Plants????

[VickyH]

I have decided to set up my 6ft tank for american cichlids but not sure if they need plants or not - I've heard they can destroy them! Also can I use tufa rock in their tank?

[Nolapete]

I wouldn't use tufa in a tank with american cichlids. It is essentially a calcium carbonate deposit and it would most likely leech and buffer the water making it too alkaline/hard.

Most larger american cichlids will dig up plants. It would be easier to give advice if you listed a few that you were considering.

[VickyH]

I have been offered a convict, a nicaraguan, an ellioti and a jack dempsey for when my tank is more mature. I have also been offered carpinti from someone with a breeding pair. I'm new to ciclids though so not sure what combinations work!

[Jayhawk]

Those cichlids are all CA and can handle pHs from 7ish to 8.5. In general, though, a pH of 7.5 is a happy level for most CA cichlids. Unless your water is naturally soft with low pH, I'd not use tuffa. Plants, as mentioned above, will be torn up. Lots of rocks and driftwood are ideal.

How big a tank are we talking here? Seems like 55 or bigger (much bigger with a breeding pair of carpinti) is in order.

Eric

[Squawkbert]

Plants to try...
Java fern (tied to nice, solid rocks or driftwood pieces, nothing eats it)
Jungle val - develops a nice root system, propogates by runners
Amazon sword - develops an extensive, hard to dig up root system (but may well get too big for your tank - it is outgrowing mine now).

These all have pretty minimal light requirements, especially the Java fern.

[DarkEntity]

Anubias is also worth a try as its generlaly not eaten either.

[VickyH]

tank is 6ft x 2ft x 2ft. I have sand as a substrate, do I plant into this or in pots in tank?

[Nolapete]

Most american cichlids are extensive diggers, so it would be best to plant in the pots or attach to driftwood or rocks. If you use large rocks around each plant that they can't move, the plants will stay planted better. Just build a pit of substrate in the middle of the rocks and plant inside the pit.

[Squawkbert]

I'd plant right into the substrate (vals & swords). Some people like their swords in pots so that the roots don't take over the tank.

Any plant w/ a rhizome should sit on something (the substrate, branch of wood, rock...), be wedged into a nook or tied w/ cotton thread. It will then attach itself w/ roots over time.

[star_rider]

it's not that the fish would eat the plants..but some will try to re-decorate the tank and will pull up plants.