Floating plant platform in planted tank

fish_4_all

Here is the project:
I can only seem to grow HC floating. What I need is this:
A floating "something" that will hold some kind of "substrate" and also let water get into the "something" from the water column and let the roots grow downwards into the water if they want to.

Only stipulations are:
Max 4 inches across
Min 3 inches inside larger the better
Max of .5 inches tall
Hold anything HC can get root in
Has to float!

Any help, possible substrate or material for roots, floatation device, ring material, anything. Usually I can figure this out but I have been stumped by this for 2 months and I get a headache just thinking about it.

Brandon

The only thing i can think that might work is that stuff you buy at a garden store thats kinda like really well stuck together soil. I don;t know how well it would work under water though, im pretty sure it'll float though.

Post pics after!!

Jaysn

What about a floating fish food ring, with plastic cross-stich fabric attached to the bottom to hold the substrate, attached to lava rock or another type of weight (that you could grow java fern on) with fishing line. You could even attach it to a plexi square, then cover the square in your substrate to hold it down, if you don't want to use rocks. I can draw a pic if that doesn't make sense.

fish_4_all

Good idea but it has to float, is the intention. The floating ring might work if it is boyant enough. Just lose a lof of space because of the ring itself.

Brandon

found sumthing kinda like it.





you could like cut a whole in the bottom too.

Jaysn

Do you want it to float free? If so, there's no need to attach it to anything. The feeder ring I have is a high-density foam, it's very buoyant. I'm sure it could float a few cubic inches of gravel, and most plant substrate is less dense. The only reason I mentioned attaching it to anything would be so you could set the location and depth that it was at, otherwise it will be pushed around your tank.

joeshmoe

what about the thing that on top of the betta vase. its plastic and lets roots grow out. ill to get a pic

porksnorkel

someone on another site suggested making lego caves. legos apparently float. u could build ur container w/ holes and fill it w/ substrate. i'm not sure how bouyant the legos would be w/ substrate in the dish, but u could keep adding enough legos to make it stay affloat.

fish_4_all

I hvae never seen a ring like that, all of the ones my LFS had use suction cups. I will have to look and see what they have or if they can order one. It will be held in place a little but not secured per say. If I can find one it will work.

Now as for a "media" what can be used so the roots can secure themselves but still have access to the water column. I thought about using fiberglass window screen but other ideas are more than welcome.

Brandon

I just founf a site that lets you buy them.

http://www.floatingislandinternational.com/gallery.htm