Live Plant Cichlid Tank

All live plants with African Cichlids. The fish are Yellow Peacocks and Demasoni. Tanks are 75 gallon All Glass with pressurized CO2 injection, and 220 watts each of T5 compact fluorescent lighting. The powers that be would have us believe carbon dioxide(CO2) is a poisonous gas. Hogwash! What you see in this video is simply not possible without CO2 in higher than ambient concentrations.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• aquarium
• live plants
• cichlids
• plant tank
• co2 injection
• carbon dioxide
• compact fluorescent lighting

[desolatefox]

Do you still have this tank setup? I wasn't sure if cichlids could be kept in a planted tank, I always see them in rocky setups.

[RedDelPaPa]

@desolatefox Yes I do. Cichlids do eat plants and attempt to dig some. The trick is to get the tank established with plants first, with a growth rate that is faster than the fish can eat them. Once you get that going, you can keep almost anything in a plant tank.

[beanieaquarium]

What kind of substrate do you use?

Also can you post your latest water test results. Im interested in ph , iron and hardness mainly.

Lastly i use a co2 ladder system, whats the best way to monitor co2 levels in the water?

[RedDelPaPa]

@beanieaquarium I use a mix of flourite and just some plain jane gravel. My water is very hard and very alkaline out of the tap. pH about 7.8. Far as iron and stuff is concerned, I don't mess with any of that stuff. For co2, I use a little gizmo by red sea i think called a co2 drop checker.

[RedDelPaPa]

@apgfeb14 It has been so long, I don't remember where I originally purchased those plants. I got them online though.

[apgfeb14]

@RedDelPaPa Thanks, I have an established tank for a bit now, just changed out my fish from the tetras and guppies to the Cichlids ( Now thats its established ) and Ive only gotten 4 of them. Any suggestions as to where to get the plants for cheep, and how to separate or multiply the ones once they have grown. ( the plants ) Thanks for the quick responce, you have a wonderful tank!

[RedDelPaPa]

@apgfeb14 Hi. The foreground plants are dwarf sagitaria. They seem to do great in a wide range of conditions. The one thing I have noticed is, cichlids seem to like to rip at it and tear it up quite a bit. So the trick to keeping that stuff with cichlids is to have enough of it that it spreads faster than the cichlids can rip it up. so fish population balance is critical while the plants are establishing and taking over the tank.

[apgfeb14]

What would the Plants be in the bottom for the ground cover. and how hardy are they, i currently have a CO2 Ladder, along with white sand from lowes ( Its was 3dollars and after a good cleaning was just as good.) I have recently bought African cichlids and have a Moss ball and a Live rock in there as well, They have grown a bit, and i have the proper lighting, just wondering how hearty are the plants and what are they called - As well how cheep sorry for bombarding with questions im curious! Tks

[RedDelPaPa]

@mikematv1 Each tank has two filters. Both Ehiem canisters. 2217 classic, and 2026 pro 2