Rooting Anubis/ Help Me Get Started

[ben1234]

Hello,
I currently have a 90 gallon tank with large rocks as my substrate. I have a severum, 2 clown loaches, discus, yoyo loaches, angel, and a pink tailed chelsus. I realize most plants must be planted, but I was informed that anubis and java ferns actually attach to rocks and driftwood or else their roots rot. Is this true?
Also, I am looking for a center piece plant that grows fast and large, low light, no added co2, and can attach to rocks and such. Any Ideas? (The plants must be loach/Cichlid proof ie. tough leafed)
I know I am a plant newb, but your guys' tanks are my inspiration, they are amazing!
ps. I have read many of the pinned articles, thanks for the starting information.

Cheers,
Benjamin

 

[DarkEntity]

Anubias isnt fast growing, but will do well on some wood, the same is for Java Ferns, they are not the fastest growing but again given time will fill out nicely

Also with rocks as the base you wont get much growing without some gravel or sand, plants need something to grow into. IT might be worth looking at that prior to planting

 

[ben1234]

Thanks for the reply DarkEntity. If I were to get some pots and fill them with good plant substrate would I broaden my search at all. Maybe even something like a grouping of elodea? I dont know I really want a nice filler with good height, if possible. Then again, Elodea might be chomped on constantly by my fish. Any suggestions?
-The main reason I dont want to change my full substrate is that I hand picked all the rocks and they look quite splendid in the tank. Please dont think I am not listening to your comments, I agree changing out the substrate might fair better for the plants, but hopefully pots can be a compromise..
Thanks

 

[backtotropical]

Just as a little tip, Anubias do best in subdued light so try to shade it with something.

 

[ben1234]

Just as a little tip, Anubias do best in subdued light so try to shade it with something.

Thanks for the tip

 

[ben1234]

How would hornwort do in my tank? I hear that you can just weight them down to the substrate and they grow like crazy= a nice filler. Do I have enough light at 1wpg? Thankyou
Ben

 

[nry]

1wpg is enough for lots of things - they won't grow really fast and may be a little less sparse in leaf spread than with more light but from experience most things will do 'OK'.

If you have large cichlids which eat plants then you may want to avoid the more delicate stem plants like elodea/egeria, cabomba, hornwort (which is very delicate) and similar. Maybe some of the rotala species would be better as they have a stronger leaf and stem in most cases - rotala rotundofilia is pretty sturdy, something like vallis may do well too. Java fern would be a good filler over time - these would probably do better at 1wpg than amazon sword. The 'windelov' java fern (from Tropica and usually eBay too) is a pretty vareity and a little smaller long term - leaves are ~8" max whereas the normal java ferns can reach 12" or more depending on the species.

 

[madgap]

I posted about this just lastnight, my appretiation for java fern and anubis. My tank is shaded by floating plants which take up about two thirds of the surface. I have an anubis which I placed into a natural hole in a piece of bogwood and I bought my fern already attached to some wood. The fern grows some hair-like algae stuff on the leaves. These are actually roots for the next generation of ferns, which can be tied with cotton thread or fishing line onto most surfaces.
My rocks/stones have alot of natural grooves which a plant can cling to easily.

Why not post some images of your prized rocks before and after planting?

 

[excaliborg]

I had an anubis which was around an inch long, fastened this to a piece of wood in the tank and it has not grown to around 7 inches with lots of healthy leaves. This is in a tank with < 1wpg and no co2 or ferts besides fish food.