Jack Dempsey with plants

TacoLoco7

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 14, 2020
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T TacoLoco7

I've read about doing that too, I personally don't have any issues with uprooting -- just a few of them are currently going brown and I can't figure out why ?
Maybe you have nutrient deficiencies or melt back if the plants are new to yup ur aqaurium. If the plants are not new an db have been in your tank fro around 2 to 3 months, than it might be nutrient deficiency, check this video. outhttps://youtu.be/RKPcJB0LKR0
 

ydnim

Exodon
MFK Member
May 24, 2020
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T TacoLoco7

The whole setup is new -- it has been going on for about 3-4 weeks in total and I started with the plants on the first day ? I may have been a little too eager...
 

TacoLoco7

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 14, 2020
22
8
8
T TacoLoco7

The whole setup is new -- it has been going on for about 3-4 weeks in total and I started with the plants on the first day ? I may have been a little too eager...
I would say that your plants are brown from melt back. If in 2 weeks, there arent any new signs of growth, then you planys must have nutrient deficiency.
 

ydnim

Exodon
MFK Member
May 24, 2020
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T TacoLoco7

The video was really helpful! I think I have an idea of what the problem may be and I will post any updates ?
 
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TacoLoco7

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 14, 2020
22
8
8
T TacoLoco7

The video was really helpful! I think I have an idea of what the problem may be and I will post any updates ?
Glad to hear. Good luck and I hope everything goes well!
 

jstoj

Feeder Fish
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Nov 22, 2024
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Victoria Australia
Try placing medium/large smooth river pebbles on the gravel or sand around the plant to stop them from up rooting them and prevent digging all the gravel
 

Jexnell

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Jul 17, 2017
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I had a pair of JDs in a planted 55gal tank till about 4in in size. They didn't bother the plants at all.
20170922_004127.jpg20170921_200504.jpg20170918_113135.jpg20171110_194404.jpg

Now I don't know if they would mess with the plants as adults. But as smallish fish they enjoyed the cover the plants provided. There was also 15 Bloodfin Tetras as dithers.
Now mind you they did do some digging but I left an area open for that and they played along and only did the digging there.
 

tiger15

Goliath Tigerfish
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Oct 1, 2012
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JD wont uproot or nibble plants unless they pair up to make nest. So if you keep single sex JD, your plants are safe. This applied to other medium to large cichlid so segregate the sex if you want to keep plants. Pairing dwarf cichlid are fine with plants though as they are too weak to do damage.
 

duanes

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tiger15

Goliath Tigerfish
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One other factor you may want to consider, is that JDs are hard water, high pH loving species (7.5 and higher) and "most" Geophagines are soft water, low pH loving species.
And just in case their natural habitats may be relevant, here is a couple videos from the Cenotes of Mexico, where they are endomic.
https://youtu.be/txmi1mng_XQ
https://youtu.be/eBFAtr6ZfIs
https://youtu.be/e8OVy3JKxcw
Many Geos from the Amazon basin are soft water fish, some are from black water, with a few exceptions that came from neutral white water. I have no luck with black water species such as Jurupari which got sick with HITH or bloat and died early in my alkaline water. But I have no issue keeping subtropical Geos such as Brazillensis from southern Brazil and Uruguay which are hardy in my 7.5 pH water.
 
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