Flourish or root tabs?

I finally got the switch from fake plants to all live plants finished. I have the following plants in my tank
Anubias
Anubias nana
Java fern
Amazon sword
Moneywart
Hornwart
Anacharis
My question is which plants need flourish and which need root tabs. I currently have 2 36 inch fluorescent strip lights on it, but will be getting 2 36 inch finnex planted lights within the next couple weeks. I don't think it matters but the stocking is a 2 Jack Dempseys, (1 is a gold jack) 2 black cons, green terror, electric blue acara, and an albino oscar.

 

Nice looking tank!

The only heavy root feeder you have are your amazon swords. Place a single tab under each sword and replace either once a month or once every 2 months.

The Moneywort, hornwort, and anacharis are kind of a mix; they do send out roots if planted, but primarily absorb nutrients from the water column. Liquid Flourish is your friend.

Your anubias and java fern, while tied/glued to rocks or wood, absorb nutrients through the water column, so liquid is your best bet.

 

Agree with the above!

Nice setup, by the way!

You have some stocking issues, if you'd like to discuss them You'll have aggression issues in the future with your current stocking.

 

Nice looking tank!

The only heavy root feeder you have are your amazon swords. Place a single tab under each sword and replace either once a month or once every 2 months.

The Moneywort, hornwort, and anacharis are kind of a mix; they do send out roots if planted, but primarily absorb nutrients from the water column. Liquid Flourish is your friend.

Your anubias and java fern, while tied/glued to rocks or wood, absorb nutrients through the water column, so liquid is your best bet.

Hornwort sends out roots? Mine always just rot where I plant them

 

They send out roots when floating I think?

 

Hornwort sends out roots? Mine always just rot where I plant them

It can be planted into substrate:

Sorry, I guess I should know by now that I need to be as specific as possible.

Hornwort doesn't actually grow roots; I guess you could say I oversimplified. Ceratophyllum demersum actually grows something called rhizoids. Biology Online defines a rhizoids as, "a structure in plants and fungI that functions like a root in support or absorption".

To put it simply, hornwort
1. Can be planted
2. Has root-like structures
3. Absorbs most nutrients from water column

... Which is why I stated that Flourish would benefit hornwort more than root tabs.

 

It can be planted into substrate:

Sorry, I guess I should know by now that I need to be as specific as possible.

Hornwort doesn't actually grow roots; I guess you could say I oversimplified. Ceratophyllum demersum actually grows something called rhizoids. Biology Online defines a rhizoids as, "a structure in plants and fungI that functions like a root in support or absorption".

To put it simply, hornwort
1. Can be planted
2. Has root-like structures
3. Absorbs most nutrients from water column

... Which is why I stated that Flourish would benefit hornwort more than root tabs.

Yeah, roots and rhizoids are different bud

 

Yeah, roots and rhizoids are different bud

?

Isn't that what I just said? From the post the you just quoted?

Whatever. The OP is offline anyway, and this is getting off topic.

 

Beautiful tank however I fear that Acara is not going to last very long. And 2 jack dempseys together? Yikes

And just a heads up cichlids will eat plants

 

Thank you all for the plant info this helps a lot. Also TexasDomer. I mean this in no mean or spiteful way. From reading other posts you seem like an extremely smart and knowledgeable person on fish keeping. But this is just my opinion. Future aggression issues could or could not happen with any animal species in the world. When I was new to fish keeping and thought it was just set up a tank and throw fish in it I had an oscar with cardinals and it never once tried to make them a snack. But I also had an oscar that decided to eat 4 corys in 5 minutes. Now I would never intentionally let one of my fish be harmed so if there is ever aggression issues, fish will be moved. But aggression is never an exact science. Just as it is with any animal. I very much appreciate your input though, please don't take this as an insult to your knowledge in any way.

 

No worries, I don't take it as an insult. Just from what I've read about the species and people's many previous experiences with these species, you probably will have aggression issues when they're adults, if not sooner. Just trying to save you future trouble. People have tried fish combinations in the past and they failed, so we can learn from their mistakes and prevent future ones.

 

For stocking Anders247 @chromedome52 and @LeoDiaz can figure it out,theyre the "go to" for stocking

your right about aggression happening with almost anything but you can lower the chances a lot by going off of what works for other people.its may not be exact science but its still some science right?

 

TexasDomer what is your thought on which fish would be problems

 

What size tank is this? I'm guessing 125?

 

Yes

 

I'm assuming you want your JDs and convicts to each pair? You'll have aggression issues there alone - both are aggressive when breeding.

The green terror is too aggressive too keep with the acara too.

 

Both JDs are female. Bought them both as females to try and keep aggression down between them. I'm still waiting to see what happens between the cons. I couldnt buy them already sexed unfortunately.

 

You may still see aggression between the JDs and between the convicts.

 

I'm going to leave it alone to see if aggression ever occurs, and if it does I have many backup plans for the fish. I would never leave them to get hurt. But what would be your recommendation as of right now.

TexasDomer did you see my last post before things went crazy?

