African Cichlid Planted Tank

[xavi_pr]

Hey greetings here from the Caribean, from Puerto Rico. I've been seeying your page and have to really admire all your work. Yesterday I got into trying out and planting my african cichlids tank and this is what I got, there's not much room to it because they are constantly moving the sand and I think I can work with plants that I can hold between the rocks or weights or something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rfxaYg70co
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YBY0Hf6JSQ

all the plants are pinched between the rocks, really gave some life to the tank and I'm hopping they will grow and not die, specially the vals.

For the specs its a 55 display tank with a 55 sump, totaling 110 galons. 600gph filtered through 2 socks 1 100microns, 1 200microns. The light I'm not sure of what it is but its a 2 tube 48" flourescent, I think its 120watts not sure about that, one 6700K and one purple tubes.

For the future I'm going to add some more anubias and hope the vals will grow up to the top.

Heres a link of the tank before the planting;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2wvw3nHLKY

Any sugestions, concerns, or things I should consider greatly welcom 😀

 

[sanj]

Hi, it is very possible to have a planted African cichlid tank, have you seen Travis Simonson's tank: http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/hobbyist_gallery/hobbyist_simonson.html

It should give an indication of where you can go with planting should you want to.

 

[Ajm200]

You could try putting the egg crate that is used in koi filters under the substrate and planting through the gaps in it. It might protect the roots a bit help to keep the plants anchored when the cichlids are sifting the sand

 

[xavi_pr]

Hi, it is very possible to have a planted African cichlid tank, have you seen Travis Simonson's tank: http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/hobbyist_gallery/hobbyist_simonson.html

It should give an indication of where you can go with planting should you want to.

i saw his website, it looks awesome, im trying to contact him 😀 , not looking to plant exactly like him, I want to keep the sandy rock style of africans, but I'm sure he could help me alot on the setup

You could try putting the egg crate that is used in koi filters under the substrate and planting through the gaps in it. It might protect the roots a bit help to keep the plants anchored when the cichlids are sifting the sand

really good idea thanks, I'm first trying out with pots between the rocks (planted the vals last night in pots), but ur idea is great, lets see how the pots work if not Ill try out the egg crate

 

[xavi_pr]

New plans for the planted african cichlid, this is a 475L aquarium with a cracked side and a broken center brace...
Once this is repaired I can continue making the stand, the good part is I'll have lots of time to think and research about the setup, or hopping I can get one cheaper than the price of the repair.
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...164539175534_503100533_11905455_5858578_n.jpg

 

[xavi_pr]

I'm currently still working with my 209L setup, here are some pics.

Specs; 2 T12's, 2 x 26w Spiral Floruscent bulbs
Filter: custom made sump;
pump 1280gph,
2 micron socks,
1 100micron,
1 200 micron,
2 125g sponges
Total water including filter 418L
Fertz: Excel daily on the roots of every plant
Water changes: 200L a week
Heater: non, I live in Puerto Rico, water runs from 78"F to 82F

Been running for 3 weeks, added some things today and took some pictures,

 

[bogwood]

Nice pictures, impressed how relaxed your african cichlids are. I tried them some years ago, and they were forever re arranging my set up.

 

[xavi_pr]

Nice pictures, impressed how relaxed your african cichlids are. I tried them some years ago, and they were forever re arranging my set up.

Hey thanks for the comments, Keeping cichlids depends on the type of fish and the setup you use. Peacocks are usually less agresive against plants, mbunas will destroy them.
------

I've been dosing excel in the roots of every plant daily, when I added the 2 26watt flourescents I noticed an increment in growth, might it be that my plants need more light? instead of more carbon?

 

[xavi_pr]

Here's an update on my aquarium

 

[Mawgan]

Xavi,

This has come on beautifully. I really like the way you have used the walls of the tank to place plants -it gives more depth to the display. Could I suggest that you make a background of some kind to prevent the distraction of the windows, etc? Maybe a frosted film, which would still keep the lightness...?

Just my opinion 🙂 .

 

[xavi_pr]

sorry for the late reply

thanks for the suggestion I will do it after I move to a new home 😀