How often do we see our cichlids up root our nice planted setups, or push aside those heavy potted plants, or simply chew them to pieces? We might ask ...what do our cichilds have against plants?...do they hate plants so much ? or was because they have their reasons for destroying plants. Then again i do notice cichlids seldom touches those java ferns tied high up among the bogwoods,...while java ferns tied at ground level on the same bogwood gets the usual cichild work out....and chewed to pieces. WHY?
i remembered reading somewhere during the Vietnam war the US Army deployed the BEEHIVE for anti-personnel purposes, but they found better use for this weapon which is packed which 5000 1inch nails....to clear the tall grass and bushes around their firebase. they wanted a clear view upfront for a better field of fire....incase Charlie Victor decides to sneak up on them.
I might be wrong...but i do think our cichlids too want a clear view infront of them...just incase some bigger fish tries to sneak up on them.Even in the wild they always stayed in open water relying on their sprinting abilities to escape. i guess we couldnt blame the cichlids for destroying our nice plants...they are just using their natural instint to survive.
So i came up with an idea to stop plants from being destroyed...hang them up higher or just let them float. i use one those rough texture foams to insert the plants...they float nicely and the roots will get hold on the rought texture with ease
when left floating in a large tank, these plants do offer some sort of protection for the lesser fishes from the tank bully. the cichlids will float along with the plants...but never attacking it or chew it
they also serve to induce new shy fishes out from hiding if u tied them up at front corner of the tanks
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when weighted down they become a portable potted plant for juvenile fishes to hise and play.
try it...im sure it will work for u too