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I would like to add some hornwart or another leafy plant to my 46g Mbuna tank. I read that all you have to do is snip them below the leafs and plant them to add forground...will they grow like this? Thanks

Inky

Hornwort doesn't really do very well when it's planted in the substrate, you should probably float it at the surface of the tank, it does well there...

If you do want to have it on the substrate, I don't reccomend sticking it directly in the substrate, as the bottoms of it will rot and it won't be good. Mbuna's will probably uproot them anyway. Getting some lead weights (like what they've got on bigals, or any other lead strips) and wrapping them around the plant, a few inches from the bottom, should work alright... tho the plant won't be up near the light, and won't do as well, it might be alright tho, you'll have to try it

Other leafy plants that would work -
- Anacharis/Elodea
- Watersprite
- Java Moss
- Asian Ambulia

Have fun

I think my mbuna are too young to move plants right now... they havent touched my Aspongelton (I think thats what it was called) nor the plastic plants that resemble hornwart. I will try to find the plant that you listed though and try decorating a bit with those..

Inky

IMO, horwort is one of the ugliest plants out there. Try anubias or some other African indestructible instead, just to stay consistent with the African theme , though not necessarily rift lakerine in nature.

Hi Inkling,

I just bought some hornwort for my tank. What a mess its made! I'm just floating it on the surface but it has lots of fine leaves that are continually coming off and just sticking to the top of the glass above the water line. Doesn't look nice at all. I only bought it to see if it made a difference to my nitrate readings so once that sorts itself out I might just toss it into the pond.

I agree with Cup_of_lifenoodles, definately give Anubias a go, they are hardier and nicer looking ... and you can get so many varieties. I give them .

Have fun with your plants,
Cheers
Crusha

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Mind you, there are multiple species of what we like to call 'hornwort'. One kind sheds it's fine leaves/needles, another species doesn't... I'm not sure if there are any more species, but I'm guessing that there are. I've personally owned two species of it... both of which died out

I was looking into hornwart mainly beacaus I have plastic ones in the tank already and it matches my odd theme. I have a lake Michigan setup (minus the green water) despite having african fish (didnt plan on those when I origionally did this setup) Big leafy plants that slightly resemble seaweed (but look a little nicer) is a plus. Do you know of any other plants I could use that wouldn't be so messy but still keep my odd theme (I my theme)

Thanks!

Inky