Plants That Will Survive In A Cichlid Aquarium

[fatheadminnow]

Plants that are planted in a Cichlid tank should be anchored down; either the plant should be planted in pots, or attached to wood or rocks.

Note: Different species of Cichlids will treat plants differently, some will not mind plants, while others will. This is a list of plants that will have the best chance of surviving in a Cichlid Aquarium.

Lighting: Low

Any Species of Anubias.
Scientific names: Anubias barteri var. barteri, Anubias barteri var. angustifolia, Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia, Anubias barteri var. glabra, Anubias barteri var. nana.
Anubias is probably the number 1 plant for a Cichlid tank and will grow very well on drift wood.
Difficulty: Very Easy
Lighting Requirements: Low
Tank Placement: Not Specific
Best planted on drift wood
Very popular

Cryptocoryne wendtii
Difficulty: Very Easy
Lighting Requirements: Low
Tank Placement: Foreground

Java Moss
Scientific name: (Taxiphyllum barbieri)
Difficulty: Very Easy
Lighting Requirements: Low
Tank Placement: Not Specific
Very popular

Java Fern
Scientific name: (Microsorium pteropus)
Difficulty: Easy
Lighting Requirements: Low
Tank Placement: Not Specific
Very popular

Lighting: Medium Low

Crinum natans
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium Low
Tank Placement: Backdrop
Popular

Lighting: Medium


Vallisneria gigantea
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium
Tank Placement: Backdrop
Popular

Amazon Broadleaf Sword
Scientific name: (Echinodorus amazonicus, & Echinodorus bleheri)
Also known as: Echinodorus brevipedicellatus, or Echinodorus paniculatus
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium
Tank Placement: Backdrop
Very popular

Giant Bacopa
Scientific name: Bacopa caroliniana
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium
Tank Placement: Backdrop

Lighting: Medium High

Melon Sword
Scientific name: ( Ech, Osiris)
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium High
Tank Placement: Backdrop
Popular

Kleiner Bar Sword
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium High
Tank Placement: Backdrop
Popular

Nomaphila stricta
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium High
Tank Placement: Backdrop

Green Ozelot Sword
Scientific name: (Ech. Ozelot)
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Medium High
Tank Placement: Backdrop
Popular

Lighting: High


Riccia fluitans
Difficulty: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: High
Tank Placement: Floating or strapped down to objects.
Water conditions:
Temperature: 59-86° F (15-30° C)
pH: 6.8-8.0
Popular

-FHM

 

[fatheadminnow]

Any takers?

What do you guys think?

I had trouble finding plants for my cichlid tank, and I have read about multiple people saying there should be a pinned topic about plants a cichlids so I thought I would do some research and come up with a list of plants suitable for a cichlid aquarium.

So...what do you guys think?

Think we need it?

I like it...lol!!!!

Please let me know what you guys think about it!?

Do I need to add or remove anything...Please let me know!

Thanks a lot!!!!
-FHM

 

[The Village Idiot]

Very good thread to have. Well done. Assuming you're referring to plants that will survive mbuna, I've heard numerous accounts of java moss faring extremely poorly. Other than that, what you've posted seems on par with what I've read.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks for your response!

Hopefully there will be more positive ones like yours! lol

But yeah, I researched plants that will have the best chance of surviving any species of cichlids.

Thanks again for your reply and hopefully there will be many more!
-FHM

 

[kribensis12]

I like it. Some of those plants look a little flimsy to survive ,but hey, you never know.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I like it. Some of those plants look a little flimsy to survive ,but hey, you never know.

Thanks so much for your reply!

If any of the plants that I have listed are not suitable for a cichlid tank, let me know and I can adjust the list accordingly. And if there is anything I should add, just let me know and I will be more than happy to add it!

Thanks again!
-FHM

 

[kribensis12]

The Riccia and the Ozelot look very flimsy.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, I will do a little more research and look into it a little more.

Thanks for letting me know!
-FHM

EDIT: I just looked around again and I have found that those plants will be okay in a cichlid tank. Unless someone on here has had experience with them, let me know please!?

Thanks

 

[fatheadminnow]

I thought it would of made a good pinned topic with all the people saying we need a sticky with plants and cichlids, along with all you guys helping to make it better.

oh well.

-FHM

 

[Gouken]

I like this thread since I have just gotten some cichlids recently and wondered myself as to what plants would be ok in the tank. Only thing I would suggest is adding more plants if any that will do good in a cichlid tank.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I like this thread since I have just gotten some cichlids recently and wondered myself as to what plants would be ok in the tank. Only thing I would suggest is adding more plants if any that will do good in a cichlid tank.

I am glad you like it!

I will have more time tomorrow to perfect this list.

I will try to do some more research and add more plants as you suggested!

Thanks again for your reply!
-FHM

 

[kj23502]

keep in mind that some of these plants like riccia do better in lower ph than what africans are kept in.

Well done


--I'd say Java fern/moss and anubias are the ones most likely to succeed. I still have a giant blob of java moss and a few java fern that they haven't torn up yet...although have picked at. Granted I only have 4 fish in a 125g tank, but they're still there

 

[fatheadminnow]

keep in mind that some of these plants like riccia do better in lower ph than what africans are kept in.

Well done


--I'd say Java fern/moss and anubias are the ones most likely to succeed. I still have a giant blob of java moss and a few java fern that they haven't torn up yet...although have picked at. Granted I only have 4 fish in a 125g tank, but they're still there

So do you think I should remove the Ricca? Or should I just make a note about the pH level that needs to be lower?

Thanks again for your reply!
-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

Nomaphila stricta, java moss, giant bacopa, riccia fluitans will not survive. Swords & crypts do not do well in higher pH and hard water so good luck if you try.

BTW Java moss scientific name is Taxiphyllum barbieri

 

[kj23502]

Nomaphila stricta, java moss, giant bacopa, riccia fluitans will not survive. Swords & crypts do not do well in higher pH and hard water so good luck if you try.

BTW Java moss scientific name is Taxiphyllum barbieri

I still have Java Moss and Fern in my tank. For quite a few months now. Ph is above 8.