Emerse to Submerge

[cjloong]

Hi all
Since nobody have posted here, I'll be the first one. ;-) My first post in the forum as well.

Anyway, here is the story. Those familiar with planted tank will do aquascape (nice ones). After a while, while collecting many plants, and keep adding to the aquarium, the nice scape will be ruined. We use the term collectoritis to describe it.

Since the above, I was trying to devise a plan to keep plants (collecting them) but not ruining my aquascape. Therefore, this method of planting came out.

Well, here is the process.
1) First I get a pot and seal the holes leaving 1 open. Then attach a PVC piping on it. All sealed.


2) Then plant with soil/burnt soil/left over aquatic soil. I let the soil level to the top of PVC. Meaning, no excess water on top (or just a little).
3) When I have it growing well, here is the picture.


Here is a closeup of the plant in emerse form.


4) When time is right, I put a PVC connector and increase the level to the top of the pot. You can cut all top growth before filling to minimize polutants when the leaf rots underwater. Then I put it in a shaded area. After I see new growth, I move it to a morning sun location.
5) Here is a result after 3 weeks of morning sun. The plant shown in this experiment is rotola rotundifolia. BTW. the dirt on top is grass clipping as the lawnmover man just came.


Here is a closeup


I am trying out with the fussy stellata now.

Regards
cj

[cjloong]

BTW. Here is a picture link http://www.adana-th.com/limagegal/image/2005_5.jpg for an example of this plant in submerge form.

The plant at the back is Rotala Rotundifolia, a popular plant for aquascape. I believe the colour is different because of lighting conditions and camera as well.

Regards
cj

[David]

Hi CJ,

Thanks for sharing with us. I am inter3sted in how you get the clay pot ready. Some questions... What are you using to seal the holes in the pot and the PVC pipe to the pot? Is it cement or silicon gum? Hmm... I am having ideas now... thinking of an aldro pond.

By the way, in case all of you are unaware, CJ is a 'guru' in aquascape, water features, koi ponds and planted tanks. He is also the Administrator of MAC (Malaysia's Aquascaping Club) forum. Check out his website at www.serenityscape.com. You can contact him if you are interested in building a water feature, koi pond etc.

[cjloong]

Hi David

Thanks for your kind introduction.

Cement was used to seal the holes for this pot. There is also another material I use, I can't remember the name but you kinda mix 2 parts of rubbery/clayey like material. I usually soak the cement a couple of days to test for leakage and to cure it.

Silicon is more expensive and can't keep too long. Also, you can't seal a hole using silicon effectively, unless you use a rubber cork first.

Looking at the 1st picture, the pvc was sealed using this material to the drainage hole of the pot, you can see that the material is white in colour.

Aldro pond, that would be interesting. Have you kept it before? I am currently using betta fish to keep the mosquito larvae in check. Wonder if aldro works?

Also, water this pot when I water the plants (sort of like changing water). THis keeps algae in check.

[kentosaurs]

OoOoOoO Nice....................But one thing i don't get why does the pipe have to be there.

Ken

[cjloong]

So that the pot will be able to keep water. These are aquatic plant in emmerse form (not full aquatic plant). Meaning, roots in water but partial leaf above water.

Submerge means full plant under water. (looks of the same plant can very different)

Oh, if you meant the ugly piping on top, that's because I cut the pipe too short and ran out of connectors. It should just be a hole skimming water from the top directing it to the drainage hole.