Cheap plants, less nitrate! POTHOS

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
So I found some floating plant baskets, Going to buy everything tomorrow, very excited. Does pothos only consume nitrate or will it compete with the BB for ammonia and nitrite as well?

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Chizzle said:
Sounds very interesting, I will scope out my local home depot and lowes for supplies.

Just worried about my fishroom looking like a jungle, how often are you all trimming these plants?

Also what is the best way to make those hydroponics baskets float or only sit partially submerged?

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In the open air it grows pretty fast, but its also sitting under a 2 bulb T5 HO fixture. It'll take a while before overgrowing the top of the tank (a month or two) but proper maintenance will keep it at bay.

I've got Home Depot light diffusers that I need to install in the top of my tank to hang the baskets, but work has slowed down that DIY, and I have 1 pothos in each HOB filter. The two plants span the entire 6 foot length of the tank and even creep up the walls if you don't watch them.

Chizzle said:
So I found some floating plant baskets, Going to buy everything tomorrow, very excited. Does pothos only consume nitrate or will it compete with the BB for ammonia and nitrite as well?

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I believe it'll consume some ammonia and nitrite, but not on the level of nitrates. And the jungle look can be really cool if done in moderation.

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Chizzle said:
Awesome looking setup! Very much looking forward to starting this project tomorrow.

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Thanks! I've been meaning to take the back two glass panels off the top of my tank, and replace them with double layer light diffusers w/ baskets dipping into the water but haven't had time.

If you double layer a light diffuser over your sumps it'll give it extra strength, and then you can add a net pot with the pothos...you might wanna add claw hydroponic balls for added root support.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-HG1...=UTF8&qid=1369447215&sr=8-7&keywords=net+pots
http://www.amazon.com/Hydroton-Leca...UTF8&qid=1369447215&sr=8-10&keywords=net+pots


When I start my 10x4x4 diy I'll do something like this from the top of the tank...I really wanna give my garage that jungle look.
 
Chizzle said:
Do you think floating baskets will work or should I hang the baskets from a light diffuser?

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Floating baskets should work, those are some serious sumps and you have lots of room. The only issue you might have is keeping the pothos from growing out from the basket and dipping into the water.

Plastic light diffusers could be used as a grid to keep control of the plant, but I'd try just regular floating baskets first.
 
TheSinisterSOB said:
Floating baskets should work, those are some serious sumps and you have lots of room. The only issue you might have is keeping the pothos from growing out from the basket and dipping into the water.

Plastic light diffusers could be used as a grid to keep control of the plant, but I'd try just regular floating baskets first.
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Ok ill give the floating baskets a shot then. Is it a problem if the plant dips into the water?

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Dips no, but if its fully submerged I've heard the leaves will rot...and knowing how large pothos can get, I wouldn't be surprised if it capsized the floating basket after a while.
 
I heard it can be submerged and planted in the substrate as long as there is a vine with leaves coming out the tank...

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CrazyLegz said:
I heard it can be submerged and planted in the substrate as long as there is a vine with leaves coming out the tank...

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The roots and base can be submerged fully, but leafs will eventually rot if they are submerged...leafs that are out of the water should be fine, but if they are underwater and rot they will mess with the water quality.

If the floating basket is flipped over because of unsupported heavy branches and leafs, it'll make a big mess in the sump.
 
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