plants that won't get eaten and with low light?

[al7601]

I'm looking to add some live plants and was looking for some opinions on widely available plants that won't get eaten by either tropheus, haps or peacocks? preferably shorter ones that stand up vs growing out and get wide. thanks

[nyc2tanks]

Anubias, java fern, crypts and valisneria. I have had all 4 in with African cichlids at one time or another. All can tolerate hard water and relatively low light. I am told the first two are not considered tasty to fish, but I have to admit I have never proven this by personal experience / consumption. The anubias and java fern do have fairly tough leaves.

African cichlids will chew on many plants and destroy most. These four at least have a chance of surviving.

To really make these or any plants thrive, CO2 supplementation certainly helps. Here is what I posted about CO2 just last week:

Are you adding CO2? Adding CO2 will make the plants grow very well. I have the same three types of plants - java fern, anubias and vallisneria - in 45 and 75 gallon tanks with Malawi cichlids. Once I started adding the CO2, the plants took off - very lush. You can buy expensive CO2 systems or you can buy the Red Sea Turbo CO2 system for $30 from one of our sponsors. Once a month you empty and refill the reaction chamber - water, sugar, baking soda and yeast. I have the quantities at home so I will post later.

With the vallisneria you can bury the roots in the substrate. I would put the val in the back of the tank as it can grow to the top easily. For the anubias and java fern you should tie the roots to drift wood or rocks but you should not bury the roots.

Plants produce oxygen during the day and release CO2 at night. I would recommend turning on and running the lights and the CO2 at the same time during the day, while turning off the airstone. Turn the lights and CO2 off at night, and turn the air stone on.

If you have the CO2 and lights straightened out, then the only other factor would be to add some plant fertilizer when you do your water changes.

Water has much less CO2 in it than air, that is why planted tanks have CO2 supplementation.

Yes, you can use rubber bands, but I find them unsightly. I tie my anubias and java fern with fishing line, it's practically invisible.

There was a thread in the plant section by Blonde Fish Gal that told us everything we need to know about CO2. She has stunning planted tanks.

Two years ago, I was like you, my plants kept fading away. The I followed Blonde Fish Gal's advice and started adding CO2. My plants have been thriving ever since. I now have a jungle of valisneria started from one plant. I will bring some more to the Spring auction. I also spoke to Karen Randall (one of the country's top experts on planted tanks) and she gave the same advice to add CO2.

The formula for the Red Sea Turbo CO2 canister is
1 liter luke warm water
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon yeast

Gently shake for 2 minutes and you are good to go. Empty the canister and put in a fresh mix once a month. They sell premixes but it is much less expensive to buy the ingredients and mix yourself, all ingredients are available at your local supermarket.

[al7601]

Wow, thanks for the wealth of information, exactly what I was looking for! :ty:

[Afreakin]

+1

Great info, WOW!

[Andrewtfw]

Just remember that when using a yeast-based co2 setup, temperature of the bottle has an influence on the amount of co2 being created. In other words, a cold basement will result in a less consistent production of co2, whereas in a very warm room, co2 will be produced more rapidly and the bottle will become exhausted sooner.