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Floating plants in an AP system
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Author:  Dufflight [ Aug 28th, '08, 19:39 ]
Post subject:  Floating plants in an AP system

Because my pool has a lot of surface space I was thinking of floating some plants on the surface. This would help shade the fish. What are the best methods of doing this. I've seen styrofoam used, is that stuff safe in the water. I like the idea of plastic containors with a wick system to get to the plants.

Author:  Outbackozzie [ Aug 28th, '08, 20:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Floating plants in an AP system

your plants will last about 0.5 seconds - fish will eat the roots.

I tried it with styrofoam rafts - too difficult to get the roots away from the fish.

Author:  Ev [ Aug 28th, '08, 21:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Floating plants in an AP system

Closed cell foam ring holding a pond planter basket might be what you want.
$10-$15 at my local pond shop the foam itself is quite expensive but lasts well, when I want more I plan on buying a mat at the foam shop and making big rings and smaller rings from the inside waste, to get value for dollar.

I was thinking a big ring of them joined around the outside of my pond would help stop escapees when the water level gets high.

Author:  derekh [ Aug 29th, '08, 08:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Floating plants in an AP system

I use one of those brocolli box filled with a basic potting mix (stuff without all the good stuff) and punch a few holes in the bottom. It floats around, the roots are always moist without being submerged and the roots don't get eaten. I've got Water Chestnuts in there at the moment.

Author:  creative1 [ Aug 29th, '08, 09:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Floating plants in an AP system

derekh do they like still water?

Author:  derekh [ Aug 29th, '08, 13:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Floating plants in an AP system

From what I've read, Water Chestnuts are a marsh dweller not a water plant. I do have some submerged in a bathtub and they survive and grow. I only get small ones at the moment so I'm still experimenting to find ideal conditions.

Author:  Dufflight [ Aug 29th, '08, 13:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Floating plants in an AP system

Outbackozzie wrote:
your plants will last about 0.5 seconds - fish will eat the roots.


All my auto pot have root mats in the bottom. This stops them from getting to the smart valve. As long as the pots only touch the water(10mmish) and there roots are restricted to the pot.

Author:  Outbackozzie [ Aug 29th, '08, 13:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Floating plants in an AP system

nocky does that - seems to work.

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