[Gunner1212]

Recently got 1 java fern and 1 anubias for my tank. Divided them and lashed them to some rocks. They seem to be doing really well! and the fish are leaving them alone!

I liked it before with just the rocks but it is much better with some plants in there. The fish seem to be spending more time swimming out in the open now.

Let me know what you think...this is my first tank.

 

[ridley25]

Lashing them to rocks is a good idea. When I have to take out every single rock to catch my Mbuna, I'm glad I don't need to replant. My Amazon sword (a great hiding place) has not done so well because of repeated replantings.

 

[Afishionado]

I think a splash of green like that does wonders for the appearance of any tank, and yours looks great.. Good luck with it though - I've kept planted non-cichlid tanks successfully before but my 1st try at live plants (anubias & java fern) with mbuna was not a resounding success. The plants looked good for awhile, but gradually wasted away from a combination of nibbling plus the lighting and CO2 levels in the mbuna tank were not what they really needed to thrive... I didn't want to add CO2 for fear of dropping the PH, and I didn't want to increase the light without adding CO2 as that would benefit the algae more than the plants... It's tricky, to be sure.

 

[HomeDawwg]

Excuse me for my ignorance, but what is "lashing a plant to a rock".

 

[Lunhatikk]

Your tank looks awesome! I can only hope to have such a big and beautiful set up one day. Way to go. Hope the plants last!

 

[DNK]

Excuse me for my ignorance, but what is "lashing a plant to a rock".

Tying it to a rock. Can use cotton or an elastic band and such likes.

 

[Adrnalnrsh]

I have exactly the same plants, Anubias and Java ferns and they don't bother with them at all.

However they ripped my Valls to shreds. All my plants are potted and buried in sand. But they still seem to expose the potts time and time again.

 

[Gunner1212]

Well I thought I would update this thread with some fresh pics of the tank. I cannot believe how well this tank is doing with almost no effort on my part.

The light is really really low, with just a single strip and the bulb that came with it. I don't add any ferts to the tank...first month I used excel and flourish, then stopped.

Plant growth is GREAT imo, these are the original 2 plants that I bought, I anubias, 1 java fern. Quite a difference in 10 months.

Fish nibble a little here and there on new anubias leaves but it's not that bad...algea is almost non existant.

I have since started a planted discus tank, and will never have fish without plants again.

The only downside is fry survival rates are really high due to all the cover from the plants

Plants and Mbuna give it a try! :thumb:

 

[gmaschke]

Wow it looks awesome. I've always wanted to try my hand at live plants but never made the plunge. Thought the requirements were too much but you've made it look easy and plants are actually cheap so I "might" give it a try. Again looks great :thumb:

 

[748johnd]

You are doing something right. The tank looks great. I like the looks of live plants in tanks. It's a beautiful setup.

 

[Dewdrop]

Wow your plants did great! I tried it once and they ate mine to pieces even with me feeding them 3 times a day :x Maybe the plants I used were more tasty than the variety you choose. I've heard that can make a difference. Love the rocks too. Your tank is awesome :thumb:

 

[natalie559]

Looks great!

 

[gtphale]

Dang your plants look great. I had mine on the bottom till a month ago then moved them to the top of the tank. So hopefully mine will start to sprout like yours.

 

[non_compliance]

I think I actually liked it a bit better when the plants were smaller... the touch of green was nicer than the monster plants threatening to take over!!!

 

[Metalshade]

Excellent! My tank should look similar in about 9 months.
Great job! Gotta love nature! :thumb:

Everyone keeps telling me I have to have a ton of rocks with my Mbuna. My Mbuna just hang out around the rocks. When they really want to hide they head straight for the plants.

 

[Metalshade]

I think I actually liked it a bit better when the plants were smaller... the touch of green was nicer than the monster plants threatening to take over!!!

Actually, that is the great thing about plants. A quick snip here and there, and they stay only as big as you want them to be. So versatile!

 

[TeteRouge]

Looks great =D> ! Gives me inspiration for my redecorating...