How to get them started?

Mating Slinkys

Hey folks, i've got a new 30g tank that has just finished cycling, and at the moment only has a plec and 2 mollies in it, and i want to start planting it soon. I have a problem though, the substrate is a fine sand, whch looks lovely, but my plec keeps digging holes in it - not a problem in itself i just smooth them over again... However, i have a feeling that when i plant it the plants will get uprooted before they have a chance to settle in and develop a decent root structure. Is there any cunning person out there that has thought out a solution for this kind of problem? I have thought about just weighting the plants down loads, or maybe putting a bit of gravel around the plants to stop them getting uprooted when the plec swishes the sand about. Or even putting in a temporary barrier to stop him from getting to half the tank till it is settled... Any ideas folks?

tangy

how big a plec we talkin about? if its small, then a layer of gravel under the sand will probably help, or attaching it to some bog wood will keep the plec from demolishing the plants.

fish_4_all

I think it will come down to a battle of wills on this one. You will just have to keep up with the plants and make sure they have a chance to take root. It might help to give the pleco a cave to hide in or some bogwood/driftwood that it can call home so it doesn't feel it has to try and find new places to hide. Some plant keepers have resorted to keeping their plants in pots just for this reason and this is always an option.

squiggles1

yea keeping plants planted with plecos can be a hard task to conquer. even if he does decide to call a cave home you may wake up in the morning to find a number of plants a drift.

Mating Slinkys

He's only 5" long, and he does have a spot he likes under the filter behind some big rocks, but i guess it'll just have to be a mission for a while. will plants stay healthy in pots?

Falina

I'm no plant guru but I think they will, yes. I know that a lot of people keep them in pots so they're easier to shift about and they seem to do well.

Picklee

I recently started a new tank, and I added a pleco and used some crushed slate-like rock mixed with sand as a substrate and the plants seem to be doing fine and the pleco doesn't bother them at all.