Best Plants

[Irf]

Hi all,

My cichlid tank is becoming a good home for algae, both brown and green. It's mostly on the rocks, and I have to clean the glass every week or so aswell.

I wondered if the algae would have a tougher time if I had plants (it's just rocks at the moment). The problem is that a couple of weeks ago when I tried Java Fern, the fish ate it! However perhaps that's because I only feed them once a day?

So, several questions really:

1. What is the best way to reduce algae in my cichlid tank?
2. What plants could I put in the tank that the cichlids will not eat?
3. Should I be feeding my fish more frequently?

Many thanks,

Irf.

 

[adambrum]

1. check for high phosphates in your tap water this can cause excessive algae also reduce lighting levels.

2. the only plant that would last in mine is plastic if they dont eat it they would dig it up.

3. i feed mine twice a day but its better to underfeed rather than over feed.

I had a big problem with brown algae a couple of months ago i found i had high phosphates in my tap water so i brought some phosphate removing chemicals and i also brought a couple of bristlenose plecs, these cleaned my tank spotless within a week and keep it clean and i have never used the chemicals.

 

[jgray152]

I have 2 sword plants. One is about 15" tall and 15" wide. Really big. The other is about 6"x6". They never dig em up. They may munch on the leaves because there are some areas in the leaves missing but that could be due to other reasons. I never see them eat the plants.

I have tried many different plants and I find Sword plants are the best. Very little maintence and does a great job at growing and keeping algae away. Make sure you have plenty of light though. They need light to grow. Around 2watts per gallon.

I get some algae on the plants leaves near the bottom where light does not reach very good since other leaves are covering them. The fish like to pick at the algae.

The only other place I get green algae is on the tank lamp covers. I just scrap it off one every few weeks and let the fish go to town. They love it.

Should I be feeding my fish more frequently?

No. You can feed them as many times as you want. Just as long as there is no food left in the tank after 30 seconds to 1 minute or so. Thats what I go by. I feed mine about 2 times a day. But I will usually feed them in the morning, wait a few minutes and see if they are still at the glass and feed them again. I then go to work, come home, and repeat the cycle.

 

[jgray152]

Here is a very short video of my tank with the plant along with some of the fish. Not the best video but here it is.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XHn3sp_0Ks

 

[kribensis12]

Awosme tank!!!!!!! How amny gallons?

 

[jgray152]

Its a 55 gallon. Now that I have it setup. I really wish I waited and bought the 75 gallon. The plant is reaching for the stars and the walls taking up about 30% of the tank. The rocks probubly take up about another 30%. Not much room for water

 

[thefirethief]

Duckweed is always an option. Its a tiny floating plant that grows in almost any water. Because its floating it has access to CO2 in the air, which means it spreads rapidly, conmsuming nutrients in the water and inhibiting the growth of algae. I think it looks really nice too. Here is some information on it, as you can see it does has its downsides.

Hope that was of some help.

 

[Irf]

Duckweed is always an option. Its a tiny floating plant that grows in almost any water. Because its floating it has access to CO2 in the air, which means it spreads rapidly, conmsuming nutrients in the water and inhibiting the growth of algae. I think it looks really nice too. Here is some information on it, as you can see it does has its downsides.

Hope that was of some help.

Thanks - very interesting. I might give both anubias and sword varieties a try before "giving up" and going for duckweed or one of the other floating fast growers.

Irf.