[Thomas01]

I have some plants that I got from Andy's Orchids and they are already mounted on sticks. Should I remove them from their mounts and put them in the background or leave them attached and silicone the mount to the back of the Viv? I'm going to be doing the "cracked cork background" that I saw on this site.

I'm going to be using hydroton screen and substrate for the bottom. Do I need to put a piece of pvc pipe in the background so that I can siphon the water or is this not necessary?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[BonnieLorraine]

I always carefully remove them from the mount and remount them in my tank. As for the drainage, you can either do a small pond in the front, or have a piece of pvc pipe drilled at the bottom that goes all the way down into your drainage layer.

 

[WeeNe858]

I remove my orchids from the original mounts and retied them onto my wood with thread. Soaking prior to removal seems to soften the plants and the moss up so its easier to remove.

You can run a short piece of airline to the bottom and make it inconspicuous. You can then just attach another length to that piece and siphon when you please. Remove and reconceal!

 

[Thomas01]

I always carefully remove them from the mount and remount them in my tank. As for the drainage, you can either do a small pond in the front, or have a piece of pvc pipe drilled at the bottom that goes all the way down into your drainage layer.

Thanks! I would really like to do a pond, what do you use to form it?

 

[Thomas01]

How do you attach a plant to a cork background?

 

[BonnieLorraine]

I just silicone some rocks in a semi circle in the front of the tank. Just make sure that the water level stays below the level of hydroton. You can always use a turkey baster to take out some of the water if it gets too high.

and the easiest method for attaching plants to cork is either wire U's or just staples.

 

[Thomas01]

I just silicone some rocks in a semi circle in the front of the tank. Just make sure that the water level stays below the level of hydroton. You can always use a turkey baster to take out some of the water if it gets too high.

and the easiest method for attaching plants to cork is either wire U's or just staples.

Thank You for the info on the pond, the picture really helps!

Where can I get the wire U's??

 

[BonnieLorraine]

I just get the plastic covered wire at Home Depot, and cut the ends at an angle so it slides easier into the cork.

 

[Thomas01]

I just get the plastic covered wire at Home Depot, and cut the ends at an angle so it slides easier into the cork.

I don't think I've seen that, is it in the gardening department?

 

[BonnieLorraine]

Yup, it's a roll of green plastic coated wire.

 

[Thomas01]

There's no problem with the cut ends rusting?

 

[BonnieLorraine]

You only need to leave them in until the plant roots, you take them out after a few months.

 

[Thomas01]

Got ya, thanks!

 

[B-NICE]

i just use staples to get the vines to climb.