Planting My Aquarium

[valpofan98]

Hiya everyone! Currently, my tank nitrates are at 30...they were 60 before I started doing daily water changes. The tank is still cycling a bit but pretty stable. I want to add plants in to supplement my Cichlids diet and more importantly, to assist with lowering the nitrates and supporting the biological filtration.

I have one Cichlid in a 20H gallon tank. I want to add some rooted plants in the tank...Any suggestions on good hardy plants that could withstand a Cichlid (Red Zebra)? Also, any good plants that my Cichlid would like eating? I want a mix...Hardy plants to assist with the biological filtration especially with the nitrates and some plants that he can have fun with.

I already have some "Jungle's Water Clear" that has Potassium permanganate to kill any snails on the plants before putting them into tank....I plan on putting them in a bucket of my tank water with the Water Clear before putting them into my tank. I also have a plant fertiziler for the plant as well. So, all set for plants, just gotta decide which ones!


Any help would be great!!!!

Thanks soooo much!

 

[Nisha]

The amount of light in your tank will determine the kind of plants you can have. How many watts per gallon do you have? 2-3 Watts per gallon will cover the majority of plants but anything less and your plant selection will be more limited.

Here's a list of plants that are Proven Performers and should survive being nibbled now and again. Java Ferns are very hardy and don't get eaten because they taste awful to fish.

Hope this helps.

 

[Leslie]

You may want to consider Anubias as well. Nice looking and very hardy.

 

[Da_Oz]

Tropical Hornwort will grow in almost any tank. I have them in fry tanks with less than 2 watts of light per gal and blue tungsten lights at that. They only get room sunlight and grow fine and live good. This is the only plant I have ever had that could do this. This is a very fast growing plant. In the right tank it can grow 1 to 3 inches a day. When it grows to the top of the water cut it in half and now you have two growing plants etc etc. Don't think ant fish will eat it cause it feels kinda like a evergreen tree.

 

[Da_Oz]

Oh yea forgot becuse these are fast growing plants they eat alot.

 

[thedorkiness]

what about amazon swords and such? i have a couple and they seem really hardy with only a few hours of light

thedorkiness in-n-out