Who Gives A Fish Forums

My Amazon Swords keep floating to the top even though I planted them deep in the substrate. I'm using Fluval Stratum, and the roots seem healthy. What's the deal?

How deep is your substrate? Stratum's pretty light, so if it's less than 2 inches, the plants might not stay down. Also, are you using root tabs? Heavy root feeders like Swords need extra nutrients to anchor properly.

I had the same issue with my Swords until I added a layer of sand on top of the Stratum. It's heavier and keeps everything in place. Plus, it looks slick. Maybe give that a shot?

Yep, Stratum's kinda floaty. I just shoved some small rocks around the base of my plants to weigh 'em down. Works like a charm, no fancy fixes needed.

The buoyancy of Fluval Stratum is well-documented. A denser substrate layer or weighted plant anchors are necessary for species with high root mass. Alternatively, consider switching to a heavier substrate like ADA Amazonia.

My Swords were doing the same thing, so I kinda just let 'em float for a bit. They eventually rooted themselves back down after a week or two. Maybe they just need time?

brooklynx wrote: ↑Sat Aug 16, 2025 5:25 am How deep is your substrate? Stratum's pretty light, so if it's less than 2 inches, the plants might not stay down. Also, are you using root tabs? Heavy root feeders like Swords need extra nutrients to anchor properly.

My substrate's about 1.5 inches. I'll try adding more and see if that helps. No root tabs yet, but I'll grab some.

tidal_flow wrote: ↑Sat Aug 16, 2025 11:30 am

brooklynx wrote: ↑Sat Aug 16, 2025 5:25 am How deep is your substrate? Stratum's pretty light, so if it's less than 2 inches, the plants might not stay down. Also, are you using root tabs? Heavy root feeders like Swords need extra nutrients to anchor properly.

My substrate's about 1.5 inches. I'll try adding more and see if that helps. No root tabs yet, but I'll grab some.

Definitely go for at least 2 inches, and root tabs will make a huge difference. Swords are greedy when it comes to nutrients.

Seaheart wrote: ↑Sat Aug 16, 2025 8:23 am Yep, Stratum's kinda floaty. I just shoved some small rocks around the base of my plants to weigh 'em down. Works like a charm, no fancy fixes needed.

Rocks are a solid idea, but make sure they're smooth so they don't damage the roots. I've seen some folks use lead weights too, but that's kinda sketchy if you've got shrimp or snails.

Lead weights are inadvisable due to potential toxicity. Opt for ceramic or stainless steel plant weights if mechanical anchoring is necessary.