Jump to content





Posted Image

PCS & Stuart M. Grant - Cichlid Preservation Fund - Details here


Photo

New Member Cichlid Tank


  • Please log in to reply
14 replies to this topic

#1 Busio90

Busio90
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 02-January 14
  • Location: Balga

Posted 02 January 2014 - 07:14 PM

Hi all, I am new to the forum, and also to aquariums.

Started up a small aquarium to get into the hobby.
It's a 130L 70cm(w) x 45cm(deep) x 66cm(tall) aqua one aquarium.
Running an Aquis 1200 canister filter (a little big though I picked it up cheap from Gumtree)

I purchased some cichlids from Gumtree at a small size about 3cm.

2 x. Labidochromis tanganicae
2 x Iodotropheus sprengerae
1 x red top hongi
2 x unknown.

My tank started out with gravel substrate, fake plants etc.
dysy7ubu.jpg

But I have recently changed to sand substrate (pool filter sand) with some granite and limestone rocks.
Along with a piece of driftwood.
All rocks and wood was sourced locally and prepared for the tank as I don't fancy paying LFS prices.
enugeqyv.jpg

(Will post up a better photo when I receive upgraded LED light as I broke my T5 setup the other day!

I am happy with how my tank looks now, even though it may not be authentic I feel it looks much better.

I realize this tank will be too small for these mbuna. But I haven't had any troubles yet they all get along quite well.

Will be looking soon for some MTS to stir around the sand

Please help identify the two I am unsure of.
Slender all silver fish with one bold horizontal stripe.
Colourful blue fish, sometime with yellow accents and bold vertical stripes.
u4eqada2.jpg
yhahyvu5.jpg

Looking forward to people comments so I can improve on my new hobby.


Nath
Ow and a couple of 4cm bristlenose catfish in there also.


Nath

#2 Fox

Fox
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 30-July 06
  • Location:Perth
  • Location: Ellenbrook W.A

Posted 02 January 2014 - 08:28 PM

Good looking tank, Love those rounded rocks haven't seen rocks like that since I lived in Tassie.

 

The Silver fish could be:

Dimidiochromis compressiceps (Malawi Eye Biter) A Name I hate with a passion

OR

Dimidiochromis strigatus (Sunset Hap)

A better picture will give 100% ID ;)

 

The blue fish with the bars, IMO looks like a Hybrid Maylandia lombardoi (Lombardoi or Kenyi cichlid)

 

Labidochromis tanganicae is a very old name for Labidochromis caeruleus (Electric Yellow)

GREAT to see your using Latin names for the fish..



#3 Busio90

Busio90
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 02-January 14
  • Location: Balga

Posted 02 January 2014 - 08:35 PM

Thanks Az, I collected the rocks from the south west of our great land. Thanks for the ID. I was thinking the blue one was a kenyi. And yep pretty sure it's a hap sunset also. Would the male sunset hap become colourful? Hopefully it is a male, I tried to vent these cichlids when I changed out substrate etc but I think there still a little small for me to be certain. I will take some better pics ones I have new lights set up early next week. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Edited by Busio90, 02 January 2014 - 08:42 PM.


#4 Fox

Fox
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 30-July 06
  • Location:Perth
  • Location: Ellenbrook W.A

Posted 02 January 2014 - 08:41 PM

No probs and welcome to the club. ;)



#5 ant86

ant86
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 23-October 12
  • Location: kenwick

Posted 02 January 2014 - 11:12 PM

Hey mate welcome!

Tank looks great! I actually really like the granite too :)

I wouldn't be much help on the IDs as lm a American cichlids fan and
that's mostly what l keep. But Looks like AZ has helped you on that :)

Look into becoming a full member mate, full pcs access is awesome
And 10% discount at LFS is even better lol

Plus pcs club BBQ is coming up!!

Welcome again mate.

#6 MrLeifBeaver

MrLeifBeaver
  • PCS Club Member
  • Joined: 08-January 13
  • Location:Langford
  • Location: "Ruby Gardens Estate"

Posted 03 January 2014 - 10:46 AM

Welcome to the forums. Nice looking tank!



#7 Redevilz

Redevilz
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 02-September 12
  • Location:Perth
  • Location: Scarborough

Posted 03 January 2014 - 11:50 AM

Great Looking tank!! Welcome to Perth Cichlid Society.

#8 malawiman85

malawiman85
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 11-December 08
  • Location: Geraldton

Posted 03 January 2014 - 01:39 PM

Welcome,

 

Great looking tank. Good to see someone new to the hobby that doesnt under filter malawis. Do you have any plans for more fish?



#9 JackMack

JackMack
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 11-July 13
  • Location:Yokine
  • Location: Yokine

Posted 03 January 2014 - 03:04 PM

I hope this doesn't come off as rude, but personally I'd remove that spray bar to give a nice current and you could make a hole in the outlet and attach a venturi, it both looks and functions better imo.

I really like your choice of rocks and the fish are stunning for their size.

thanks.

#10 Busio90

Busio90
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 02-January 14
  • Location: Balga

Posted 03 January 2014 - 03:30 PM

Thanks Jack MackNot rude at all I'm open to all criticism and suggestions. Because I have an Aquis 1200 canister in this small tank, even with the spray bar I am getting quite a good current running back to front then down the front glass. Which way would you suggest to point the outlet with no spray bar? Also a little more info on the Venturi would be helpful. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Welcome,

Great looking tank. Good to see someone new to the hobby that doesnt under filter malawis. Do you have any plans for more fish?



Not at this stage, as I am concerned my tank is to small for even these 7 fish?
I was thinking of possibly one addition as suggested above to dig around in my sand to stir it.

I am super happy with the sand, the cichlids love it and after only a few days have dug out caves.
Fun to watch.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Edited by Busio90, 03 January 2014 - 03:28 PM.


#11 Fox

Fox
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 30-July 06
  • Location:Perth
  • Location: Ellenbrook W.A

Posted 03 January 2014 - 03:32 PM

Odd how ppl are so different with keeping by tanks etc, I'm a big fan of spraybars, always have been. But I know many ppl that discard them as soon as they open the box.
Different folks different strokes ;)

#12 JackMack

JackMack
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 11-July 13
  • Location:Yokine
  • Location: Yokine

Posted 03 January 2014 - 03:36 PM

If you're confident that the current is adequate then leave it be.
Personally I put the inlet at one end in the corner and the outlet on the oppisite end in the corner,
I reckon your canister outlet would be fine where it is minus the spray bar.

Again, it's just my preference.

Good luck

#13 Busio90

Busio90
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 02-January 14
  • Location: Balga

Posted 03 January 2014 - 03:40 PM

I'm all in for trying new things.
Spray seems to provide a decent amount of current for em to swim against and stir up all the poo for filter to collect.

What are everyone's thoughts on the size of tank for the fish.

Also is it worth making a "prefilter" for the canister intake?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

#14 JackMack

JackMack
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 11-July 13
  • Location:Yokine
  • Location: Yokine

Posted 03 January 2014 - 03:47 PM

I won't comment on tank size as im far from an expert opinion,
But when I asked one of the guys at vebas about prefilters, he told me that there isn't much point as that's the canisters job.

Keeping that in mind I just went home and threw an old internal filter in my larger tank and placed it by the canister intake.

#15 Busio90

Busio90
  • Forum Member
  • Joined: 02-January 14
  • Location: Balga

Posted 03 January 2014 - 03:50 PM

Fair enough. Guess there is really no point as your say. I have lifted the intake to about mid water just to stop any sand being sucked up.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD




1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users