 

Not sure if I missed this, but what size tank?

 

Its a 125 gallon. 72x18x21

I am keeping my stocking as is. I do know aggression may happen in the future and if it does I have other plans in place. I believe the stocking is possible but I also know it may not work.

And yes originally this post was about flourish and root tabs, we just also started discussing my stocking.

 

In terms of plants, which I know more a lot about, (except select fish):

I recommend something different. Flourish once weekly + trace every 2-3 days.

Then if you want you can alternate to root tabs + flourish trace, after a few months.

You want to eventually encourage them to put their roots in the dirt to keep it from being anaerobic

I would follow their advice on the fish!

 

What is trace?

 

Idk my stocking is prob against what people would say too.

I personally have a female convict with a JD and a green terror. Along with many other Africans too though. I have yet to lose a fish from aggression and they have all been together for a very long time.

I have come to conclude and have heard from multiple people that overstocking is good for Africans. It keeps them busy and aggression to a minimum.

I also have 3 electric acara but, those I would not put in my community tank.

 

flourish trace, it provides trace elements to plants that are not readily in foods you feed your fish and that they need. Some of these are used to near maximum that was available, every 2-3 days, but particularly during strong growth.

These trace elements are in flourish, so when you dose that, do not add trace elements too*

 

I have heard many people say to overstock africans to minimize aggression. How is it going keeping africans with new worlds?

 

so basically like you use flourish every week and trace every 3. but on the days you use flourish you do not use flourish trace (so basically I usually just use trace once per week in between). I hope someone else can answer that, I wish I knew. may be @TexasDomer?

 

I have heard many people say to overstock africans to minimize aggression. How is it going keeping africans with new worlds?

Did u even read my post? Lol

 

well, I know that clown loaches like a heavier stocking if you keep the water clean, this does not mean they want a small aquarium, but rather, they want many of them. So, I don't know how non-schooling fish work!

 

Did u even read my post? Lol

Yeah sorry lol I was reading a bunch of posts at once and lost track. What size is your tank?

 

African and new world cichlids don't usually work out - it's not recommended. If you want to stock Africans, LeoDiaz can help. tyguy7760 can help with American cichlids.

 

Yeah you are pretty stocked. It's nice that you have a 6 foot tank but I fear for the acara. The two female Jacks and the green terror I think would be ok. How mature are all the fish? Juveniles I'm assuming?

 

I don't want to add anything else. All the fish are juvies. All are around 3 inches except the acara. The acara is close to 4.5.

 

Something I have found that helps me to lower my natural fish overstocking is buying more shrimp to put in the tank. Even if they just get eaten, if you just want more fish, just buy shrimp lol...

This is why I have 2 bamboo shrimp, cherry shrimp, amano shrimp, ghost shrimp, and bee shrimp

 

Well you are likely not seeing any issues because they are juveniles. Though once they reach maturity, if the green terror decides to be more aggressive, I don't see the blue acara lasting too long. I also don't see the convicts lasting long either against something like a green terror. Right now they may be ok because they are closer to maturity than the green terror. But eventually, if they spawn their aggression is going to increase by a ton and they may start a fight that the green terror or JD's will finish. Then you have the oscar. Most of the time the oscar's are just big pushovers. But they are big and if you end up with an aggressive one then all bets are off. You don't really know their aggression levels or their personality until they hit maturity. Dynamics can change and change quickly in a cichlid tank.

I will say though that green terror's are usually known for their extreme aggression but I have also seen a lot of people have very peaceful ones in larger tanks like yours. I'm glad it's working for you now but you will need a backup plan just in case it doesn't.

 

I definitely have a back up plan of things go south. I would never let any of the fish get hurt. The acara would be the first to go to another one of my tanks if needed. Like I said aggression is never an exact science. Obviously we have peoples past experiences and general knowledge of fish but all we can do is try it and see what happens. I would really like a red texas but don't know much about them

 

See they are kissing! Sweet fish

I looked on youtube because I wanted to see what fish you were talking about

 

Picked up flourish and root tabs today, thanks to all that commented on it! tyguy7760 I have a 55 gallon with only 10 corys in that I can move the acara and 1 convict into if needed. If I did that what do you think would be able to live in this tank with the other aggressive fish? Again this is only if needed. I want to wait and see if these fish can live together

 

convicts are difficult to predict. Usually a loner can be pretty peaceful but they don't have anatomy to hang with a larger aggressive fish like a green terror. I think the 2 female JD's and a green terror would be fine in a 6 foot tank. I think the blue acara and a convict would be fine in a 55 together. The other single convict may be fine in the 6 footer.

The wildcard would be the oscar. If it turns out aggressive it could dominate the tank. If not, it could be completely stressed out with the other 3/4 aggressives. It would be something you would need to keep a close eye on.

And as a foot note...this is advice based on generalities. A cichlid community with all of these interesting personalities in one tank is always going to be hard to predict.

 

Cichlid personalities are very hard. Thanks to all for their input. I will keep all updated on how this tank is going as time goes on.