Aquascaping vs. Fish-Only: Where do you draw the line?

[M075]

I mostly scape with wood, i do like the look of rocks but its too risky imo with some fish.

I build my scape before i add plants, because i like a lot of wood and little plants it makes it easier to find the right placement.

As far as plant eating and destroying fish go i have 6 satanoperca daemon wich love to dig and a pinktail chalceus that eats plants that hang above the Waterline (underwater it wont)

So as long as i anchor my plants or stick em inbetween the wood i have no issues really.

The only plant i got that leaves a lot of mess is a waterlily i have had for a while now that just drops leafs to grow new ones, nitrates are okay but i gotta keep an eye on doing water changes on time.

As you can see the 160cm tank doesnt have much plants but the wood still makes it looks natural.

Ps i really gotta take some new pictures since i moved some stuff around a bit but itll do for now

 

[tiger15]

With the right strategy, even the largest fish can be kept with plants. This guy from MEK set up a 600g monster fish tank with tough plants tied to upper level of a drift wood leaving the bottom open for cichlid to dig. The plants he used include anubias and pathos.

 

[duanes]

I also prefer to use water logged wood, because that where I fnd most cchlids collected, I suppose it might be different if I kept rift lake Africans.


There are few aquatic plants here, but many terrestrial plants with roots in the rivers.

I do fill sumps with nitrate consuming plants, to mimic the way plants act in nature.

Even using mangrove trees that root below the sumps water surface.