plants in african tanks

[Matto]

hi i say on the net that you can put Vallisneria in tanks with Africans and its supposed to help with breeding and thoughts?

[smidey]

if your trying to entice breeding i don't think that plants will do alot to help that.

[ryanjury]

It can give them places to hide but rocks can do that too I have had limited success with plants in african tanks most of my fish eat them

[herefishiefishie]

Apparently Val is in the same area of the lake as Electric Yellows. So yeh, may help. I used it more to break up territories & it offers somewhere for those lower down the pecking order, somewhere to hide too.

Frenchy

[Matto]

can you get it in nz?

thanks

[alanmin4304]

The straight ones (untwisted) are unwanted organisms

[Matto]

so no...

[Adrienne]

you can get some of the twisted vals here.

[smidey]

is this the val we cant get?

[phoenix44]

You can get it relatively easily.

There is the giant species that is nationally banned - that is the stuff found in the wanganui river.

There is also another type that does not get quite as large, and that is sometimes seen in fish shops. I used to see a lot of it in auckland being sold as valisennaria.

[Ymir]

Well I have Africans and I have plants and it seems to be working far so far. I have several species of plants and the only one to die so far has been the twisted val. :evil:

My two Anubias species are going fine and I also have three java fern species which are very happy (normal, thin leafed and Windelov). I have one crypt species (I have know idea what it is), Bolbitis and what people tell me is Lilaeopsis brasiliensis but I believe it is Lilaeopsis mauritiana and lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae, thou I do have several Brazilian Micro Sword plants as well. Finally, Limnophila Aquatica.

All these plants I have initially brought in small qualities to see if they would survive and assess African suitability. If you want plants that are at a beginner level . I would recommend the Anubias and java's ferns (the thin-leafed species is my personal favorite) . These are tough plants that can survive the pH range of Africans and they have a low light requirements. So no need for expensive lighting setup. The other aforementioned species seem to tolerate the pH and hardness levels but require stronger lighting

[Jennifer]

is this the val we cant get?

Wow, that tank looks great!!

....nice fish too. 8)

[alanmin4304]

All the straight vals are unwanted organisms. V. gigantea, amaricana and spiralis (the leaves are relatively straight but the flower stem spirals). I understand from contacts at the Regional Council that the powers that be would also like to ban the other Vals along with Sagitaria subulata. I think there is a lake up north that has been invaded by S. subulata

I am not sure about all plants but understand that Java Fern requires more light in harder water.

[Adrienne]

Ymir - I don't know what you use in your tank but if you have been using flourish excel that is likely to 'melt' the val.

[Ymir]

ahh, then yes, the twisted got melted :-? any the excel for the carbon.

[maaxim]

:lol: nice looking tank smidey and nice dubs.

What are the other Tropheus, more yellow ones? :roll: