I need some plant suggestions

[Lady Hobbs]

I need some heavier type plants for my firemouth tank. No stem plants but something tall and with a good root system. I love swords but forget them! I can't keep the algae away with them.

Anyone with idea's of something tall that's easy to grow in med light?

[squirt_12]

Maybe some Anacharis....but I don't think that it has good rooting system. But you could always hold it down with a lead weight.

[Lady Hobbs]

Not with these cichlids. I need something they can swim thru without knocking things out of the substrate and something tough.

[squirt_12]

Not with these cichlids. I need something they can swim thru without knocking things out of the substrate and something tough.

OH...I see. Just a question, what kind of lighting do you have?? (T5, PC..?)

EDIT - maybe some ELEOCHARIS ACICULARIS or some BLYXA AUBERTII I don't know if the second will work...just depending on your light.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Hobbs, I'd like to know your lighting too. I'm interested in figuring out your algae issue with them. Amazon Swords or Radican Swords would be a great choice for your cichlid tank. Radicans get a bit on the big side but I assume that is kind of what you are aiming for.

[Lady Hobbs]

I have 86 T-3 watts now (55 gal) and know I have to do better than that. They don't eat plants or destroy them. Just pull them out of the substrate so nothing fragile. I should just get a ton of swords and forget it but I have a heck of a time with algae with swords. They'll look just great until I give half a dose of ferts and 3 days later here comes the algae.

GB........the swords were under 186 watts with the same problem.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

You have too much light for the amount of nutrients and CO2 that is being provided. Amazon Swords do not need a ton of light to do well. In fact, you don't even need to dose ferts with them, you can simply stick a root tab under them and they will be fine. I currently have 2 beautiful specimens in my Discus tank that are under 30w of T8 lighting in my 46gal tank, I do nothing special for them.

[Lady Hobbs]

That's it. I must be giving them too much lovin'!

Ya know, maybe I'll do just that. Just fill the tank with swords (various kinds) with a good root system and stop fretting about them! How great should the substrate be? Is the sand OK or should they have something more?

Thanks GB.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Well, in once sense, but in another you are not giving them enough lovin'. If you loved them some more with some additional CO2 you likely wouldn't have your CO2 issues.