Cheap plants, less nitrate! POTHOS

Naos1984

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Sep 9, 2012
712
17
33
Pasig, Philippines
I have known this plant for a long time as it is very common here in Asia. I also know that you can simply dangle its roots in the water. Even established "large jungles" of a few square feet in my two previous apartment rooms to get more oxygen. Rooms are kinda airtight due to noise issues in my city. Problem is, when I moved I left my POTHOS in my old apartment room due to less space. Already did it when I had newts, that is placed it in the aquarium. Now, I need to ask my coworker to hand me a few stalks that I can establish in my tank. That;s where I got mine too from a few years ago. It's a common house plant (very common for girls here in the office to have them), indoor in that sense but it can grow faster with more light than usual. Unlike other plants however, too much light can harm it. If I can establish the same large canopy I once had, I can even use it to prevent fish from jumping. Word of caution, some people may be allergic to it. It has those micro-barbs inside it that can cause rash or some itchiness when it comes in contact with skin. BTW, thanks on the nitrate-reduction idea. I will definitely start mine today!

There is another plant that this can be done with. Same principle in planting but does not grow like a vine. I'll take pictures later coz I dn't know its name whether English or local.
 

Tiller11

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 27, 2012
690
0
0
Kansas, United States
How shiukd i go about extracting the roots from the soil... Got a hanging basket FINALLY and i have it soaking in a bucket of watter to loosen the soil but idk if there is another way

Sent from my SPH-D710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 

Catnkit

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jun 8, 2011
270
1
18
Toronto
Dang it, I had a long detailed explanation and MFK froze on me and lost it all...

Grr... I got my plants out and divided them by gently juggling and 'squeeze-unsqueeze'-ing the soil-root ball rapidly under water (bucket) and running the soil-root ball under the bath faucet from all different directions. After a while the soil is mostly gone and the roots start unravelling at the bottom. Eventually you can pull/vibrate-tug the roots away from the ball like a delicate knot, and pull out each piece of the plant from the group. Doing it underwater helps, lubricates. Try not to break off the big roots if you can. It took me a while, like half an hour for both the little pot and then the big pot I got a day later.

Hey F1, looking forward to the nitrate drops! Also, finished the lid! It's make-shifty, but it'll do I think^^

DSCF2114.JPGDSCF2115.JPG

DSCF2114.JPG

DSCF2115.JPG
 

F1 VET

THE serrasalmus rhom
MFK Member
Nov 3, 2011
6,580
32
0
INDY
How do i even go about getting this out of the planter lol... I so tangly

Sent from my SPH-D710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Easiest method- soak pot with water, push all sides in, tip upside down and grab all the vines, gently pull out, take out back, spray with a garden hose, then fill up a bucket with water and shake violently! It takes some time but you'll get it! Remember your going to snip a inch or 2 off the roots anyways so no need to be careful!

I have known this plant for a long time as it is very common here in Asia. I also know that you can simply dangle its roots in the water. Even established "large jungles" of a few square feet in my two previous apartment rooms to get more oxygen. Rooms are kinda airtight due to noise issues in my city. Problem is, when I moved I left my POTHOS in my old apartment room due to less space. Already did it when I had newts, that is placed it in the aquarium. Now, I need to ask my coworker to hand me a few stalks that I can establish in my tank. That;s where I got mine too from a few years ago. It's a common house plant (very common for girls here in the office to have them), indoor in that sense but it can grow faster with more light than usual. Unlike other plants however, too much light can harm it. If I can establish the same large canopy I once had, I can even use it to prevent fish from jumping. Word of caution, some people may be allergic to it. It has those micro-barbs inside it that can cause rash or some itchiness when it comes in contact with skin. BTW, thanks on the nitrate-reduction idea. I will definitely start mine today!

There is another plant that this can be done with. Same principle in planting but does not grow like a vine. I'll take pictures later coz I dn't know its name whether English or local.
Thanks for the insight! It is very effective at nitrate reduction!


Dang it, I had a long detailed explanation and MFK froze on me and lost it all...

Grr... I got my plants out and divided them by gently juggling and 'squeeze-unsqueeze'-ing the soil-root ball rapidly under water (bucket) and running the soil-root ball under the bath faucet from all different directions. After a while the soil is mostly gone and the roots start unravelling at the bottom. Eventually you can pull/vibrate-tug the roots away from the ball like a delicate knot, and pull out each piece of the plant from the group. Doing it underwater helps, lubricates. Try not to break off the big roots if you can. It took me a while, like half an hour for both the little pot and then the big pot I got a day later.

Hey F1, looking forward to the nitrate drops! Also, finished the lid! It's make-shifty, but it'll do I think^^

View attachment 842740View attachment 842741
I think that works!

_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS

*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--4 MORE RACES LEFT! LET'S MAKE IT 4 BACK TO BACK WINS & 3 WDC!* :beer:
 

David R

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Apr 26, 2005
5,036
236
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New Zealand
I went for 1x per week 60-75% wc to 1x per week 25% wc! So incredibly happy that my water bill will be cheaper!
I've been thinking more and more about this for my next set up, given that we are on roof/tank water and I'm planning on setting up something in the vicinity of 1800L, last thing I want is to be having to decide if I do a water change or have a shower over summer when we're running low on water!

I'll confess now, I haven't read the entire thread, but your post right there is just the information I'm looking for. Did you measure your Nitrates before and after the pothos and how high they get between water changes?

The other thing I'm wondering about is how much plant material I need to have to make it worth-while with 1800L of water? I guess any nitrate reduction is good, but if I'm going to go to the trouble of building the sump to house the plants then I might as well make it big enough for them to make a difference.
 

F1 VET

THE serrasalmus rhom
MFK Member
Nov 3, 2011
6,580
32
0
INDY
I've been thinking more and more about this for my next set up, given that we are on roof/tank water and I'm planning on setting up something in the vicinity of 1800L, last thing I want is to be having to decide if I do a water change or have a shower over summer when we're running low on water!

I'll confess now, I haven't read the entire thread, but your post right there is just the information I'm looking for. Did you measure your Nitrates before and after the pothos and how high they get between water changes?

The other thing I'm wondering about is how much plant material I need to have to make it worth-while with 1800L of water? I guess any nitrate reduction is good, but if I'm going to go to the trouble of building the sump to house the plants then I might as well make it big enough for them to make a difference.
Yea its a huge thread, I don't blame you for being lazy ;)


My nitrates peaked @ 60ppm every 5-7 days before POTHOS, 3-4 weeks later they max @ 30-40ppm, almost 2 months later n03 reads 15-30ppm, so my wc have been cut 50%

Try 6-8 plants, that should help tremendously!

Life is good :popcorn:

_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS

*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--3 MORE RACES LEFT! LET'S MAKE IT 5 BACK TO BACK WINS & 3 WDC!* :beer:
 

David R

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Apr 26, 2005
5,036
236
320
43
New Zealand
Awesome, thanks! How much light do yours get? The sump is going to be in the garage and there will be a bit of ambient light around, could always hang a LED pendant above them if needed tho.
 

F1 VET

THE serrasalmus rhom
MFK Member
Nov 3, 2011
6,580
32
0
INDY
Awesome, thanks! How much light do yours get? The sump is going to be in the garage and there will be a bit of ambient light around, could always hang a LED pendant above them if needed tho.
Well mine grew great with ambient lite for the 1st month, then I added a small cfl:



Seems to have helps growth maybe 15-20%

IME you'll be fine w/o!

_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS

*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--3 MORE RACES LEFT! LET'S MAKE IT 5 BACK TO BACK WINS & 3 WDC!* :beer:
 
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