Potatoe plant to remove nitrates!

I have read a lot about rooting plants in aquariums and decided to give it a go.

Late August or early September, I tried some russets I had. Couldn't get ther to do anything but rot .

After about 3 weeks, I tossed the rotten russets and I bought 2 sweet potatoes because that seemed to be the potato of choice.

Within a week I had roots. Within 2 weeks I had leaves. Since then I have seen my nitrates go from 30+ ppm every 3 to 4 days with 75% water changes, down to 5 ppm and my water changes every (I know, too long)
10 days.

The roots have been trimmed twice, but within a week they are blocking out the light. Today I trimmed the roots for the second time, and had to cut back the leaves because I couldn't get to the top of my tank!

So, I'm summary, all I have to say is...GO 'TATERS

 

Were you inspired by Foo the Flowerhorn?

 

Were you inspired by Foo the Flowerhorn?

My thought too. Foo the flowerhorn has a betta tank where he did projects like this.

 

How did you plant them? Submerged or emersed? Interesting...

 

I guess you have a tank full of fish 'n chips.

 

My thought too. Foo the flowerhorn has a betta tank where he did projects like this.

My thought too. Foo the flowerhorn has a betta tank where he did projects like this.

It was from reading mostly about pothos being a good way of to help lower nitrates, but there almost as many posts and articles using sweet potatoes.

I have a 20 gallon (standard) and just dangle the potatoes in the water, braced against the glass cover and the back of the tank.

Before (two and three weeks ago)




After (today)

 

How did you plant them? Submerged or emersed? Interesting...

 

Go taters! I'm starting an experiment with one of my nano tanks with peppermint and parsley. Just to see how well it works.

 

I'm officially trying this, starting this weekend.

 

FYI! They don't tell you at the supermarket, but a lot of potatoes have been treated with a hormone that inhibits growth. It's so that they last longer on the shelf. It's not labeled and I don't think it's regulated either? So if you have potatoes that won't Sprout that might be why. I don't think sweet potatoes and yams get treated this way, which is why more people have luck with them.

 

Conventional sweet potatoes are treated with fungicides and herbicides just like regular potatoes. Best use well washed organic or home grown to be safe.

 

Can you throw the potatoes in the water? Or do you have to suspend them? Total noob to fish tanks. Also, i've heard that potatoes release a toxin? Anyone heard of this?

Can you throw the potatoes in the water? Or do you have to suspend them? Total noob to fish tanks. Also, i've heard that potatoes release a toxin? Anyone heard of this?

P.s. I have red eared slider turtles, gold fish, and pleccos living in harmony

 

You have to suspend them... sweet potatoes are pointed side down FYI.... I stab toothpicks in mine and started them.in a jar in the window. Once sprouts were about 4 inches tall I moved to the tanks. They go absolutely nutso for me, make sure they have adequate lighting above the potato or they go leggy like any vining plant.....

 

Nice! I've only used pothos and peppermint, but I've always wanted to try potato. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to prop it out of the tank though...

 

I tried it in my outside tank over this past summer but it didn't work. But I was able to use a BBQ skewer to keep just a bit of the potatoe in the water if that's any help. I haven't tried it on any of my tanks since but may consider giving it one more try.

 

FYI! They don't tell you at the supermarket, but a lot of potatoes have been treated with a hormone that inhibits growth. It's so that they last longer on the shelf. It's not labeled and I don't think it's regulated either? So if you have potatoes that won't Sprout that might be why. I don't think sweet potatoes and yams get treated this way, which is why more people have luck with them.

Not only that but lots here are irradiated, so they never sprout, just rot.

 

Nice! I've only used pothos and peppermint, but I've always wanted to try potato. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to prop it out of the tank though...

How does peppermint work? I suppose you need to suspend it somehow?

 

How does peppermint work? I suppose you need to suspend it somehow?

I grew it until it had some roots, then cut a small hole in the plexiglass lid and left the plant balancing on the lid near the light. I’ll can get a pic later.

 

Can you throw the potatoes in the water? Or do you have to suspend them? Total noob to fish tanks. Also, i've heard that potatoes release a toxin? Anyone heard of this?

You can see a good way to do it in this video, from Foo the Flowerhorn. Just be careful, this channel is absolutely addictive, lol, you'll catch yourself binge watching his series of planted tanks

 

So, it's been about 3.5 months (late October) since I put my sweet potatoes in my tank. In mid January I noticed the potatoes were starting to shrivel up and their roots weren't growing any more and the leaves were dying off. I've tossed the old ones and added two new ones on the 9th, but one was way too fat to reach the water so on the 18th, I replaced the "too fat" one with two new skinnier ones, for a total of three, and am starting the growth cycle all over again. The one I kept from the 9th has sprouted roots and already has some 1 inch leaf stems popping out

I will also add, they are an excellent way to control nitrates. My nitrates went from an average of about 20 ppm every week to less than 5. Can't ask for more than that, and they look god too!

 

FYI! They don't tell you at the supermarket, but a lot of potatoes have been treated with a hormone that inhibits growth. It's so that they last longer on the shelf. It's not labeled and I don't think it's regulated either? So if you have potatoes that won't Sprout that might be why. I don't think sweet potatoes and yams get treated this way, which is why more people have luck with them.

Agreed. It’s spring or close to it go to the nursery and get seed potatoes. Seed potatoes are made for growing new taters and are not treated with chemicals.

 

Were you inspired by Foo the Flowerhorn?

I like his channel