Mellow CA Cichlid setup w/live plants -thoughts?

fishman76092 · 01-20-2013, 02:29 PM

I took a break from the hobby, moved from Dallas to Chicago and am making the jump back into the hobby in the coming weeks.

Getting a 60" x 18-24"W x 24" setup w/320W T5 6500k, couple canisters. Substrate will be Aquariumplants.com substrate.

Don't plan on doing the CO2 thing, but am willing to add Flourish Excel, Flourish, etc if need be. Last planted tank I did is the 180 gallon below, so I'm no rookie....however it was hi-tech, automated, etc. I don't want to do it that way as I don't have time with my travel schedule nowadays.

Long story short, I want to do a mellow CA Cichlid tank with the following inhabitants:
Chuco microphthalmus
Thorichthys maculipinnis
Cryptoheros nanoluteus or chetumelensis, etc
Cryptoheros panamensis
Hyphsophrys nicaraguensis (although these may be pushing it)
and some dithers/BN plecos, etc.

Decor will be manzanita/driftwood. Rocks away from the plants in case the

I figure I can get away with the following plants:
Swords
Anubias
Java Fern
Mosses
Dwarf Sag/Blyxa/Chain Sword for foreground
Onion plant
Hygro

Am I missing anything? I'm assuming they will tear most 'bunch/stem plants' apart. Apons? I'm aware that the micros get big and if they do breed then all bets will be off. With the little guys, I believe I'll be fine

With the list above will a carbon additive be fine with substrate or will I need to do other ferts?

Thanks in advance

kuni · 01-20-2013, 06:01 PM

Chuco eat plants (I think) and Thorichthys like to sand sift all day. You may have a tough time here.

01-20-2013, 02:29 PM	#1
fishman76092 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hinsdale, IL Posts: 53	Mellow CA Cichlid setup w/live plants -thoughts? I took a break from the hobby, moved from Dallas to Chicago and am making the jump back into the hobby in the coming weeks. Getting a 60" x 18-24"W x 24" setup w/320W T5 6500k, couple canisters. Substrate will be Aquariumplants.com substrate. Don't plan on doing the CO2 thing, but am willing to add Flourish Excel, Flourish, etc if need be. Last planted tank I did is the 180 gallon below, so I'm no rookie....however it was hi-tech, automated, etc. I don't want to do it that way as I don't have time with my travel schedule nowadays. Long story short, I want to do a mellow CA Cichlid tank with the following inhabitants: Chuco microphthalmus Thorichthys maculipinnis Cryptoheros nanoluteus or chetumelensis, etc Cryptoheros panamensis Hyphsophrys nicaraguensis (although these may be pushing it) and some dithers/BN plecos, etc. Decor will be manzanita/driftwood. Rocks away from the plants in case the I figure I can get away with the following plants: Swords Anubias Java Fern Mosses Dwarf Sag/Blyxa/Chain Sword for foreground Onion plant Hygro Am I missing anything? I'm assuming they will tear most 'bunch/stem plants' apart. Apons? I'm aware that the micros get big and if they do breed then all bets will be off. With the little guys, I believe I'll be fine With the list above will a carbon additive be fine with substrate or will I need to do other ferts? Thanks in advance Attached Thumbnails

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01-20-2013, 06:01 PM	#2
kuni Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 432	Chuco eat plants (I think) and Thorichthys like to sand sift all day. You may have a tough time here.