Adding valisneria and ludwigia to a rift lake cichlid tank: a beginner's guide

[akirien]

I've just ordered a couple of new plants for my rift lake tank and I'm not really sure how to introduce them. I'm pretty new to these plants so any advice would be great.

Do I plant them in the substrate or attach them to rocks? What kind of lighting do they require? Do they need any fertilization? Are there any other things I should know before I add them to my tank?

[willie32]

Both plants should go into the substrate, and to be honest, lighting isn't a major concern for either of them. A fertilizer would be beneficial, just make sure it's nitrate-free.

The main thing you'll want to watch out for is them getting dug up, which is pretty likely in your tank, so you might want to think about placing some rocks around the base of where you plant them to prevent that.

[akirien]

Both plants should go into the substrate, and to be honest, lighting isn't a major concern for either of them. A fertilizer would be beneficial, just make sure it's nitrate-free.

The main thing you'll want to watch out for is them getting dug up, which is pretty likely in your tank, so you might want to think about placing some rocks around the base of where you plant them to prevent that.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

So to clarify, I just need to move some of the substrate out of the way, place the plant in the gap, and then cover it back up with the substrate I removed?

[blueoceans]

For Vals, it's best not to bury the crown as it'll rot. I've had success growing them with my Geos by placing them in a pot. Another trick is covering the surrounding area with flat stones to prevent digging until the roots are strong enough to hold. You'll still have some that'll inevitably get uprooted and float to the surface - those fish can be relentless. But once they're established, they can handle even the most enthusiastic diggers.

[graye]

I'd think twice about putting them in with mbuna, those guys are notorious plant-eaters. Soft plants and mbuna just don't mix, I'm not optimistic about the outcome.

[marmal]

I'd think twice about putting them in with mbuna, those guys are notorious plant-eaters. Soft plants and mbuna just don't mix, I'm not optimistic about the outcome.

Agree, LOL. I've had my fair share of experience with Africans, and I gotta say, most keepers I've come across haven't had much luck with plants. I've tried a few times myself.

They'll either uproot them - rock barriers or not - or snack on them. I might give it another shot using pots, see how that goes. Good luck with your attempt, though.

[graye]

I've had some success with tougher plants that have rhizomes - Anubias, Bolbitis, and the like. Mbuna will definitely go after the leaves, but they seem to lose interest pretty quickly and just end up grazing on algae. Vals, on the other hand, were a total loss - it was like the mbuna had a personal vendetta against them, demolishing them completely. I think it's safe to say every mbuna is essentially a veggie-processing machine.