[Johnnyboy]

hows it going everyone, hopefully you guys can answer my question(s)


Well right now i have a 60 gal tank 48" long. I've been looking around these forums and real plants are really starting to spark my interest, well one type to be honest. My tank is set up with multiple rocks (i have mbuna's) i'd like to find something that will cover all my rocks and give my tank a more natural look.

I've been looking at java moss but im not sure if i like the way it looks, is there some kind of moss/grass i can put on my rocks that isnt gonna grow real tall and that can give my rocks a nice look? or am i just crazy?

I dont know much about planted tanks so take it easy on me


any advice / suggestions are greatly appreciated

 

[@[email protected]]

there are LOTS of mosses. here are a few:
java
xmass
amano
tiawan
peacock
willow
flame
spiky
fissidens***(this one is the most different-looking from the rest)

checkout the site aquamoss.com

 

[Church]

...but you should know that mbunas are plant-nibblers, so chances are high that your moss will get eaten, or at least nibbled on. Everything I've read seems to suggest that no plant is 100% safe from mbunas, but it seems to be agreed upon in the hobby that anubias and cryptocoryne are generally ok. I think no matter what plants/moss you go with, you should know ahead of time that your plants will get nibbled.

I don't know, off the top of my head, if any mosses are generally considered mbuna-safe.

Good luck! There's a guy here, travis, who has an AWESOME African cichlid tank, and I believe he has some mbunas in there also. If you haven't already, I highly advise you to read through the entire thread. Click here to read it.

 

[travis]

Just came across this thread and thought I'd throw in my experience with moss and mbuna. I have had no luck so far. Mbuna are algae grazers and, though they don't necessarily eat moss, delight in raking the fine leaves of the moss with their comb-like teeth in order to pull off any aufwuchs (microcrustaceans, rotifers, algae, etc) growing on it. This is very hard on the moss and tends to scatter it all over your tank and prevent it from growing where you want it to grow. I think that if you can manage to grow moss without any algae whatsoever on it you might be able to get away with it. I'm getting ready to try it again using Vesicularia ferriei (weeping moss). We'll see how it goes.

 

[Coltonorr]

I would say Anubias are better than Crypts. Crypts like there roots in the substrate and Mbunas like to dig. at least you could tuck Anubias between the rocks.