How did I do

[Helan]

I bought a anubias while my tank is busy cycling, first time trying to tie a plant any tips and how did I do?

[Odd Duck]

Looks good!  Waaaaayy better than my first attempts, which is why I mostly use glue.  😆 I do tie moss when I can, but my snails made a mockery of my last moss tying efforts.  They must have chewed on the threads!

 

[Helan]

I used fishing wire to hopefully prevent snails from snapping the wire loose

Edited October 5, 2021 by Helan
Weird phrasing 😢

[Patrick_G]

It looks like you’re doing it right. A good trick if you don’t want to mess with the thread is to use some gel super glue. 

[Odd Duck]

On 10/4/2021 at 10:17 PM, Helan said:

I used fishing wire to hopefully prevent snails from. Breaking it

I’ve tied stuff on before with no issues.  This was a new brand of thread, so I don’t know it it was yummy or it’s just because it was thinner thread, but they sure have gone after it.  It’s cotton thread since I want it to rot fairly soon, but I was hoping for about a month, not for a few days!  😆 😝  

I've read about people’s fish getting caught and injured with fishing line, which is why I always use cotton thread.  So far the moss is staying put, but I’m not going to try to pick the cut threads off yet.  That seems destined to loosen the moss.  I’ll give it at least a couple more weeks and try removing some.  If it loosens moss, then the puffers get to wait longer before they upgrade.

[Helan]

I just feel a little uneasy about putting glue in my aquarium, I feel fearful about putting in  hands let alone glue🤣

[Odd Duck]

On 10/4/2021 at 10:24 PM, Helan said:

I just feel a little uneasy about putting glue in my aquarium, I feel fearful about putting in  hands let alone glue🤣

I’ve been using superglue gel with no issues at all.

[lefty o]

super glue gel is the only way to fly. having said that yours looks fine.

[Helan]

I heard that after a while the roots would be strong enough that I can remove the wires , is that so?

[Odd Duck]

On 10/4/2021 at 10:34 PM, Helan said:

I heard that after a while the roots would be strong enough that I can remove the wires , is that so?

Yes.  Takes a while, though, depending on the plant.  That big Anubias is likely to be fairly quick if it’s already acclimated to your tank.  Longer if it’s new to you.  Can take 2-3 months.

[Helan]

On 10/5/2021 at 11:37 AM, Odd Duck said:

Yes.  Takes a while, though, depending on the plant.  That big Anubias is likely to be fairly quick if it’s already acclimated to your tank.  Longer if it’s new to you.  Can take 2-3 months.

And I can’t do anything to speed it up?

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Helanunderstandable on the fear part - we’ve all started as very paranoid fish keepers in some regard but just know that cryoacrylate super glue is really useful for aquaria. Also great job with tying it on the hardscape! It’s more a matter of if the roots grip onto the hard scape which is not always guaranteed- they tend to do what they want. The more small nooks and crannies they have to grow into the more likely it is to work. 

[Odd Duck]

On 10/4/2021 at 10:38 PM, Helan said:

And I can’t do anything to speed it up?

Keep the plant healthy and happy.  I’ve had them grip in 2 weeks, I’ve had them come loose after 2 months.  They tend to grip into wood best, rough rocks next (like lava rock or dragon stone), smooth rocks, well . . . . I’ll let you know when that happens.  Let’s just say I’ve stopped trying with smooth rocks.

[Helan]

On 10/5/2021 at 11:39 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

@Helanunderstandable on the fear part - we’ve all started as very paranoid fish keepers in some regard but just know that cryoacrylate super glue is really useful for aquaria. Also great job with tying it on the hardscape! It’s more a matter of if the roots grip onto the hard scape which is not always guaranteed- they tend to do what they want. The more small nooks and crannies they have to grow into the more likely it is to work. 

Thanks, it’s one lava rock so it should have more than enough nooks

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Only thing that can speed up anubias is ferts and CO2. They are very slow growing. When comfortable maybe a leaf every 1-4 weeks in a highly successful low tech setup. The bigger ones tend to be more forgiving as @Odd Duckmentioned. Rarer species like white, pinto and also some bucephelandra types are really more suited to co2 setups. 

[Helan]

On 10/5/2021 at 11:44 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

Only thing that can speed up anubias is ferts and CO2. They are very slow growing. When comfortable maybe a leaf every 1-4 weeks in a highly successful low tech setup. The bigger ones tend to be more forgiving as @Odd Duckmentioned. Rarer species like white, pinto and also some bucephelandra types are really more suited to co2 setups. 

I plant to have a Low tech setup, maybe just lights and a simple sponge filter 

[lefty o]

On 10/4/2021 at 10:38 PM, Helan said:

And I can’t do anything to speed it up?

anubias are slow moving plants, but over time the roots will envelope the rock, and run into the substrate, and the plant will keep ever so slowly expanding.

[Odd Duck]

On 10/4/2021 at 10:44 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

Only thing that can speed up anubias is ferts and CO2. They are very slow growing. When comfortable maybe a leaf every 1-4 weeks in a highly successful low tech setup. The bigger ones tend to be more forgiving as @Odd Duckmentioned. Rarer species like white, pinto and also some bucephelandra types are really more suited to co2 setups. 

I have a couple Pintos on a petrified wood in my “Volcano” tank.  They’re stuck pretty good and seem to be anchoring well.  There’s lots of crevices in that rock, too.  The plants are showing pretty slow (make that glacially slow) growth and have decent but not impressive color.  Wouldn’t buy it again, but I do like what I have.

First pic from July 1, second pic from August 18.  I could have sworn I’d taken a more recent pic.  I guess I need to get that done!  I need to update that tank since I’ve removed some plants, moved some, etc.

 

[FrozenFins]

I've never used string or anything to propergate my anubias to my wood. I either glue it using what @Patrick_G reccemended super glue gel, or I would use the crevices in wood as a holding place for them. The first time I used superglue for my anubias, I got it all over the rhizome, the wood and my hands. It was a mess.

Well done!

[Helan]

On 10/5/2021 at 11:57 AM, Odd Duck said:

I have a couple Pintos on a petrified wood in my “Volcano” tank.  They’re stuck pretty good and seem to be anchoring well.  There’s lots of crevices in that rock, too.  The plants are showing pretty slow (make that glacially slow) growth and have decent but not impressive color.  Wouldn’t buy it again, but I do like what I have.

First pic from July 1, second pic from August 18.  I could have sworn I’d taken a more recent pic.  I guess I need to get that done!  I need to update that tank since I’ve removed some plants, moved some, etc.

 

What a pretty betta ,I managed to get a breeder to hold this one for me , thoughts?

Edited October 5, 2021 by Helan

[Odd Duck]

On 10/4/2021 at 11:08 PM, Helan said:

What a pretty betta ,I managed to get a breeder to hold this one for me , thoughts?

Beautiful!

[Helan]

On 10/5/2021 at 12:09 PM, Odd Duck said:

Beautiful!

Thought so too😍 and got a fair price too $3

[Patrick_G]

On 10/4/2021 at 9:02 PM, James Black said:

The first time I used superglue for my anubias, I got it all over the rhizome, the wood and my hands. It was a mess.

Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one who had a bit of a learning curve with the super glue. 

[lefty o]

On 10/4/2021 at 11:26 PM, Patrick_G said:

Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one who had a bit of a learning curve with the super glue. 

you guys just have to not get so excited when gluing your wood.😈

[Odd Duck]

On 10/4/2021 at 11:10 PM, Helan said:

Thought so too😍 and got a fair price too $3

What?  That’s phenomenal!