Plants in Pots - El Natural

Astex · 06-28-2009, 06:45 AM

I have an existing 55g with a gravel substrate and lots of plants (javas, anubias, vals). I want to put a sword in there temporarily and was thinking of putting it in a pot with 1" soil/1" gravel.

Is there any way this could significantly mess up the existing conditions of the tank? It is currently a well balanced system and I don't want to risk my clowns but would like more for the sword to grow in than just gravel.

Thanks,
Bridget

Tanan · 06-28-2009, 10:55 AM

What type of soil are you trying to use ?
And why are you using one ionch gravel with soil ?
P.S:many swords ll grow out a 55 G,they ve messy root system.

dwalstad · 06-28-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astex

I have an existing 55g with a gravel substrate and lots of plants (javas, anubias, vals). I want to put a sword in there temporarily and was thinking of putting it in a pot with 1" soil/1" gravel.

Is there any way this could significantly mess up the existing conditions of the tank? It is currently a well balanced system and I don't want to risk my clowns but would like more for the sword to grow in than just gravel.

Thanks,
Bridget

I can't imagine that a potted Amazon Swordplant would mess anything up. You can always take it out.

mudboots · 07-02-2009, 12:56 PM

Relatively new to NPT's, I offer my advice with a grain and a half of salt. If you put soil in your plant pot and have it above the substrate, it seems that you'll be introducing the organics to the water column which could lead to ammonia issues and algal bloom. If it's going to be in a removable container, go with gravel only (or other inert material) and keep it above the substrate to prevent unwanted problems from arising.

hydrophyte · 07-02-2009, 01:13 PM

The sword will appreciate the real topsoil. If you are concerned about nutrients getting into the water you could just a use a shallow "lens" with thick gravel below and above. Stop the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with your fingertip whenever you might remove it from the tank, so that excess organics/nutrients won't drain through and into the aquarium water.

dwalstad · 07-02-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrophyte

The sword will appreciate the real topsoil. If you are concerned about nutrients getting into the water you could just a use a shallow "lens" with thick gravel below and above. Stop the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with your fingertip whenever you might remove it from the tank, so that excess organics/nutrients won't drain through and into the aquarium water.

The nutrients released by the soil in one small pot will probably be quickly taken up other plants in the tank or they will be taken up by the leaves of the potted Amazon Swordplant.

Trust me on this: An Amazon Swordplant will slowly die in a pot with just gravel. Not only is there a total absence of nutrients, but there's no iron to neutralize the hydrogen sulfide that will eventually be released as organic matter accumulates in the gravel.

If you add an Amazon Swordplant to a pot with soil, the plant should take off like crazy within a month or two. (If not, the pot is too big for the plant, you don't have enough light, or the water is not hard enough.) The luxuriant leaf growth will suck up ammonia and other nutrients from the water. To me, an established Amazon Swordplant in a pot is an "algae buster" and a boon to any aquarium.

Astex · 07-03-2009, 05:47 AM

Well I have the sword (small right now) in what seems to be an appropriate size pot and have placed it in the tank. I will see what happens.

I did not think it would cause great problems but I am rather attached to my existing fish so wanted to check. This sword did great in it's temporary 2 weeks of floating in the tank so I hope that is a good sign that it likes the tank conditions.

Bridget

dwalstad · 07-06-2009, 07:17 AM

Bridget,

I hope that your Amazon Swordplant does well.

For encouragement, here's a photo of my 55 gal with a potted Amazon Swordplant. Its on the right side of tank where I don't have a soil underlayer.

I consider a potted Amazon Swordplant a dynamite addition to any large tank. A year ago this swordplant was 2 inches tall and slowly dying. I've nursed it along by potting it in successively larger pots with fresh soil (its now in its third pot).

Dorothy Reimer, an expert on these things, shows her Amazon Swordplants with leaves two feet tall. So mine has a ways to go!

This kind of growth can suck up a lot of water nutrients and prevent a lot of algae.

Astex · 07-06-2009, 05:24 PM

Mine has already started recovering from the "oops, forgot to mist while redecorating" issue I had and the new leaves look rather nice.

I am waiting for it to get somewhat larger before submitting it to the 55g tank, but at this rate it won't take long.

How much soil/gravel do you put in the pots? I'm thinking of using clay pots and they are a bit deeper rather than wide.

Thanks

dwalstad · 07-06-2009, 05:40 PM

I use regular clay soil for the pots (less anaerobic). I use pots that will fit the root system and the least amount of gravel cover that I can get away with.

Main advice: Don't use a big pot for a small plant.