I read up that is not many plants that will last long in a cichlid aquarium. The spiecies I am planning to keep is some of the smaller malawen species. Here is my current tank only set up yesterday day. I have some African fern, Java fern as well as Anibias I want to add to this setup. Will like to keep it low tech. Has anyone have hade experience with plants in a African cichlids aquarium
Anubias and Java Fern for the win!! Not quite sure about Bolbitus/Africa Fern...might get chowed (might) Java Ferns are toxic (wont kill your fish, but they wont eat the plant...which is exactly what you want) and anubias is a can't die plant IMO. There are so many varieties of them, that you can go insane inside that tank!! I used to plant Vallis inside an upside down small ceramic clay pot in my Oscar tank. Just thread the Vallis through the hole at the bottom and bury it halfway underneath the substrate. Vallis grows so fast (even in low techs) that whatever the fish eat, it bounces back...and with their roots "protected" the plant will be safe
My one tip is try to get the plants growing in the tank for at least a month, or two is better. If they can establish a decent root system that will help a lot. Cichlids like to dig quite a bit, which is bad news for freshly planted plants But I see you already started. Also, get at least 20. Or 25. If you have few, one poor unfortunate becomes the victim and the others will start to bully him/her and death results. I had a Malawian tank for a few years, learnt the hard way (read expensive) when I was a poor student in high school.
Thanks guys. Yes i will add at least 10 more fish. It does not look like it but there is already 15 fish in the tank The anibias is from one of my planted tank. So it is properly attached to the rock it is on. Will attach the Africa ferns to wood I am planning for this aquarium and grow it in my planted tank till it has properly attached to the wood before trying it in Cichlids tank.
