Doc Gonic Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 (edited) Hello all, been mulling over how to tackle this project. From other fish keepers online I've seen examples of Pothos used as an out of water plant addition to freshwater aquariums. It's a fun project so I grabbed a Gold Coin Pothos from my local gardening store. A few wire wraps to hold it in place and bam! 2 aquariums with Pothos. Alls well until I notice the Pothos in the smaller tank which gets direct sunlight at a window grows enormously. Which frankly is Awesome! See photos. All Pothos plants came from the same bundle and were put in the same day. The downside is the roots are growing wild in the aquarium making cleaning more difficult and starting to block out the few other plants inside. I've tried to find root bags / pond bags. But they either seem to be designed to bio-degrade or be for larger plants/roots so the holes are quite large in the netting. Anyone got a product or home DIY idea to help contain them? Update 9/1/2022: I'm going to try to guide the roots, I love how big the plant is. And more plant mass = cleaner water (in theory) so I want it to just keep going nuts. I've made a tube with plastic canvas (Thanks @Flumpweesel) and zip ties, which after setting it up looks promising. Yes there was a sponge filter in there and I'm going to transition into a new one since it's literally caked full of roots! Lol Hopefully in the next few weeks the roots keep themselves mostly inside. Edited September 2, 2022 by Doc Gonic First Idea Test 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flumpweesel Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 Could you tidy them up using that plastic canvas stuff either force them into a tube of it or just use it as a tank divider and have a kinda false wall to contain them you can trim some of the roots without causing harm they are going to grow back. If you did the false wall thing you could get some aquaponic beads to roots the plants into and provide additional surface for bio filtration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 I have previously zip tied pothos roots in a clump. It works but does not look the greatest. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenja Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 I've got mine, along with lucky bamboo and a spider plant, in a marina slim filter with some lava rock - no visible roots and a little extra water movement. If I ever repeat I'd probably go with something bigger, likely an air driven hang on breeder box, as I suspect at some point in the future I'll see the roots cascading from the filter into the tank as it really is a slim amount of space. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Killer of Fish Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 WoW!!! the picture with the roots looks great. I understand not wanting your other plants affected but the natural look of those roots coming down through the water looks really good. Instead of "containing" them could you direct their growth down the back of the tank? Maybe move the plants that are getting crowded out. There is a Youtube channel called PlantLife Projects where he does a lot with Pothos and other plants and aquariums. He shows different ways he has secured Pothos within and above the tank. FYI - I know there are a lot of other channels with similar content, but he caught my eye recently. Again I must say WoW, your Pothos looks amazing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 That is some spectacular root growth! I agree with @The Killer of Fish, it’s beautiful! I can understand not wanting it to take over the whole tank. I would trim the roots back pretty hard, then redirect them toward the back and re-guide them at every water change. Move other plants out of the “jungle”, and trim the roots as needed to keep them contained. Plant eating fish might also help keep them contained. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonic Posted August 31, 2022 Author Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 8/29/2022 at 3:12 AM, Flumpweesel said: Could you tidy them up using that plastic canvas stuff either force them into a tube of it or just use it as a tank divider and have a kinda false wall to contain them you can trim some of the roots without causing harm they are going to grow back. If you did the false wall thing you could get some aquaponic beads to roots the plants into and provide additional surface for bio filtration Plastic canvas looks promising. Cool Idea thanks! On 8/29/2022 at 5:01 AM, Guppysnail said: I have previously zip tied pothos roots in a clump. It works but does not look the greatest. Yea I had thought of that, at first I just cut most of the roots off and they just grew back in a week. Seems rough on the roots long term, are yours still holding in the zip ties okay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonic Posted August 31, 2022 Author Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 8/30/2022 at 8:33 AM, Jenja said: I've got mine, along with lucky bamboo and a spider plant, in a marina slim filter with some lava rock - no visible roots and a little extra water movement. If I ever repeat I'd probably go with something bigger, likely an air driven hang on breeder box, as I suspect at some point in the future I'll see the roots cascading from the filter into the tank as it really is a slim amount of space. Instant hydroponics system! Haha, love it. That's a solid plan B if I can't find a solution for inside the exiting tank. (I had a hang on back filter break and siphoned out a ton of water years ago, been paranoid about them ever since.) On 8/30/2022 at 10:07 AM, The Killer of Fish said: WoW!!! the picture with the roots looks great. I understand not wanting your other plants affected but the natural look of those roots coming down through the water looks really good. Instead of "containing" them could you direct their growth down the back of the tank? Maybe move the plants that are getting crowded out. There is a Youtube channel called PlantLife Projects where he does a lot with Pothos and other plants and aquariums. He shows different ways he has secured Pothos within and above the tank. FYI - I know there are a lot of other channels with similar content, but he caught my eye recently. Again I must say WoW, your Pothos looks amazing. Thanks, it's gone full blown crazy. Me and the wife love it.