SA/CA Help in Aquascape Natural Tank

[Gadro]

Ok ok SO i'M PRETTY NEW AROUND HERE BUT please be gentle.

I've had SA/CA Cichlids for just over three years but today I've just got myself a new tank (hooray!!). Its 600l or 130gallons.

After a bit of advice for SA Cichlid Aquascape and what other people think.

Thinking of using Extra Fine Black River gravel as a substrate (http://www.aquariumsdelivered.co.uk/catalog/gravel-substrates-c-131.html) What do you think?

Looking at sandstone river boulders - sourced from local river (Boiled and left to soak in mild bleach, rinse, rinsed, etc)

I've also bought two large pieces of bogwood about a month ago (cost nearly £100), I jetwashed them and they have been soaking for the last three weeks in my garage to minimise the tanins.

I know about territories and how to structure them to minimise aggression, and I'm pretty clued up on species (and if not I can always google it).

My main issue is natural plants, I know how destructive some cichlids are with plants. I'm just really keen on having plants as I know how beneficial they are for Nitrate/Nitrite levels and Ammonia.

Has anybody had any success with planting and is able to offer any advice. What SA/CA cichlids are not vegetation munchers / destroyers (not interested in dwarfs)? Could people also post pics of their aquascaped SA/CA tanks just to give me a few ideas.

Thanks Guys

 

[Modest_Man]

I have never had luck keeping live plants with my CA/SA. Hell, I have trouble keeping plastic with them. I always have bits of plastic plants floating around.

Anything that digs or is aggressive is out. That means most CA's, a lot of SA's, and anything breeding.

 

[Gadro]

I'm the same Plastic is what I've got in my existing tanks.

Its just that I've come back from my LFS today and they've just setup a SA Biotope tank fully planted and with Green Severum and it looked stunning! Just wondered If anybody had any experiences themselves.

 

[davidefc]

You could try java ferns?

 

[scubasteve06]

I use Amazon swords Anubias, and Java fern and moss in my cichlid tank, they usually just dig around and behind rocks and haven't touched the plants besides the occasional munch out of one of them. My personal experience is good but I've heard total oppoiste more than 9 outta 10

 

[Muske]

The javas might work if attached to the wood.

 

[cchhcc]

I really like your intentions here. I try to do the same thing with my tanks. Perhaps I can help.

Technically speaking, you will have to decide exactly what type of "natural" tank you are trying to recreate. There are several different environments you could mimic in Central and South America.

That said, very few of those environments will feature a great deal of aquatic plants (and in most cases, many of those plants will be of the floating variety). Most of the plants we keep in our tanks are semi-aquatic in the wild. Of course, vallisneria and others are exceptions.

Black gravel certainly wouldn't be biotypically correct in this situation. Play sand would be more typical for slow moving lakes and rivers, and variously sized gravel would be more representative of riverine environments.

Bogwood and driftwood would be typical of many South American rainforest biotopes, but it would not be found in significant numbers in some of the Central American crater lakes. Most Central American biotopes feature a great deal of rocks, and they should be the primary ingredient of a CA tank.

The best thing to do is to decide which species of fish you will be keeping. Then we can help you more specifically!

 

[voss345]

i would not use bleech for cleaning
severums should be fine with harder plants such as anubias
or you could get a few pike there good with plants

 

[robmcd]

Also sandstone rocks could play hell with your ph.

 

[Gadro]

Thanks for your response's

Play sand is a definite NO NO. Bad experience with it in the past, nightmare to keep clean! Anaerobic pockets are a killer. I agree that it is more natural looking but I think a natural look can be achieved with a fine river gravel, Ok possibly not black !

I've use a mild solution of bleach in the past and as long as items are rinsed, rinsed, rinsed, etc NO PROBLEMS

I've always found Sandstone boulders pretty inert and always do the vinegar bubble test first to see if there is any reaction.

I've been tinkering with the idea of java attached to bogwood but would prefer substrate growing plants if possible.

I'm thinking of the following fish;

Cichlids
One Male Blue Acara Cichlid Aequidens pulcher
One Female Convict CichlidCichlasoma nigrofasciatum
One Female Festae Cichlid Cichlasoma festae
One Male Rainbow Cichlid Herotilapia multispinosa
2 Mozambique Moothbrooders Tilapia mossambica
4 Uaru's Uaru amphiacanthoides
3 Pictus Catfish Pimelodella pictus
http://elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_texas.htm