Help Me Solve this *PLANT MYSTERY* in My Planted Aquarium

[@Lumpydog]

Common problem for fish keepers that kept cichlids. My best tip is to keep Nitrates around 50ppm via less water charges. Plant weights are great for keeping plants down in the substrate. Good luck and cheers.

[@razinfishes1918]

Yes Ben I've had similar issues but it was my plecos in the tank digging around pushing the plants out. But plant weights work well and once your plant gets well rooted you should be fine

[@Uathankicks]

I would let it float if it goes up again until it starts rooting out more. Will help get more light floating, and once it gets an inch or two of roots going they will take off once buried. Looking good tho! 👍🏼

[@kevrsv4570]

Plecos can uproot plants as they rummage around the substrate, snails are another one if they're the kind that burrow into the substrate. You can get some plant weight strips to help them stay down which will give the plants a good chance to root properly which will keep them in place. I hope it helps buddy!

[@DashDrones]

Cap the substrate with an inch of sand. You'll have less issues with uprooting it will improve filtration and the tank's look, add something light. 👍

[@kongrzybucjusz]

Hi Ben! I’ve been following your channel for some time. I know very well the problem with „switching” the type of aquarium. Especially, when you are specialist in for example planted tanks and want to start african cichlids ;) The best short advice I can give you is: 1) get much more plants (stems) 2) add more gravel (sand is best option on top of gravel you have) 3) put at least a one root tab under every rooted plant 4) get rid of snails - they will dig up every root tab. In planted tanks, plant mass have to be much, much bigger. Also, consider to add some potassium. I have no knowledge about your water parametrs, so this is the best, most general tips I have. Next time make sure to add base layer fertilising substrate under the gravel or sand. Kind regards!

[@brianduvall1300]

stem plants i wrap stems with poly fill pad and bury about inch deep has worked for me be blessed.

[@mk_cichlids]

I have a large bushynose that uproots plants all the time, particularly before they are rooted in. They tend to just run them over at times unintentionally.

[@walterotiepka1460]

A round plant weight wrap some filter floss around base of plant and stuff into plant weight and bury into substrate. Try rotala

[@samperson8787]

Ben Ochart. I’ve never seen you or anyone show or talk about the Malawi Barracuda. It’s an amazing African Cichlid.

[@BenOchart]

Certainly a cool fish. I talked about them in an “OddBalls” video a while back. I think people are put off by the lack of color and assume that they are overly aggressive with that month, when I hear that they are actually pretty mellow.

[@heaven7360]

Maybe plant with lead plant weights until they are rooted You could possibly float them until they are rooted and plant them deep and the roots could keep the bulldozer fish from uprooting them so easily. Also a fine tooth comb broken in small increments you could use to tuck them into the substrate with too. Maybe you just need to plant them deeper. Once a plant has deep roots they'll be fine.

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

Zip tie to a small stone and bury the stone in the substrate

[@jonstfrancis]

Often aquarium plants would come with a terracotta hoop around them which was a plant weight. Those work quite well, especially as you can hold the hoop with stones too. Really long ago plants would come with lead strips for holding them down but I never liked those as they could bite the soft plant material.

[@jeremymoore450]

Ben, I suspect it’s your plecos digging it up. My pleco in my CA SA tank fans the sand and substrate he basically builds a mound of sand. The other fish are to small I suspect to uproot the plant. I would put a Little Rock over the vent of it if you can to weigh it down. Plecos are the culprit. For a center piece fish you should add a blue or opaline gourami to the 55 gal. They are very pretty and love plants.

[@jonas2431]

Ludwigia is beautiful

[@XCaliKev]

👍🤠 Just saw a comment that’s exactly what I was going to say. Weight’s. Maybe set a GoPro

[@Jimsfish]

I have same plant I put it in small pot dirt sand cap and it has taken over half a ten gallon

[@ManuelGonzalez-zb8hm]

Hello Ben is the plecos ,get panda gara,they suck around the aquarium, but more gentle on plants ,your fan mg,

[@keithduwe2647]

You may consider putting those snails in another tank where they can’t destroy your set up

[@deathbyfishtanks]

I gotcha! Your plants are being easily uprooted by the inhabitants because the roots don't have as firm a grasp in gravel. What you should do is take out your heartscape then add two or three inches of pool sand, and lift the plants out of the gravel. It has to be POOL sand, as it won't choke the fish when you pour it in. The grains are bigger and easier to clean.

[@acevedoaandres]

Ben where you bought the iluminated sign with the fish in the center?

[@mr.c7076]

Hello Ben. When should you do a partial water change after your new African Cichlid peacock tank has been running? I am considering the biological filter being established. Thanks and keep up the good work. I'm a subscriber.

[@mr.c7076]

It's been up and running about 4 weeks.

[@harshtruth9148]

very simple Ben.....weights from Aquarium co-op.....holds them down beautifully

[@ryanzielinski2230]

Deeper substrate

[@rahulvalmiki9694]

Sir should i turn off the canister filter while changing the water in fish tank please reply

[@BenOchart]

Depends on how much water you’re changing. I leave mine on for 20% water changes but I unplug for bigger water changes so the canister doesn’t struggle and suck air.

[@chefsteve8381]

Try some elodea under a large rock ain't going nowhere....also i found the African cichlid s don't eat it...