5 replies to this topic

[midwest]

Are there any live plants I can put in my 125 that will not be destroyed? My tank consists of 2 hybrid bluegill, 5 long ear, 2 perch, and a bull head. The first 6 months or so the tank was set up I have Java fern, Val's, Amazon swords, and some anubias, and all was fine but as the are getting bigger they have destroyed them all. I assume nothing will be safe but was curious. I have lighting that is suitable for low maintanence plants and he plants have always helped keep the algea down.

[swampfish]

I have had good experiences in keeping Anubias barteri with an eight inch yellow bullhead and my wife's similarly-sized Bristol shubunkin goldfish (not in the same tank). I don't try to plant the Anubias, I just wrap a lead plant weight or two around the rhizome or basal rosette. The fish swim into the plants or hit them with their tails and the plants tumble over and over, landing right side up due to the plant weights. The plants grow well and are tough enough to handle the disturbances. 

 

Phil Nixon

[JasonL]

Also if you can pot the plants, then bury the pot in the bottom substrate, that may prevent uprooting if that’s what happening.  I’ve done that with Val and java fern in the past.  Good luck.

[UncleWillie]

Having a planted tank is doable.  I kept snail bullheads, dollar sunfish, and warmouth in a heavily planted tank for years.  But I didn't use rooted plants.  I used those that attached themselves to objects.  You already have java fern.  Try using some vertical structure like wood, then attach plants like Java fern, African water fern, anubius, mosses, etc.  This way you have all the nice plant life, but keeps the plants off the substrate, giving the fish plenty of open space at the bottom of the tank.  

[midwest]

Thanks, the anubias (nana I think??) was potted and it lasted the longest.  The swords were planted and the java ferns were all tied to rock and driftwood.  All of them have been completely destroyed.  Ill keep trying and see what I can come up with. 

[Matt DeLaVega]

loose hornwort maybe. Not as cool as a rooted plant though.