Need info on planting cichlid aquaruim

Good evening, i have a 55 gallon (2 feet tall) cichlid tank with about 9
cichlids in that vary in size and speices i would like to plant it but i
would to get some insider info before i go spend a lot of money. i am
using an under ground filter, 2 whisper power 60 hang on tank filter,
and 2 power heads 2 18" 15 watt daylight bulbs. (just listing so you
know) the cichlids are 1 red zerba, 3 blue johnies, 1 yellow lab, 1
compressiceps, 1 kenyi, 1 peacock, 1 pleco and 1 demasoni. i know that
cichlid like to dig and pull up plants but i think that a planted tank
looks so much better and it gives the fish more hiding spots. i pretty
much know nothing about plants or how to get it started. this tank has
been set up for a 2 years now and i have had some of the fish longer
then that. if i could figure out a good way to take a couple of snap
shots of my fish i would i have tryed but no good pics yet if there is
any more info that is needed just let me know.

Thanks kraylon



--
Posted via CichlidFish.com
http://www.cichlidfish.com/portal/forums

"kraylon" -DONTEMAIL wrote in message
...
Good evening, i have a 55 gallon (2 feet tall) cichlid tank with about 9
cichlids in that vary in size and speices i would like to plant it but i
would to get some insider info before i go spend a lot of money. i am
using an under ground filter, 2 whisper power 60 hang on tank filter,
and 2 power heads 2 18" 15 watt daylight bulbs. (just listing so you
know) the cichlids are 1 red zerba, 3 blue johnies, 1 yellow lab, 1
compressiceps, 1 kenyi, 1 peacock, 1 pleco and 1 demasoni. i know that
cichlid like to dig and pull up plants but i think that a planted tank
looks so much better and it gives the fish more hiding spots. i pretty
much know nothing about plants or how to get it started. this tank has
been set up for a 2 years now and i have had some of the fish longer
then that. if i could figure out a good way to take a couple of snap
shots of my fish i would i have tryed but no good pics yet if there is
any more info that is needed just let me know.
==============================
You will need some of the toughest plants there are. Floaters will do
better than planted plants which will most likely be dug up anyway. Water
lettuce, the plant ponders use, will do well but stay small in an aquarium.
Hornwart floats so the cichlids wont spend much time digging it up and
tearing it up. American Vals would do fine in their water conditions if you
can put large enough stones over their root area. With some of the above
mentioned cichlids only hornwart and water lettuce thrived for me. Others
surely had other experiences.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Koi-Lo wrote:

"kraylon" -DONTEMAIL wrote in message
...

Good evening, i have a 55 gallon (2 feet tall) cichlid tank with about 9
cichlids in that vary in size and speices i would like to plant it but i
would to get some insider info before i go spend a lot of money. i am
using an under ground filter, 2 whisper power 60 hang on tank filter,
and 2 power heads 2 18" 15 watt daylight bulbs. (just listing so you
know) the cichlids are 1 red zerba, 3 blue johnies, 1 yellow lab, 1
compressiceps, 1 kenyi, 1 peacock, 1 pleco and 1 demasoni. i know that
cichlid like to dig and pull up plants but i think that a planted tank
looks so much better and it gives the fish more hiding spots. i pretty
much know nothing about plants or how to get it started. this tank has
been set up for a 2 years now and i have had some of the fish longer
then that. if i could figure out a good way to take a couple of snap
shots of my fish i would i have tryed but no good pics yet if there is
any more info that is needed just let me know.

==============================
You will need some of the toughest plants there are. Floaters will do
better than planted plants which will most likely be dug up anyway.
Water lettuce, the plant ponders use, will do well but stay small in an
aquarium. Hornwart floats so the cichlids wont spend much time digging
it up and tearing it up. American Vals would do fine in their water
conditions if you can put large enough stones over their root area.
With some of the above mentioned cichlids only hornwart and water
lettuce thrived for me. Others surely had other experiences.

I tried water lettuce in my Malawi tank and it vanished after being
scattered into small bits on the surface during a "chasing"...I also
tried water onions - they got dug up....the only plant that I seem to
have success with are anubias and then only if I keep them in the pots
that they came in...

Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...

I tried water lettuce in my Malawi tank and it vanished after being
scattered into small bits on the surface during a "chasing"...I also tried
water onions - they got dug up...

That's a big problem with cichlids if you want a planted tank. My Malawis
ignored all floating plants. The only time they went near the surface was
at feeding time. They stayed around the middle and the bottom where the
limestone caves were.

..the only plant that I seem to
have success with are anubias and then only if I keep them in the pots
that they came in...

That may be the answer. To plant them in pots and hope they don't attack
the leaves and rip the plant to shreds.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

If you can find the "tankbusters" issue of TFH from a year or so ago I wrote an article
about plants for cichlid tanks. If I can find that file I'll post it. It's in my
other computer which is in bits all over the floor.

Bottom line: crinum, java fern, anubias.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...
If you can find the "tankbusters" issue of TFH from a year or so ago I
wrote an article
about plants for cichlid tanks. If I can find that file I'll post it. It's
in my
other computer which is in bits all over the floor.

Bottom line: crinum, java fern, anubias.
===================
I doubt I'd keep cichilds again. The stores do carry a pond and an aquarium
magazine called Aquarium Fish , but not TFH. I haven't seen that magazine
around in ages.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Troll Information:
http://tinyurl.com/9zbh
http://tinyurl.com/d8e4
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

I'd think Java fern would be good to have. The leaves are tough and taste
bitter and if tied to a piece of rock or driftwood it will attach very
firmly. Also, anubias would probably be great and can be attached to rocks
and driftwood as well. Both are low-light plants and very undemanding. Just
ensure that you tie down these plants with fishing wire for quite a few
weeks to allow strong roots to cling to the objects.

Dave.


"kraylon" -DONTEMAIL wrote in message
...
Good evening, i have a 55 gallon (2 feet tall) cichlid tank with about 9
cichlids in that vary in size and speices i would like to plant it but i
would to get some insider info before i go spend a lot of money. i am
using an under ground filter, 2 whisper power 60 hang on tank filter,
and 2 power heads 2 18" 15 watt daylight bulbs. (just listing so you
know) the cichlids are 1 red zerba, 3 blue johnies, 1 yellow lab, 1
compressiceps, 1 kenyi, 1 peacock, 1 pleco and 1 demasoni. i know that
cichlid like to dig and pull up plants but i think that a planted tank
looks so much better and it gives the fish more hiding spots. i pretty
much know nothing about plants or how to get it started. this tank has
been set up for a 2 years now and i have had some of the fish longer
then that. if i could figure out a good way to take a couple of snap
shots of my fish i would i have tryed but no good pics yet if there is
any more info that is needed just let me know.

Thanks kraylon



--
Posted via CichlidFish.com
http://www.cichlidfish.com/portal/forums