How hard to convert African Cichlid tank to Planted tank?

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sealife

Aquarium Advice FINatic
Joined
Aug 7, 2013
Messages
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Location
Australia.
Hello,

Im getting a bit bored of my African Cichlid tank, and would like a more hands on tank.

So i am thinking of a Low Tech Planted tank. Never done a planted tank before.

How hard is this to do? What do i need to change?

My tank specs are:
47cm cube tank 27g/100litres
Inert natural coloured gravel
Ph: 7.6
Temp: 24 degrees celcius
Eheim 2215 filter
Beamswork LED light 6 watts.

Thanks.

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That's a pretty small African tank:/ anyways... just get some plants, root tabs, ferts and have at it. What's the lighting? Substrate?

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I only have 3 small africans and 2 catfish in it.

Lighting is beamswork led 6w
Substrate is inert natural coloured gravel. Around 4 to 6mm

Thanks

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Tank would look good with crypt wendtii red and some jungle val in the back.

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Are you planning to keep the cichlids in it after it's planted? Cichlids are murder on live plants. Even 3 cichlids would shred most of your plants in a matter of days. IMO, get rid of the cichlids and get more plant-friendly fish.
 
If i was to convert to a planted tank, i will get rid of my 3 cichlids and start fresh with new stock.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Aquarium Advice mobile app
 
Hello,

Im getting a bit bored of my African Cichlid tank, and would like a more hands on tank.

So i am thinking of a Low Tech Planted tank. Never done a planted tank before.

How hard is this to do? What do i need to change?

My tank specs are:
47cm cube tank 27g/100litres
Inert natural coloured gravel
Ph: 7.6
Temp: 24 degrees celcius
Eheim 2215 filter
Beamswork LED light 6 watts.

Thanks.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Aquarium Advice mobile app

considering the substrate and ph, it's already more a tank for plants than for African cichlids. Africans need high ph and aragonite type sand.
All you have to do is get a better light for plants and maybe something to fortify the substrate.
Get plants, new fish and your done. :fish1:
 
Thanks PBSmith,

Just some questions:
1. Which LED light would suit?
2 What is something that forties substrate?
3. What are easy low tech plants?

Thanks again.

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My finnex stingray grows low tech plants pretty well.

Java Fern, anubias, water wisteria, water sprite, bacopa, crypts, and Java moss are some pretty easy plants. In my tank ludwigia grows very well.


Fishobsessed7

Money Can't Buy Happiness, But It Can Buy Fish Which Is Pretty Much The Same Thing
 
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