[m4s4mur4]

that was probably the worst choice of words for a thread title, but here are the details. I plan to acquire some duckweed in a couple days, but i want to prepare my tank before its arrival. The only way i can put this in perspective is to imagine how "they" deal with oil spills. They place those buffers to keep the oil from spreading out. I want to do the opposite so that the duckweed doesn't float into the output of my internal filter. I remember seeing "feeding rings," that keep flakes and food from moving, at Petsmart but they looked flimsy and difficult to attach.

Any ideas would appreciated! I need some inspiration.

 

[Chrisinator]

You could use some sort of airline tubing with end caps and make a customize a "surface barrier" and use some suction cups to line them up how ever you want them to.

 

[wespastor]

Suction cups with fishin' line.

Best wishes,
Wes

 

[secuono]

Just watch out for fish or the filter spilling them out. I would make a very shallow basket for them instead. Kinda like a breeding net but far more shallow, 1in at the most.

 

[driftwoodhunter]

I just got some dwarf water lettuce, and I was going to do the suction cup/airline tubing idea. I have a HOB filter, and I will make a semi-circle around it. Although, the fishing line sounds even better now that I think about it - a heavy test line (thickness) will rise & sink with the water as it moves either from surface agitation from the filter, or from evaporation/water topping.

 

[DogFish]

Styrofoam plate - Cut out the "middle" of the plate leaving a 1/8 to a 1/4" ring. Put the duck weed in the ring. a little fishing line can teather the ring away from the filter outlet. I've see Stro plates in various colors at the $1 store. Maybe you can find a darker color that won't be as obnoxious as white.

We used to make Feeding rings from the tops of Stro coffee cups.

 

[driftwoodhunter]

Hmm, plastic canvas - the kind in craft stores - is getting a lot of creative use around here. You could make a barrier of any size/depth you want and attach it with GE1 silicone to the glass or silicone it to suction cups...

 

[driftwoodhunter]

Oh, I was thinking of encircling the filter, not the dwarf water lettuce. I want the plants to spread, but not get in the path of the outflow for the HOB.

 

[m4s4mur4]

wow one nap later and i wake up to these great ideas!! will hit up the craft store tomorrow morning. i have never purchased silicone before. is there a specific one i should be using for aquarium use?

 

[wespastor]

wow one nap later and i wake up to these great ideas!! will hit up the craft store tomorrow morning. i have never purchased silicone before. is there a specific one i should be using for aquarium use?

Get GE Type I Clear Silicone at Home Depot or Lowes.

Best wishes,
Wes

 

[driftwoodhunter]

See, that's why naps are soooo good! lol

 

[zachary908]

As long as it is 100% silicone it shouldn't matter.

 

[Sharkfood]

You can paint styrofoam with Krylon fusion. Don't hold the can too close when spraying as the propellant will dissolve the styrene.

It's no joke when it says wait 7 days for drying on the can. It will tend to flake if you try to use it too quickly.

 

[Bettatail]

Duckweed.....

sorry for not being help,
but just a couple quick questions,

is there any specific reason you want it in your tank?

or just want to give it a try since you never have them before?

 

[m4s4mur4]

well i've heard the rumors about how its impossible to get rid of, so its definitely not going anywhere near my prized planted tank. i just want to see if it will reduce nitrates in my red devil tank. i am just taking extra precautions just in case it grows as fast as they say it does.

 

[driftwoodhunter]

I've already seen growth on some of my dwarf water lettuce, which has been in my tank 2-3 days. I wish it was edible & tasted like spinach! lol

 

[iKine]

rubber gaskets, they make larger ones you can usualy pick up at the LFS for canister filters.

 

[redman88]

why are you worried about the out flow of your hob. that flow should keep its own area clear of the duckweed

 

[driftwoodhunter]

The dwarf water lettuce just gets drawn towards the HOB, and then pushed under the water & tumbled around by the outflow. I've read that the dwl doesn't like the turbulence & will suffer for it.

 

[AirstoND]

The dwarf water lettuce just gets drawn towards the HOB, and then pushed under the water & tumbled around by the outflow. I've read that the dwl doesn't like the turbulence & will suffer for it.

I cut up a water bottle in half and tied shoelace or kite string around it and HOB to redirect/obstruct outflow in my betta tank.