[demonbreedr16]

Hey everyone! I've decided to get the fish currently in the 29gal in different tanks and take the 29 into a new-er direction. Planted Yellow Lab cichlid tank!

Equipment:
Penguin 150B
Stealth 150W Heater
Onyx Sand mixed with Black Gravel
36W T5 Coralife Light
Bubble Wand powered by some crappy air pump. lol
Glass Lid/Glass Thermometer, etc.

Decor:
Lace Rock

Fish:
2x Yellow Labs [got them from a friend who has a 300gal mBuna Tank...still fry basically...chillin' in a 5.5]
????Synodontis Petricolia????

Plants:
Hygrophila Corymbosa 'Angustifolius'
Hygrophila Corymbosa 'Siamensis'
Hygrophila Polysperma
Hygrophila Polysperma 'Rosanervig'
Hydrocotyle Leucocephala
Anubias Barteri
Anubias Barteri 'Nana'
Anubias var. Nana 'Petite'
Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Red'
Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Bronze'
Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Green'
Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Floida Sunset'
Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Tropica'
Cryptocoryne x. Willisii 'Lucens'
Cryptocoryne Petchii
Cryptocoryne Parva
E. Tenellus
E. Tenellus 'Micro'
Dwarf Sag
Flame Moss
Taiwan Moss
Java Moss
Christmas Moss
Hornwort!

Maybe, but doubted; Floating Fern and Waterprite?

Wish me luck! It'll be a fun project!

 

[F22]

oh god... good luck dude...

 

[demonbreedr16]

Yeah, should be fun...but I'm a bit worried about the Yellow Labs...in the 300gal they were in [she randomly gave these fry to me], they only had anubias and she said they went so far as to take bites out of those and eat the whole moss plants! lol

My poor crypts would be first I think...so we will see where it goes. My goldfish got along fine with plants! My previous goldfish ate whole anubias plants in about an hour...

 

[F22]

dude they are gonna destroy those plants

 

[demonbreedr16]

In the 5.5 they are in right now...

It looks like this except...not organized:

 

[fishiesramazing]

Usually the lake cichlids will pull apart plants or dig them up. It depends on the individual fish. They excavate in the substrate, causing plants to unroot. In the wild, the lakes are mostly full of rocks, I believe. If they are doing fine with the plants in that tank, then go for it. But in my experience, they prefer lots of rocks with holes to claim!

 

[F22]

yea, i really can't see this working the way you want..

 

[BruceWatts]

Two words "epic fail".

 

[F22]

haha, is the term "epic fail" still funny?

 

[demonbreedr16]

Usually the lake cichlids will pull apart plants or dig them up. It depends on the individual fish. They excavate in the substrate, causing plants to unroot. In the wild, the lakes are mostly full of rocks, I believe. If they are doing fine with the plants in that tank, then go for it. But in my experience, they prefer lots of rocks with holes to claim!

Yeah, they have some rocks in their current tank, but will have a lot more soon when they make the move to the 29. I might end up leaving this tank just Anubias/Moss/Java Ferns/Hornwort...

 

[F22]

Go for just anubias and java. That will work. The africans can stay in a ph of 7.6. I would recomend you keep them there. And skip the cichlid salt it isn't something they def need and it usually melts java. I have done it. But watch the water parameters very closely.

 

[londonloco]

I have a shell dweller/Tangy 75 gallon I've set up with Java Fern/Anubias tied to shells, Ph 8.1 (shells drive the Ph way up). The plants have been in the tank since 8/09, couple months, and are doing fine.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Hi demonbreedr16!

Sounds like quite the project. First off, aside for the fish selection, lets talk about some of the particulars of your spec list.

A 29 gallon, I believe, has a 12"x30" footprint. Not alot of room there for the extensively plant list you have selected. To be honest, that plant list would be a bit much for a 75 gallon. The Hygrophila sp. alone would over grow that tank weekly. Mix that plant list with the lace rock and you have no room at all!

Now, Labidochromis caeruleus can go with a planted tank, but as what was stated earlier, plant selection is critical. They will dig (and fan) the substrate. Heavy root feeding plants may not be practical. I believe cryptocoryne is an unadvisable selection, however, I have never tried it so I can't state that it can't be done.

For a tank that size, and the fish selection, use the K.I.S.S. Technique. (Keep It Simple Stupid). Anubias barteri, Microsorum pteropus, Bolbitis heudelotii. Only a suggestion.

If you change fish, you should still cut down that plant list some to allow some of the plants an oppurtunity to grow out to their full splendor and not sufficate under a jungle of intermixed randomness.

Good Luck!

 

[BruceWatts]

Sorry my initial reply was not ment to be funny at all. It seems that I see these types of posts over and over. Simply stated it's the "I am going to put these plants in this size tank with these fish" attitude.

What it boils down to is that the conditions for the fish and plants are imcompatable and or the tank is too small for the proposed inhabitants. As some one who has been in the hobby for a very long time I try to convey the message that if you look to nature and try to create a more natural environment you and your fish will both be happier in the long run.

Bruce

 

[demonbreedr16]

I had a feeling I might just put all the crypts, hygros, etc. in the 55gal Low Tech tank...so, that's no problem. And the more I got to thinking about it a LOT isn't going to fit in here...but...hmmm...I'm wondering if I should make this an Anubias only tank[I don't have such good luck with Java Ferns]..but then updates would be slow except for all the yellow lab fry. Luckily, my 2 are still small enough to not breed yet. They are sure mean tho...I was watching them chase each other....I could only imagine what Peacocks are like! :icon_surp

 

[F22]

Anubias mbuna tank will work. Peacocks aren't tooo bad but it depends. 2 males will destroy eachother, but a male female pair will be fine.

 

[demonbreedr16]

Peacocks were what I was planning for my now sold 180gal. Now, I much prefer mbuna[specifically Yellow Labs].