(This is just a small 20 gallon tank with a Red Cherry Shrimp colony roughly 50ish in number.) I'm sure they love roaming all the roots too, but I'll defiantly check out that channel. Hadn't see that one yet. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 8/31/2022 at 1:06 PM, Doc Gonic said: Plastic canvas looks promising. Cool Idea thanks! Yea I had thought of that, at first I just cut most of the roots off and they just grew back in a week. Seems rough on the roots long term, are yours still holding in the zip ties okay? No I took that tank down. Now I do as @Odd Duck said and trim and redirect. The zip ties only function temporarily as the roots go wild again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 Bonsai folks train their plants to grow smaller leaves and roots by routinely cutting them back. Pothos is a hardy plant, I bet its roots could be trained. It'd be cool to find out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonic Posted September 3, 2022 Author Share Posted September 3, 2022 On 8/31/2022 at 11:23 AM, Guppysnail said: No I took that tank down. Now I do as @Odd Duck said and trim and redirect. The zip ties only function temporarily as the roots go wild again. Yea after my firs cut back they regrew in a week. 😕 Redirection it is! On 9/1/2022 at 8:57 PM, PerceptivePesce said: Bonsai folks train their plants to grow smaller leaves and roots by routinely cutting them back. Pothos is a hardy plant, I bet its roots could be trained. It'd be cool to find out! That could be interesting, like wrapping in some thin wire that then it'self become part of the decor of the tank as the roots come down to the bottom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted September 4, 2022 Share Posted September 4, 2022 (edited) On 9/3/2022 at 3:50 PM, Doc Gonic said: Yea after my firs cut back they regrew in a week. 😕 Redirection it is! That could be interesting, like wrapping in some thin wire that then it'self become part of the decor of the tank as the roots come down to the bottom. I like where you went with that. Sounds awesome! A few years ago I was binging on bonsai vids. There's lots of really talented people out there. This one guy from south Louisiana, named Bill, was getting popular for his bald cypress bonsai. He was creating a new style, breaking trad bonsai rules to get that swamp look. I need to check on him. Edited September 4, 2022 by PerceptivePesce Checked on him. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expectorating_Aubergine Posted September 4, 2022 Share Posted September 4, 2022 Prune the roots. There is t really any way to contain the roots short of a plastic bag. If there are pores or any size, those roots will find the way. Pothos is pretty hardy, and can handle the damage. I know there are people out there that worry about poison sap getting into the water. I have yet to see anything that would indicate that's something you'd need to worry about. In a kind of way, pruning emersed plants is a kind of nutrient export that is necessary........ unless you have the space for a MASSIVE houseplant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenspace Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 Mine's starting to get larger too, I will probably just prune the roots back to a manageable size. I'll also keep the overall plant from getting to large for the tank size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigflinger Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 I have a hollow log standing vertically mine was growing in. That is a lot of roots though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonic Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 On 9/18/2022 at 4:09 AM, Twigflinger said: I have a hollow log standing vertically mine was growing in. That is a lot of roots though... That's an interesting idea. I've been working more or less with the plastic canvas. But when the roots are new and small they still can get very long and in all directions. Maybe that coule be a better Idea. a more solid "tube" like a wood log with 2 or 3 specifically directed openings. Might look alot cooler too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadStang Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 I just fairly brutally cut mine back every once in awhile and haven't killed them yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expectorating_Aubergine Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Meh, I say let em roam... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonic Posted May 19 Author Share Posted May 19 Been awhile since I have been online so I wanted to put a final update on this, now over a year later. I still have the 20 gallon tank and the Pothos is bigger than ever, i've down size'd tanks, moved rooms, and move house in the interrum and it just survives everything. At the end of the day, the only thing to do was light root trimming every month or so. The root are so good at filling the tank, and so good at keeping the water quality clean. Since the plant just sucks all Nirate right out i never have to worry about over feeding with how seasoned the tank is. Long live planted tanks! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabdewulf Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Have you thought about trying grow bags? They are black, different sizes, and water goes in/out of them with ease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now