CA SA ideal set up?

[Yuki Rihwa]

Yes, you guys are right and I knew the risks. I had Jag before and it did tear anything down or up root any plants planted on substrate and took me months before I got my plants in a right place then its will ignore them (java fern and anubias), The tough part I have to deal here is foreground cover plants, its already started up rooting those so I tied those down on a rock and plant it again. So far as long I don't put any plants near it cave then it wouldn't bother...time will tell hehe I got it worked out before so I think I will try to work it out this time, it's fun for weekend side job
*All plants are tied on drift woods and already established their colonies (I have them for couple of years already), the only way to kill them now is pull them out of water and dry them. New plants that I'm trying out are those foreground cover plants and red tiger lotus, again time will tell cause each fish has it own personality and it's all about fun.

 

[robham7770]

Awesome tank Yuki, but my two cents is that it really depends on the species and size of the fish. My salvini would stroke out if it did not have a hiding spot, but my dovii is more likely to injure himself on rocks and wood than to hide behind them.

 

[Mad wolf]

Thanx for the replies. I've never used live plants for my Cichlid tanks. I do have the correct gravel mix to have plants, I've just always had problems with larger Cichlids uprooting anything they can even with plastic plants!?! My current layouts include a mixed gravel, large and small driftwood and shale. I use fake but as realistic as I can find as far as plants go. I currently have 2 tanks up and running, a 90 g in my living room, and a 50 g in my "Mancave" basement. I also have an empty 40 gallon that I may set up in my sons room down the road. He's 8, not sure he's quite ready yet for Cichlids and proper care, but he's learning. Thanx again.