How to Make an Anchor for Aquarium Plants

Aquatic plants float whether or not they are supposed to.
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Aquarium plants are lighter than water, so they'll rise to the surface as soon as you put them into the tank. Trying to weigh the roots down with substrate will frustrate you. You need an anchor that won't pollute the water. River rocks and fishing line will do it.

Step 1

Collect a few small, unevenly shaped rocks. Select rocks made of hard minerals like granite, not soft ones like limestone, which would slowly dissolve in the tank and change the chemistry of the water. River rocks are a good choice.

Step 2

Brush off dirt, if you collected the rocks outside, and rinse them. Sterilize the rocks by boiling them in a glass plan for at least 20 minutes. Allow them to cool.

Step 3

Tie the thread or fishing line tightly to the rock and use the other end to make a loop around the plant’s stem just above the roots. .

Step 4

Snip off the loose ends of thread.

Step 5

Position the plant in the tank and repeat the process for any others.

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