Using wire to stand up silk plants??

[fishymommy]

I have a bunch of silk plants that are really neat looking but some of them are too floppy and their tips sink to the bottom. Is there any type of metal wire I can attach to these to make them stand up better?

[Northernguy]

If any metal wire is exposed it will rust.The rust can have a disaterous effect on your tank.The only thing I use to tie anything is fishing line.

[Jaster]

I've tied some clear plastic zip ties to some of my stems with fishing line to stiffen them up a bit.
but I agree with Northenguy... don't use metal wire

[fishymommy]

Yeah, I was worried about the rust so I asked. Is there any other material you can think of that will be long (10-15") that is strong enough to hold up a plant?

If it helps, the plants look like this:

[Northernguy]

I tried to make my own plants at first but ended up getting some at my lfs.They had some new plants in that I had never seen before.I got 5 plants in a package for 15 bucks.Thatr is really cheap for this place.They look ok.I used them for the color and mixed some Higros and spiral vals around them to cut back on the Tacky factor! lol

[fishymommy]

I bought the plants from a fish store too. They have a solid "stem" in them for the first 2-3" but then after that its just leaf and my filters push them down to the substrate instead of having the leaves tall in my 90g...

[Northernguy]

Have you tried moving them out of the direct current?
Maybe a powerhead to change the direction of the current!
Sorry I can't think of anything that will hold it up.

[thrakuarium]

The fishing line idea is good, and if they are close to the glass, tie the other end of the line to a suction cup.

[fishymommy]

can you see the fisihing line though? will that look tacky?

[korith]

can you see the fisihing line though? will that look tacky?

I made some java moss balls with some cork in them so they float, to hold them in place I have fishing line tied to it and the other end to rocks I hid in the substrate. You can see the fishing line if you get close, it's not very visible. Unless you get close and look for it. I would try just moving the plant around to different parts of the tank, with different currents it may stand up differently. Think just leaving it free standing would probably be best more natural anyhow.

[fishymommy]

I'll try moving them around when I get back this weekend. Hopefully they'll be better in the middle in back where the filters arent running into them. I might try a bubble bar along the glass to see if there's any suction/lift made by the bubbles.

Thanks for all the help!! :o)

[bushwhacker]

you can get thin stainless steel wire... no rust

[jackson17]

Why not a wooden rod?

[fishymommy]

ooo the stainless steel would be good!

[Sharon]

Just be careful, whatever you use, that it's tied in such a way so as to prevent fish from getting tangled ...

[fishymommy]

Ok. I'll probably "sew" it on with fishing wire or something and find a way to keep the ends protected.. maybe curl them in a little loop and clamp it flat so there aren't any sharp spots... hmmmm