The problem with keeping medium to large cichlids in planted tanks cichlids love to dig and move things to where they want them, not where you want them so more then likely the plants will die and you will have to up your WC game when the GT gets to 6in or so you can move to bigger tankCrypts are exactly what I was thinking aswell. I have had a full planted tank before so not my first rodeo. Amazon's would do well aswell.