Cichlids and plants?

[Diogenes]

I recently setup a new 29g tank, and I set it up solely for the purpose of growing plants. I invested in a planted substrate, a nice light ballast, and I am totally set on creating the lush underwater garden of my dreams, but I have a problem.

I noticed that sajicas, oblongums, and cutteri's are available. I've been wanted some for quite some time. I've always heard that cichlids such as these are too boisterious for an heavy planted tank, and I already have a breeding pair of cichlids from the same family (green fliers).

Is it possible to keep medium sized cichlids like these in a heavy planted tank, or would I be better off sticking with dwarf cichlids?

 

[festerfish]

you could probably go with rams, or even go with kill fish thay would be great for a planted 29g. but i would say all cichlids would tare up the groun to establish there own terretory.

 

[Otherone]

If the cichlids can pull the plants out of the ground they will. Some aquatic plants esp. in a over-planted dense enviorment require higher CO2 levels than others usually supplimented by injection or liquid dosing. High level's of CO2 have been known to cause HITH or Hole in the head disease with New World Cichlids. In 29 gallons w/ cichlids -anibus - slow growing with rhyzomes that attach to driftwood or rocks, low light requirement, no need to supplement w/ CO2- might be the best option. After having planted tanks for a few years now I can tell you alot of aquatic plants will outgrow the 29 in width or height. Others will spread and become dense making it real uncomfortable for medium to large fish. However that type of planted aquarium is primed for a refrigium.

 

[Sab_Fan]

FWIW, I have never had problems with keeping cichlids and plants together, but I do think it matters which plants and which cichlids.

> for plants, I would stick to the tough or the inedible: anubias, java ferns, crypts, crinums, and swords (small swords, if you have a 29G). these plants also don't require CO2 to grow effectively

> for fish, I have kept Dempseys, Firemouths, Acaras, Green Terrors, Salvini, Convicts, gymnogeophagus, laetacara, rams and Carpintis cichlids in planted tanks, all w/o too much trouble . . .

in a planted 29G, I think you would do well to consider smaller and calmer cichlids, like rams, laetacara or gymnogeophagus . . . but since I've had no problems with Convicts, I don't see why Sajica or Cutteri wouldn't work too

if you get some of the rougher, tougher cichlids, just remember that it also helps if you secure the plants. secure java ferns and anubias by tying them to driftwood, and you can leave crypts and swords potted so that they are tougher to uproot

with only a little bit of planning and precaution, you can do this, no problem