pothos plant for nitrates

[blueluv]

Hello everyone
I'm going to take some cuttings from my golden pothos plant and use them in my 150 gallon tank, for the purpose of helping with nitrates. I thought about using and egg crate that I saw at a hardware store, the problem is that the crate cost $13.97 and I would only need a small section of it, not cost affective in my opinion. I need some ideas on how I can keep my cuttings above the water line without an egg crate. I would really appreciate your ideas. .. so please share them with me.
Thank you

[rbarn]

Just waste the $12 in egg crate. Really not going to find anything better and not spend $10 on it too.

[Len]

I used egg crate. It works well.

[lipadj46]

Some day you might need an emergency tank divider and the sheet of egg crate will be a lifesaver

sent from an undisclosed location using morse code

[blueluv]

Some day you might need an emergency tank divider and the sheet of egg crate will be a lifesaver

sent from an undisclosed location using morse code

Wow! A life saver? I never thought of it that way. What do you been by life saver? Thanks

[the20tonknuckler]

So the pothos are not potted then? I've been wanting to add them as well.

[Second Hand Pat]

The roots stay in the water and help to remove the nitrates.

[the20tonknuckler]

Probably not needed on my planted tank then.

[Second Hand Pat]

Probably not needed on my planted tank then.

Only if you want a cool plant growing on top of the tank.

[blueluv]

Hey Mike

Other plants you can try are ; nemphthytis , chlorophytum comosum. Pat, what about a split leaf philodendron ? Will this plant work as well?

[Second Hand Pat]

Hey Mike

Other plants you can try are ; nemphthytis , chlorophytum comosum. Pat, what about a split leaf philodendron ? Will this plant work as well?

Yes, believe so. We had a member from the Netherlands with one over his wilds tank.

[Ryan]

I don't even use egg crate. I just stick the roots down into the back of the tank where I have holes cut in the plastic strips on my hoods/glass canopies. Then I drape the leaves and vines along the top of the tank.

My only problem is that a lot of cichlids eat the roots, so I need a way of preventing this. Someone on MonsterFishKeepers posted a tutorial which involved cheap plastic baskets/trays from the garden section of Lowe's which were attached inside the tank with ties or suction cups and the roots were put inside the basket. The baskets contained slits or holes so that water could pass through and let the roots absorb nitrates, but prevented the fish from eating them.

[Disgirl]

Good idea Ryan, one can also use the black plastic planters meant for plants in a pond. They are cheap, full of holes and can be found at Lowe's or other garden centers, even lfs or online. They come in many sizes. I use them in my pond.
Barb

[John_Nicholson]

I have them in my fish house and they have climbed into several tanks. I don't know if they remove enough nitrates to make a difference but I don't mind the look.

-john

[blueluv]

Hello everyone
I appreciate all the feedback , Thank you. Seems to that's is between the hydroponics basket or egg crate. Also how quickly does the pothos control nitrates?

[zimmjeff]

not as fast as a water change. Jeff

[Ryan]

^ True. It will also depend on how many you have in the tank, and how large they are. I keep them in cichlid tanks because I only do water changes about once a week and every little bit helps.

[blueluv]

not as fast as a water change. Jeff
Lol. Jeff never posted on this thread. We have similar avatars. I do two wc's a day and still my nitrates are between 10-20 ppm. Good point on the water change. Very true Ryan, every little bit helps.

[a volar]

Lol. Jeff never posted on this thread. We have similar avatars. I do two wc's a day and still my nitrates are between 10-20 ppm. Good point on the water change. Very true Ryan, every little bit helps.

Chris, zimmjeff refers to his own name which is Jeff :)

[blueluv]

Chris, zimmjeff refers to his own name which is Jeff :)
:o oops! Lol! I'm a nuckle head, Sorry about that

[a volar]

:o oops! Lol! I'm a nuckle head, Sorry about that

Lol...... It happens.....LOL

[nc0gnet0]

fashion your own top out of stryofoam, cut holes in the stryofoam large enough to let only 1/2 of the pot slip through and your good to go. They also make floating planters for ponds,

[blueluv]

fashion your own top out of stryofoam, cut holes in the stryofoam large enough to let only 1/2 of the pot slip through and your good to go. They also make floating planters for ponds,

That's an excellent idea, I never thought of that. Thank you all for your ideas. I went ahead and bought the egg crate. I'll definitely keep the Styrofoam idea in mind , for my next aquarium.