What plants to get?!?!?

[Kiko]

i have a 20L cichlid tank...
the stock is 15 pundamilia nyererei
4 cory cats
4 o cats

what plants should i get i want my tank to look a little more natural? without the fishes tearing it up... and also i want to look into some root or tree branch, drift wood that doesnt cause taning of the water.. any suggestions post please!!

[armthehomeless]

Pundamilia are your limiting factor. I'd stick with anubius.

[Kiko]

is there any branches i can get? that doesnt stain water?

[Complexity]

You can soak the driftwood to leach out the tannins before adding them to the tank.

[Kiko]

can i go to the nearest lake to get some drift wood? and how do i soak it?

[Complexity]

can i go to the nearest lake to get some drift wood?

Sure. Might have toxins on it, though.

and how do i soak it?

Put it in water. Change the water as needed until you're happy with the results.

[LooksLater]

I'm a Purigen convert, it works wonders for pulling out tannins. Slap a bag of it in your HOB or canister, no more tea water.

[Totenkampf]

anubias, java fern, valisneria might be good choices, they dont seem to be very tasty to even cichlids. be careful what you collect in the wild because its illegal to collect even driftwood from protected species like cypress. of course you will be dipping yours so you dont need to be cautioned about potential predators like water scorpions and dragons.

[myjohnson]

Why always the aversion to tea water?

I always thought it made the tank look more natural.

[AquaticAddict]

If you want fast rerults with the driftwood you can boil out the toxins and tanings I did it to all but two of my pieces. If you soak it, it could take a week

[Kiko]

i got manzanita and it wasnt too bad... had a little bag of purigen in my wet/dry... MIRACLE BEANS IM TELLIN YA!!!

[LooksLater]

Why always the aversion to tea water?

I always thought it made the tank look more natural.

hahah! I have heard that before, from somewhere...hmmmm. ) Hey, to each their own!?

I want sparkly clear water, maybe it's a mastery over nature thing- I love me some Purigen!!

[LooksLater]

Kiko, I love manzanita, good choice...and I heard that, magic beans for the win!!

If you want fast rerults with the driftwood you can boil out the toxins and tanings I did it to all but two of my pieces. If you soak it, it could take a week

Does boiling or soaking work with really old pieces or just new ones? Anyone have experience in that? I've got a massive hunk that's been in a tank for yeeears...when you pick it up, the top layer kind of comes off on your hand. I'm guessing after a certain age, it's Purigen or replacing it, eh?

[Kiko]

i would replace it if its falling apart... lol

[AquaticAddict]

i would replace it if its falling apart... lol

+1 when I boil it, its to remove the tannins/toxins and to be able to have clear water. If its been in the tank for years with WC's and what not its already out. Ya it may be time for a new one because boiling it is only gonna errode it more