spudiot Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster. Have only ever had rocky Cichlid tanks in the past. Now i'm setting up a planted community tank. 125L 81cm Juwel setup. Planned inhabitants include Rams, Cardinal Tetras, Corys and a Bristlenose or a dwarf whiptail of some description. I'd love to have a nice centre piece Amazon Sword but my concern is the bristlenose will damage it... Yes? No? Maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dracoz Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Bristlenose in general are soft on plants, so they are perfectly fine with a planted tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudiot Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I'd heard they can strip the top layer off broadleaved plants though?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Feed them well, plenty of fresh veges, and they wont bother trying to eat the plants Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudiot Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 sweet thats the answer i was hoping for!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I found mine can damage some of the more tender leaves. Not deliberately though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudiot Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 yeh i'll take my chances i reckon, rather have them than the plant!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Mine destroyed one plant but I can't remember if it was a sword. Looked similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudiot Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 trial and error it is then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowfax Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 my bn's are fine with plants, i have royal whiptails which are also fine but a red whiptail that strips most of my plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carla Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 My (adult) bristlenoses will indeed graze the top of the leaves until they die. However the kids are fine. If I feed them plenty of zuchini, cucumber and peas they will leave the plants alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 my two males strip alot of the my amazon swords :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudiot Posted January 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 do they recover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemines Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 if you plan on keeping amazon swords then go without the bristlenose, they rasp too heavily on the plants' leaves thus damaging their epidermis. or go without amazon swords. or you could try otocinclus, black line flying fox, mollies, platies. generally the damage is too severe for the plant to recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr pleco Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 if you feed yr bristlenose correctly it WILL NOT attack yr amazon swords Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 do they recover? They don't kill the amazons but the affected leaves die off so to keep a tidy appearance you need to cut off the stripped leaves every so often. if you feed yr bristlenose correctly it WILL NOT attack yr amazon swords/quote] I feed mine algae tabs but they still eat the amazons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 I feed mine algae tabs but they still eat the amazons Try feeding them some fresh veges too. Courgette, cucumber, green beans, mushrooms etc. The algae wafers are OK, keep feeding them, but alternate in some fresh veges as well. I dont guarantee they will stop eating the plants, but they will be better fed Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemines Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 IMO if you give your bn lots of fresh veges and sinking pellets you are defeating the purpose of having them in your tank, and that is to eat the algae. they will damage swords as they try to graze algae off the top of the leaves, therefore choose: ancistrus type catfish or amazon swords... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 True they will eat more algae if they are starving :-? I keep plecs cos I like them, the fact they eat some algae is a bonus. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudiot Posted January 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Yeh likewise, i just like them, this is a dispay tank and they really catch peoples eye so they go in for a closer look, "ohhh whats thats thing??" Then they actually see the corys and the rams lurking around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemines Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 sweet, just remember that if you want to grow amazon swords as best as you can, you'll probably have to sell your pleco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemines Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 or set up another tank.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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