Plants in Tropheus tanks ?

[ben]

Hi guys, just wanted to know if it's alright to keep most common plants in a Tropheus tank, like how will the levels of salt and high pH effect them, will the Trophs eat them and which are best like Java fern etc, cheers guys.

[johnnyhildo]

in my experience i found the only plants that had a hope of lasting with my fish were Anubias barteri. the fish tried their hand at destroying them but were unsuccessful. in turn and probably out of spite they took their frustration out on my java fern (the ones pictured in my avatar) and vallis. being they aren't as tough they got ripped to shreds and left stuck on the filter intake

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Ben I have 1 of 3 x 12hr shifts in a row left...will give a detailed answer Monday mate! Nigh nighs zzzzzzzz

[riftwater]

My recommendation is finding fluval plastic plants and not looking back. Between the high ph and tropheus in general gettign anything to actually live let alone thrive is just a chore.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Dec 19, 2015 22:27:28 GMT -5 riftwater said:

My recommendation is finding fluval plastic plants and not looking back. Between the high ph and tropheus in general gettign anything to actually live let alone thrive is just a chore.

I agree with John! I love my fluvals! They look pretty close to being real. People ask if they are. They look like noting like your run of the mil cheap plastic plants by Far!

[ben]

Thanks guys I'll look into the fake plants, I've got a batch of Java fern in my sons platty tank that's sprouting new shouts all the time, I've been giving them away so was going to try them but if there just going to get ripped up I'll not bother. No worries Danny I understand, I used to work 12 hr shifts and remember they can be killers all too well lol.

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Ben I copied this from a previous thread. Sorry it took so long to get back to you;
Re plants in african Cichlid tanks; ferts can help, but the problem is with nutrient lock out at pH's >7.5. Most plants are not able to access & use the nutrients effectively even though they are present. The reason why CO2 works so well is it feeds the plants a critical element for reproducing plant cells, and it also reduces the pH into acidity making the whole spectrum of nut's present available for the plants to take up and use for growth.
So with our beloved lake Tang fishes where our pH range is almost always at or above 8.0, the presence of nutrients, either in the form of nitrates from the biological process, or nutrient additives, are not able to be used. W Ben we increase the pH & hardness of the water we effectively create an environment where plants gradually starve to death. Of course, plants that grow naturally in the lake will be fine as they are hard water, high pH, varieties that were created to do well in that environment.
I think with tank raised fish keeping the pH at 7.5 would perhaps be the middle ground where plants & fish would grow successfully, but with wild caught fish that would be a bit too risky I imagine.

[ben]

Thank you Danny, I've done a bit of reading since I posted my question and will be going with a couple of fake plants

wow I can't believe I managed to write this, I'm soooooo hung over right now it unbelievable lol

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sounds like a plan mate...happy new year to you mate...
800mg advil (ibuprofen), 5mg stemetil and a litre of water will fix you up quickly...nurses orders! Though abstinence is the best "treatment" for hang overs...and unwanted pregnancies...lol ...have a great new year mate!

[ben]

Thank you Danny and a happy new year to you too, I'm feeling much better now thank god.

I'm more of a single malt whiskey (18 yr Glenfiddich) man which is why I was in so much pain this morning lol