[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[APD] RE: Planted African Cichlid tank



Rod:

I am setting up my first African tank with this experiment so I don't claim to be an expert. I remember selling Africans in 1974 when I worked P/T in a LFS during summers between college but I never wanted to keep them.

That being said, look back in the Archives starting in Jan 2004 for the threads: Rift Tank Algae Establishment, Rift Lake Algae, rift algae, rift algae (potted plants), tank at work, The Stooges Work Tank Update, and Larry, Curly and Moe. These are the thread titles I've saved that cover what I am doing now.

I picked up a copy of "Plants for Your Aquarium" by Wolfgang Gula published by Barron's. On page 32 there is a picture of a wall of carved rocks with Anubias attached and 20 or so Malawian Cichlids. Page 27 has a sample plant layout for a cichlid tank. Background plants recomended: Anubias congensis, A. lanceolata, Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia, Sagittaria subulata. Middleground: A. barteri var. barteri, A. gracilis, A. heterophylla, Microsorium pteropus. Foreground: A. barteri var. nana, A. afzellii.

In "An Interpet Guide to African Cichlids" by Dr. Paul V. Loiselle beginning on page 32 through 43 there is a section on Aquascaping. Suitable plants listed are: A. barteri, A. nana, Aponogeton crispus, A. ulvaceus, Bolbitis heudelotii, Ceratophyllum demersum, Ceratopteris cornuta, C. pteridioides, C. thalictroides, Crinum thaianum, Crypto. willisii, Echinodorus major, E. parviflorus, Hygrophila difformis, Microsorium pteropus, Nymphaea lotus, and Vesicularia dubyana.

I looked through other books that listed the hardness preferences for plants and decided to try some thinnings of my Crypt. blassii. I also brought down some Hygro. polysperma. Both of these are in the temporary 20 H set up in my bosses office to give him something to look at while construction continues. This tank has a wall of Lace rock across the front with the Crypts ( about 15 to 20) planted behind. Some of the leaves float on the surface. I made about 4 bunches of 8-10 inch tip trimmings of the Hygro. and these are also behind the rocks. I bought two A. b. var. Nana and tied them on to some rock this morning along with four Bolbitus. I bought two M. pteropus,a bunch of V. dubyana, and three Australian Rainbowfish on the way home tonight and will bring them in tomorrow. Including tonights purchases, so far I have three 1 inch Synodontis cats, four 2 inch Australian Rainbow fish-exact species unknown except there is one bosmani, six 1-1/2 inch Labidochromis caeruleus, and four 1 inch Julidochromis ornatus.

I may be able to get out tomorrow and go to another LFS where they have a wonderful selection of plants and Africans. I want to get some Vallisneria asiatica and Crypto. balansae, C. retrospiralis, C. usteriana. I have a 29 gallon setup in my car which I borrowed from a friend for a while which I will start setting up tomorrow. That is why I wanted to know about the mulm. I still do hope someone can answer that for me. I want to clean out my tank Saturday and bring the mulm in on Monday.

Hope this helps.

Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ, USA where we just had about 4 to 6 inches of wet snow yesterday and today.


Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 10:59:06 -0800 (PST)
From: Rod Gerrymander <rgerrymander at yahoo_com>
Subject: [APD] Planted African Cichlid tank (was how long will mulm keep)

Tell me about planted African Cichlid tanks.
I like African Cichlids, used to breed them,
but I thought they spent all their free time
tearing up the plantings.

If it is possible to combine the two I might
be interested.

Thanks,
Rod

_________________________________________________________________
Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfee® Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963


_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/aquatic-plants