Hey I think it could work and look good. Of course I am partial to bonsai
A Friend in discus
John
Has anyone experimented with bonsai trays using them as your
substrate container. It seems that this would ease Tank cleaning and plant
maintenance. Plus I think these are more aesthetically pleasing
rather than having individual potted plants. I would be most
interested in your comments
Examples below.
http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/houtoku_pot_h579a.html
http://www.dallasbonsai.com/store/plastic_trays.html
Hey I think it could work and look good. Of course I am partial to bonsai
A Friend in discus
John
You can't see where you're going
If
You don't know where you've been
That would be a good idea, Seecher. I've been looking for a long tray to put my swords in. If it were flat bottomed, it would be perfect for me anyway. Thanks for the link
________________
Jose
The first link is 2" deep would work better than the second one at only 7/8". Keep in mind alot will depend on what ya want to plant in it. Swords wouldn't work since its not deep enough.
Just keep in mind the root system of what ever you are wanting to plant in the trays.
tc
Mark
Last edited by GrillMaster; 01-22-2008 at 01:48 AM.
Mark
The plastic bonsai trays listed below can be purchased in a
bundle of four at $4.64 that $1.16 each, they look pretty
good and an excellent price.
An interesting feature of tray below is that it has "feet"
which will allow water circulation under the tray, and I think
would be a good thing.
http://www.dallasbonsai.com/store/plastic_trays.html
PP10T Plastic Trays
8 5/8" x 5 15/16" x 1 3/16"
In researching planted aquariums very little is said about the
death of the substrate. How deep is the substrate that most
of you guys have in your planted tanks? Are there plants,
suitable for a discus tank, that MUST have more than 2 in.
of substrate?
Again, thank you for your responses.
My way bastalker the tiger lotus is very colorful and looks like a
good addition.
I don't think the shallow pots will work for Echinodorus (sword) plants.
Most sword plants and Cryptocorynes (even Rotala macrandra) can have massively dense roots - I've had them planted in pots 4" deep and the larger swords were entirely rootbound; it's as if the Flourite in the pots were totally replaced by the roots. When I've have large swords planted in tanks with a substrate bottom, the roots were easily over a foot in length.
Walter
Walter
It looks like some some mature plants would not be suitable for
this technique.
However, it is the experience of many terrestrial gardeners that
some plants experience renewed growth when the top AND the
roots have been pruned (roses). With easy removal of the tray
from the aquarium environment, perhaps, this could be a technique
to be explored.
But what other plants would be appropriate in this type of system,
those that would not have an overpowering, invasive root system
like the sword plants.
You can always get some anubias - their roots will cling to rocks and driftwood like ivy.
Walter
Walter
Great suggestion Wahter, here is a very informative page about the plant.
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant,%20Anubias.htm
I welcome any further suggestions you guys may come up with.
I use Gladware food containers with three inches of Florabase covered with about 1/2 inch of sand. Sure, the Amazons Swords become root bound but they still attain full size. I figure if two E. bleheri fill a 75 gal they are as big as I need. I find it important to regularly(~8 months intervals) add PlantGro time release fertilizer sticks but because they are rigid perforated plastic sticks I am able to force them into the root balls and the plants continue to grow.Root binding with enough fertilizer does not seem to harm the plants.
As the plants become very large I use two sticks instead of just one.
Last edited by Apistomaster; 01-25-2008 at 10:10 PM.
Larry Waybright