Floating plant death wish

[sophlearnspatience]

Brand new to this hobby, havent had a tank since my teens so all but basic knowledge is lost. I have a 25litre cube, brand new, plants went in 3 days ago, 30x30x30cm, low tech, HOB fluval ac20, basic heater, set at 24°c but sits between 19-20 as my bedroom is an ice cave, basic LED light with blue which im yet to tell whether its enough for the plants to flourish but will be adding a houseplant light around the space that do have full spec so it might be fine (for my houseplants but some light will naturally fall on the tank on a similar timer). If in doubt, happy to take suggestions on new ones. We've had a big ol cloudy spell and the tank is starting to clear again but I expect more as it cycles.

MY QUESTION -
I have added some red root floaters, they keep tumbling and getting pushed under by the HOB regardless of how I adjust the filter flow, so I have temporarily added a little filter wool so stop the surface agitation until I can figure out a solution... now I've ordered a portal to keep the floaters either in one space or to build a sort of defence line around the filter so the plants dont breach it and tumble.... is this going to be enough? My tank is in the super early stages of cycling and there is a very obvious film on the surface since I have stopped that surface agitation (im hoping friendly bacteria) but will there need to be a lack of surface agitation in order to keep these floaters up? Is there anything else I can do thats a little more subtle than rings of plastic/foam hanging about in the tank?
Many thanks guys

 

[keef321]

In the past I have used some air pump / airline tubing, and made it into a ring, then used a clip to hold it in position at the side of the tank. It's not particularly subtle, but does the job until you find a more eye pleasing solution. If I dont have some sort of surface agitation, skimmer on my tank I get a film also (mine is co2 injected though).

You are doing the correct thing trying to stop the floaters from tumbling 👍

Tank looks nice 🙂

 

[richardcunliffe]

Personally, I refer to them as red root no-ters

 

[mlgt]

I think what you are doing is the right method and whats available to rectify this. I guess you have tried to turn the flow down a notch but the in line tubing might be the easiest route for now. you can make a small ring just around the filter so that the floaters dont get sucked down and once everything settles and the plants grow stronger should have a mass of floaters into one main corner due to the flow.

Will you plan to upgrade the filter or keep the HOB filter for the future? As a small external or internal filter could rectify this straight away 🙂

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Welcome to UKAPS. Have a read through <"A little guide for those with little experience">

I have added some red root floaters, they keep tumbling and getting pushed under by the HOB regardless of how I adjust the filter flow

Red-root Floater isn't a plant that <"enjoys life with me either">. There are other floating plants that are more buoyant, like <"Nile Cabbage" (Pistia stratiotes) or "Floating Fern" (Salvinia auriculata group)">. I'm a <"floating plant fan">.

My personal favourite floating plant is Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium (Hydrocharis) laevigatum), mainly because it has a <"leaf green"> leaf and you can use it in the "Duckweed Index" <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">.

We've had a big ol cloudy spell and the tank is starting to clear again but I expect more as it cycles.

If you are? you don't need to add ammonia (NH3) to cycle your tank. Just change some water to get rid of any high level of residual ammonia and don't add any more. Scientists have found that the ammonia based theory of cycling isn't right, mainly because the bacteria that people thought necessary for "cycling" don't occur in Aquarium Filters.

Basically there are a <"huge number of different microbes that perform nitrification">, and these occur over the whole range of pH and ammonia values that you might find in freshwater. Scientists are finding novel organisms all the time.

A grown in tank will have a diverse assemblage of nitrifying organisms that offer a flexible and resilient response to changing ammonia levels. Have a look at: <"Using Amano Shrimps to get rid of Bio Slug Wood Snot">


cheers Darrel

 

[Andy Pierce]

The tank is in the super early stages of cycling and there is a very obvious film on the surface since I have stopped that surface agitation (im hoping friendly bacteria)

You don't want that film on the water surface because it will screw up your oxygen exchange into the water column. You can get rid of it with a skimmer or an airstone.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

This will work until you come up with a more permanent solution. My floating plants do best where there is zero surface agitation. But if you grow enough of them, losing some to the filter outflow won’t bother you.