Plants for SA & CA tank?

[cdienzo]

Hey Y'all,

I was wondering if anyone keeps a planted SA or CA tank. Specifically for GTs and Carpintis. The 4 GTs are 3" - 4" and are growing out in a 55. The carpintis are all fry, 0.75" - 1" growing out in a 20.

I was considering java fern & moss, maybe some swords (which species?) and some floaters like water lettuce, etc. Is there anything tall and slender that could work? Would these be nibbled on and eventually thrashed?

I just wanted to provide some cover and possibly help with the bio-load, if I could- or am I stuck with fake plants forever?

Any helpful hints, tips & personal experiences on this would be great.

Regards,
-cd

 

[HiImSean]

i have a huge amazon sword in my sa/ca tank. they nibble at it but its always growing new leaves that it still looks great and provides a great hiding space. i had some jungle vals(tall and slender) in my tank but my severums just picked that to pieces. i also had java moss on some driftwood but they would tear that off until it was all gone

 

[oscarsftw]

Not many plants do well with Cichlids, just weigh them down with some rocks. But they will still drag them around.

 

[headbanger_jib]

chiclids and plants
destruction and uprooting ahead

 

[The Ippster]

my gt never messes with the plants, severums deffinatly will, amazon swords work well cause they grow fast

 

[albyoscar]

The only good plant for a cichlid tank is a plastic one, weighted down with rocks or wood . There just too dang fiesty

 

[LobstersGoPeenchPeench]

idk so far my tank is doin well and i got some amazon vales...i think but neways the rootin goes deep and theyre not potted but they do rip up my other plant but thats cuz it dont root to quick but its no biggie doesnt bother me to re bury like 3 lil branchs every week

 

[rmorse]

Plastic is best. However, I have had success with Giant Swords in my 55 gallon with my Jack Dempsey's.

 

[Bobears]

The only luck I ever had with cichlids was something Petsmart called a frill plant. It did very well with only minor munching. The biggest problem was these plants seemed to very... very prone to algae.

 

[cdienzo]

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions. Anyone got pics of their "successful" planted tanks? I know I saw a few in the tank pics megathread and few of those are from a few years ago. It would be nice to see what's became of some of those tanks.