Pots for aquarium plants

[t.pettet]

Am wondering if there is such a thing as pots to keep your aquarium plants in rather than planting them in the gravel.

[want4rain]

many aquarium plants come in pots but you should take them out and carefully trim off the dead roots and plant in gravel.

most gravel is ok for planting but there really should be some consideration taken when workig with some of the harder to keep plants.

as for pots?? i wouldnt think pots would be good unless you planned on keeping the plant for less than a year or so, pull it out when it starts dying and replanting another.

-ashley

[t.pettet]

So a plant needs to root in gravel for a longer life. I just find it really difficult not to disturb or uproot the plants when siphoning the gravel for waste. How do you keep the top layer of gravel debris free?

[want4rain]

i had a hard time with this also. i use Eco Complete in most of my planted tanks and just siphon off the top. i also keep Malaysian Trumpet Snails in my tanks to keep the gravel turned around. about once a year i dig up most of my plants and give a really good vacuum, then replant. as a general rule i only vacuum the top 1/2 inch.

anyways, you dont have to use EC (although i find it more convenient) sand/gravel mixture works well (more sand than gravel).

here is (IMHO) the best ever planted freshwater aquarium book, you can find it much cheaper BTW.

http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-A.../dp/0764155210

-ashley

[MyBirdIsEvil]

You can plant in normal clay pots. Just add a plant substrate like eco complete and put them in there.

I know a lot of people that do it this way because they have barebottom tanks but they want plants, so they can have easy of cleaning with barebottom but plants for looks and for the fish.
I don't have anything like this right now but I don't have any lights on my tanks at the moment that will support plants too well.

Plants generally have to be pruned and cut back even when your whole tank is substrated, so it doesn't make a massive difference. It will generally not be an issue to put them in pots, just make sure to research the species first as some may not be good candidates.