growing plants in bare botom tank

Re: growing plants in bare botom tank

Since you are growing them in their own small pots with rockwool, I wouldn't add a substrate.

I tried doing something similar last year with the belief/guess that perhaps potted plants would sell better at fish auctions than non-potted plants. So about a month before the auction, I dug up all of the plants I wanted to pot and potted them.

I am personally of the opinion that I got more money out of the potted plants, but I am not sure it was actually worth the extra time and expense.

I only experienced one disadvantage ... I had a couple pots that "tipped over" causing the plants to then grow at almost a 90 degree angle to the side which was not attractive and they did not sell as well.

I also had a few "pots" that couldn't fit in my "potted plant tank" that I left sitting on the surface of a flourite substrate, the creamy tan color of the rockwool and white color of the roots absorbed the red color from the substrate ... perhaps it was just "timing" ... but when these plants sold, they also brought a lot less than the others did.

I'm not sure that actually answers your question ... but its an opinion ...

Greg

 

Re: growing plants in bare botom tank

If they want to buy those types of eclectic plants, they hopefully would have substrates, no?

I'd add the substrate of choice, and then sell the substrate also. Marketing more products, makes your life easier, more sales, healthier plants.

Seems like a no brainer..........

Pots are fine, buy lots of RW/pots.
I'd do 2x a week water changes, 50-80%.
Fertilize only after the water change.

Grow out tanks ansd sales tanks get lots of abuse and rotting leaves. This is a good routine to remove all that.

Vacuum the substrate once every 1-2 months.
do 1/3-1/2 of the tank each time.

High light plants(is there such a thing??) can be addressed in a sales tank by placing a glass slat(typically 3 going higher , front to back) to create a terrace. Many sales tanks use this set up design.

The rear might be 12", middle 7" and 3" of gravel in the front of the tank.
the light is set slightly towards the rear(reduces any front glass algae).

If the tank is 12" front to back, you should be able to get 2 rows deep in each terrace of the pots.

Anubias, Swords, etc are best grown in terrariums! Cheaper, less light, no algae, easy dosing, faster growth rates.

Anubias/swords are worth $ and many beginners/non plant folks enjoy them.

Also, you can fertilize the pots/Rock wool also.
If you soak jobes for 3 weeks in a shallow tray of water, add a tiny amount of soil, then allow the water to dry up, the result is NH4/Urea free sticks.

Add a 1/4 piece to each pot.
You can add KNO3 to the water to add more N and K+ also.



Regards,
Tom Barr