack for bulb plants. I have already tried one pack of them and had success with only one of the 4 bulbs, but did not really know what I was doing planting them. Are these packs hit or miss? Is there a specific way to plant them, like sprouting them in water then planting them?
Reliable plants? I am planning on having to order some plants online because my only lfs are the petco/smart chains, and they aren't the best. Does anyone know a reliable plant store online? Planning on buying Amazon swords, a floating variety, Anubis, moss of some kind, and possibly some more jungle val. I'd be happy to buy from someone from this forum, but not sure who has plants for sale.

Thanks

 

Go to Tractor Supply Company. They have Black Diamond Blasting Sand. 10 bones for a 50lb bag.

 

Here is my 'Work in progress 40b'
I buy 'Black Diamond' Sand blasting sand from Tractor Supply with a grit of 4016 or like a medium/coarse grit
I didn't even have to rinse it and its 9.99 a 50 Lb bag. This is a whole bag in this tank and its about 1.5"-2" deep all over.

 

Here is my 'Work in progress 40b'
I buy 'Black Diamond' Sand blasting sand from Tractor Supply with a grit of 4016 or like a medium/coarse grit
I didn't even have to rinse it and its 9.99 a 50 Lb bag. This is a whole bag in this tank and its about 1.5"-2" deep all over.

Go to Tractor Supply Company. They have Black Diamond Blasting Sand. 10 bones for a 50lb bag.

Thanks. Just found a store near me that has it. Went into the one closest to me and they looked at me crazy so figured no one here carried it. Zach72202 , did the sand make a mess when you filled the tank up?

 

If you're after the black sand, then just do what was stated above. As for commercials available substrates, I've heard differing opinions on all. I would not recommend bulbs. I can't help you with ordering plants. I've always mine mine from an lfs

If you're trying to put the sand in, it depends on whether there's water in the tank. If so, use a measuring cup to put the sand near the bottom of the tank, if not then put the sand in, cover it with plates(or something else). The pour water in slowly. It will still cloud up the water a little but these are the two strategies I've used.

 

I did not even have to rinse it because I bought a coarser kind. Avoid fine sand because it will never settle and will always be a mess. Some of it will float for a while, but put an air stone or sponge filter to it for surface agitation and it'll all settle within a few days. Good luck!

 

I did not even have to rinse it because I bought a coarser kind. Avoid fine sand because it will never settle and will always be a mess. Some of it will float for a while, but put an air stone or sponge filter to it for surface agitation and it'll all settle within a few days. Good luck!

Thanks think I am about to go pick some up. Ill make sure to get the more coarse kind. Do you think it would hurt corydoras mouths?

I can't help you with ordering plants. I've always mine mine from an lfs

Lucky haha ! Wish there was a good lfs near me. Chain stores don't do the trick.

 

I highly recommend contacting Vishaquatics for buying plants and giving guidance on a planted tank. He helped me set mine up and sells superb plants.

 

Ive used the extra fine blasting sand, and loved it. There is a small learning curve when it comes to cleaning it, and I definitely recommend putting a prefilter on your intake, or a panty hose to keep the sand out of your filter.
When I redid my tank, I went with a little coarser black sand, and like it just as much as the extra fine. But have to admit, I like the extra fine better. It feels just like sand from the beach.
I have a 20 long that I will set up with Shellies for my wife, and will use the extra fine for them.
With the extra fine, you will spend a couple of hours cleaning it, and you will mot get it completely clean, but your filter will do the rest.
With the coarser sand, I still pre washed it, but it wasnt no where as dirty as the extra fine. I believe that I could have put it in without pre washing, but I feel better pre washing instead of just dumping it in without washing it.

 

I highly recommend contacting Vishaquatics for buying plants and giving guidance on a planted tank. He helped me set mine up and sells superb plants.

Agreed. Vishaquatics won't steer you wrong.

 

Thank you CTYankee79 mimo91088 for the recommendations, I truly appreciate it.

As far as substrate goes, black diamond blasting sand is a good option. Get the largest grit size possible (the larger the grain, the less risk of compaction). Another great option is a large grit size of pure silica sand. The stuff that is graded correctly for industrial use is really good to use. I wouldn't go any smaller than size #20. If you can find sizes below #20 like #8 or #12, that would be even better. Sand grains that are approx 2mm in diameter are probably perfect to use. Normal silica sand is fairly inexpensive, around $10 for 100lbs.

I'd steer clear of the fine sand grains because it can cause compaction over time, which makes it hard for plants to grow and increases the risk of cyanobacteria blooms.

Bulb plants are a hit or miss from chain pet stores. The bulbs often sit packaged for months in various conditions, so they are likely to be rotten in the inside or moldy. As far as plants go, please send me a PM if you're interested in purchasing any. Though I'm running a bit low on variety right now, I'd be happy to create a custom plant package for you.

 

I think I might just go for an organic potting soil as my base substrate and cap it with black sand, probably from petco.

 

i used organic potting soil with black sand on top , its what was left of my old tanks sand that was using(discontinued) black Tahitian Moon Sand cap

 

I agree with Vishaquatics for the plants. He started growing them immersed so you don't have the melt issues most places have.