GF and Plants Friendly Substrate?

"Underwater" wrote in message
...
As I mentioned, I
finally got some plants that are growing well and are too tough to be
ripped
up by the fish, which cuts down on the frequency of water changes by
removing nitrates. So my tank looks natural and the water stays good with
very little tank maintenance. But the fish are getting big and if they
end
up choking on gravel it's no good.

I think bigger rocks instead of or on top of a thin layer of gravel may be
a
solution.

Thanks for any input or experience with this problem.


In my barebottom goldfish tank I have a selection of plants attached to
driftwood.
I tried plants in clay pots, plants attached to rocks, and this works much
better. They are so lightweight that I can scoot them around with the siphon
while vacuuming and not worry that they will tip over and crack my glass.
This always bugged me with the pots and rocks- one slip of the grip and
*crash*.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/goldfish.htm.

Toni, good thought. That is why initially I was considering a
thin layer of sand (which I wont now). Plastic pots are ok, I wouldn't
use clay pots as they'd probably wear away anyway.

"Geezer From The Freezer" wrote in message
...
Toni, good thought. That is why initially I was considering a
thin layer of sand (which I wont now). Plastic pots are ok, I wouldn't
use clay pots as they'd probably wear away anyway.


It's the kind of thing that if I dropped a rock or a clay pot and ruined my
tank I would kick myself into next week. Some problems are just easier to
prevent g.
And just scooting the wood around is much faster than removing all the suff,
vacuuming, and putting it back. I just did a 25% water change in something
like 15 minutes.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

How do you attach the plants to the driftwood?
Mel.

"Toni" wrote in message
link.net...

"Underwater" wrote in message
...
As I mentioned, I
finally got some plants that are growing well and are too tough to be
ripped
up by the fish, which cuts down on the frequency of water changes by
removing nitrates. So my tank looks natural and the water stays good
with
very little tank maintenance. But the fish are getting big and if they
end
up choking on gravel it's no good.

I think bigger rocks instead of or on top of a thin layer of gravel may
be
a
solution.

Thanks for any input or experience with this problem.


In my barebottom goldfish tank I have a selection of plants attached to
driftwood.
I tried plants in clay pots, plants attached to rocks, and this works much
better. They are so lightweight that I can scoot them around with the
siphon
while vacuuming and not worry that they will tip over and crack my glass.
This always bugged me with the pots and rocks- one slip of the grip and
*crash*.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/goldfish.htm.

"Mel" wrote in message
...
How do you attach the plants to the driftwood?
Mel.


Initially I use fine fishing line until the plants attach themselves
securely. I've also seen cotton thread recommended, but when I tried it the
thread let loose before the plants rooted. Even rubber bands will work.

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm