Dustymac

The next NPT (and probably final one) is going to be a bit strange. It's vertebrate denizens are going to be African Cichlids. I have one already and he needs some friends.

Anyway, they are notorious diggers and a broad soil substrate is out of the question, but I'm thinking some plant pots might work. I've never used pots in a tank. Are simple clay pots OK, or is another type better? Which do you prefer?

TIA,
Jim

yum

It seems like clay would be fine. What I'm not sure about is if it should have a drain hole on the bottom or not. Are you planning on soil capped with gravel?

Maybe gravel bottom, soil, gravel cap in a clay pot with drain hole would make sense as it would allow for some aeration?

01krisp10

Any clay pot will do, if you look at my journal I just posted, I have a mix of clay and glazed clay pots. Just put a thin layer of gravel and a rock plug at the bottom (some people suggest a paper towel lining), followed by 1" of soil and then an 1" of gravel sand. Works like a charm! Good luck.

Dustymac

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure even pots will work but it's worth a try. When I first got him, he went into NPT #1, 10 gallon, and was well behaved until he grew an inch or so. When he first started digging, I put in some sandstone chunks averaging 2 x 2 x 1" thick around some of the more important plants and he's actually tunneled underneath them. Right now only a well-rooted Wisteria and a few Ludwigia Repens are holding on. There are a couple Crypt leaves poking out from some of his slash piles, but the crowns have disappeared. It's really pretty comical and I suspect aquascaping is his hobby, too!

Thanks again,
Jim

DataGuru

It'll work if you pile enough rocks on top of the pots.
Here's how my mbuna tank is set up:



and here's a how-to on the potted plants.
http://thegab.org/Articles/PottedPlants.html

wrkucera

Stop suspecting! this will only undermine your relationship! Just interrogate him. I'm sure he'll talk!