Rubber Bands In Aquarium?

Someone just gave me two Anubis (spelling?) plants that have been started on rocks using rubber bands to hold them in place. Is this safe for aquarium use?

 

Yes.

 

Glad to hear that.

 

Definitely, they are safe.

 

Yes but they will deteriorate over time, sooner then later .I've used them before and mine never last.

 

Yes but they will deteriorate over time, sooner then later .I've used them before and mine never last.

As long as they last long enough for the roots to grab hold, I'm okay.

 

Where are you planning on placing the new Anubias Mark? Substrate or hardscape will make a difference but I have ideas of you want to lose the rubberbands

Ideally the bands wouldn't be there long and the roots will attach to the rock or wood. In my limited experience, this doesn't happen quickly enough for me to consider the rubberband to be the best option.

 

One anubias plant in already very firmly "rooted" on a stone, the other two are much smaller and while one is starting to root, it is not "tightly" rooted to the stone and the other is just starting. I have placed the stones in the substrate with about 1/3 of the stone and the crown of the plant above the substrate. I was going to remove the bands and try fishing line, but if the bands will hold them long enough to fasten, I'll be satisfied. Have you got a better suggestion? I'm all ears.

 

I'm definitely watching this. I can tell you, if the rubber bands are working, let them be. It's a pain to take an attached plant off, and then struggle with thread only to fail to reattach. I'm still curious what other people do though.

 

Strong fishing line would work great and not deteriorate as quickly. Maybe a nice braided, dark green line would work? The green color might hide better

 

Strong fishing line would work great and not deteriorate as quickly. Maybe a nice braided, dark green line would work? The green color might hide better

These bands are a dark grey-black and not that noticeable. (dark roots, dark stone) I'm not sure how long they'll need to be in place, but I'm guessing I'll find out.

 

Superglue! It might sound crazy but if it's 100% cyanoacrylate then it is completely safe. Aquascapers and reefers use it all the time. It's what I've used on just about every coral I have. I know there are other brands, but the only one I am positive about is Gorilla Glue Gel. Most gel superglues are cyanoacrylate and I know that lots of folks find it at a dollar store.

For rhizome plants that are placed at substrate level, I prefer using black plastic canvas. It's super cheap at craft stores. You can thread the thin roots into the canvas, leaving the rhizome about a half inch above the canvas. Then the canvas and roots can by be buried, leaving the rhizome exposed above the substrate. I tried tying fishing line and thread to small stones and that's something I'd rather never do again.

I wouldn't mess with what's working Mark, but these might be good ideas for the future. Neither option leaches anything or needs to be removed in the future, which is great for me because I am a little shaky and have trouble not breaking delicate roots.

 

HI Mark, it’s safe but it’s true they deteriorate over time. I use gorilla glue on my other plants. I have a rubber band holding my bamboo together though and I’ve replaced it twice in about 3 months.