Planting in clay pots ?

I am interested in try to put some aquarium plants in clay pots. Can someone with
experience offer some details on how to do it and the selection of the pots ? For
example, do we look for pots with holes in the bottom or not ? About how big a pot
for a some typical plants ? What kind of soils ? That kind of thing.

FWIW, the smallest that I found at a local nursery was about 2" high, 2 1/8
diameter at the top tapering down to 1 1/4 at the bottom. No holes. The 10" tall
Amazon Swords at the LFS come in plastic baskets that are a bit larger than this
and the roots are already bulging out looking for more space.

Geo.

On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 09:17:27 -0800, George Pontis
wrote:

I am interested in try to put some aquarium plants in clay pots. Can someone with
experience offer some details on how to do it and the selection of the pots ? For
example, do we look for pots with holes in the bottom or not ? About how big a pot
for a some typical plants ? What kind of soils ? That kind of thing.

FWIW, the smallest that I found at a local nursery was about 2" high, 2 1/8
diameter at the top tapering down to 1 1/4 at the bottom. No holes. The 10" tall
Amazon Swords at the LFS come in plastic baskets that are a bit larger than this
and the roots are already bulging out looking for more space.

George, I wouldn't bother with the clay pots. What I use in my tanks
are the 2lb. margarine containers for the large swords, crypts, etc.
Tons of info on the web as to what to use for substrate material.
I use vermiculite, soil, peat moss, red clay in various combinations
topped off with a 1" layer of gravel ( I like to experiment). These
containers are all in bare bottom breeding and growout tanks. If you
are setting up a display aquarium you should follow the suggestion
from Tom Barr and others on how and what to use for your substrate.

wrote in message ...
On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 09:17:27 -0800, George Pontis
wrote:

I am interested in try to put some aquarium plants in clay pots. Can someone with
experience offer some details on how to do it and the selection of the pots ? For
example, do we look for pots with holes in the bottom or not ? About how big a pot
for a some typical plants ? What kind of soils ? That kind of thing.

FWIW, the smallest that I found at a local nursery was about 2" high, 2 1/8
diameter at the top tapering down to 1 1/4 at the bottom. No holes. The 10" tall
Amazon Swords at the LFS come in plastic baskets that are a bit larger than this
and the roots are already bulging out looking for more space.

George, I wouldn't bother with the clay pots. What I use in my tanks
are the 2lb. margarine containers for the large swords, crypts, etc.
Tons of info on the web as to what to use for substrate material.
I use vermiculite, soil, peat moss, red clay in various combinations
topped off with a 1" layer of gravel ( I like to experiment). These
containers are all in bare bottom breeding and growout tanks. If you
are setting up a display aquarium you should follow the suggestion
from Tom Barr and others on how and what to use for your substrate.

I've often used clay pots for specimen plants in tanks with UGF's.
The biggest advantage is that you can use fertilizer tabs or spikes -
which otherwise dissolve too quickly in a UGF system. The small hole
in the bottom is just big enough to prevent toxins and such-like to
build up in the pot over time. Also, I've never had good luck with
crypts in ugf tanks except in nice deep pots. Some Echindorus
varieties which might otherwise grow too big for a small tank can be
kept 'stunted' by confining their root systems to relatively small
pots.

Sometimes I've knocked the bottom out of the pot and used it more as a
containment ring, for example for vals and sags, which keeps the
runners from straying where they don't belong and also makes the group
grow tighter.

Clay pots can make nice landscaping features. One tank I designed a
few years back was a 'flooded garden shed' of abandoned pots, some
cracked and broken, some on their sides, some with plants growing wild
out of and between them, and some with dwarf cichlids living in them.

kush

...

I've often used clay pots for specimen plants in tanks with UGF's.
The biggest advantage is that you can use fertilizer tabs or spikes -
which otherwise dissolve too quickly in a UGF system. The small hole
in the bottom is just big enough to prevent toxins and such-like to
build up in the pot over time. Also, I've never had good luck with
crypts in ugf tanks except in nice deep pots. Some Echindorus
varieties which might otherwise grow too big for a small tank can be
kept 'stunted' by confining their root systems to relatively small
pots.


Hmmm, planting in a pot when using a UGF/RUGF. Good idea!

As far as containing the roots of a plant, I stumbled across the same idea when
looking at the aquarium stone sold at the LFS. They have a stock of "Feller"
carved stone, looks like rainbow sandstone, that comes with in various sizes and
numbers of holes. The price is based on the number of holes and starts around $4-
5. They are usually placed on the gravel with the holes horizontal so fish can get
their jollies swimming through them. I picked up a couple to try laying flat on
the gravel as open bottom planters. The stone may have some value protecting the
roots when vacuuming as well as adding some elevation and interest.

With a clay pot, would there be the possibility of something in the clay leeching and fouling the water?

--Mark



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"Mark Stone" -DONTEMAIL wrote in message
...
With a clay pot, would there be the possibility of something in the clay
leeching and fouling the water?

--Mark

Clay pots are usualy 'fired' so there is not much chance of anything
leaching out. Its safe, use it.
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

Mark Stone -DONTEMAIL wrote in message ...
With a clay pot, would there be the possibility of something in the clay leeching and fouling the water?

--Mark

I've used clay pots in aquaria for twenty-something years without ever
being aware of any problems (which is alot like there not being any
problems). I do boil them before use, though.

Another virtue of clay pots is that they provide another porous
surface for bacteria to colonize, like a big, red bio-ring. Also,
Java moss and java fern attach to them quite happily.

kush

Thanks for the responses. I read somewhere a long time ago that clay
pots shouldn't be used, so I've always gone by that assumption -- but
I've always thought they would look nice! I may try it. Thanks again --

--Mark



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