ANyone got any pictures of their tanks ?

[Alan Silver]

Hello,

Having spent some time researching cichlids (thanx to everyone who
helped), I have yet to see any pictures of cichlid tanks. I have seen
plenty pictures of just the fish, but I am interested in seeing how
people set up the tank. I would like an idea of layout, decoration, etc.

Thanx in advance.

--
Alan Silver

[Bchbound]

In article >, alan-silver@furry-
ferret.prestwich-smile-gemach.freeserve.co.uk says...
> Hello,
>
> Having spent some time researching cichlids (thanx to everyone who
> helped), I have yet to see any pictures of cichlid tanks. I have seen
> plenty pictures of just the fish, but I am interested in seeing how
> people set up the tank. I would like an idea of layout, decoration, etc.
>
> Thanx in advance.
>
>
Check out this site: http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Othertank.htm

[Alan Silver]

In article om>,
Amateur > writes
>www.amateurcichlids.com/tanks.shtml
>www.cichlid-forum.com also has a lot of tanks to look at.

Thanx to all who responded on this one.

This leads me to a big question ... I was led to believe that you
couldn't keep plants in a cichlid tank (specifically Malawis, which is
what I am considering). I was told that they would take one look at the
plants and say "Yum, salad for dinner !!". The tanks I saw today had
plants - and looked much better for it (I'm a plant fan in case you
didn't guess).

So, any comments ? Any types of plants better or worse ? Any types of
fish more likely to eat them ? I did notice that a lot of the tanks had
Java Ferns which are (apparently) bitter and tough to eat, but quite a
few had anubias which are softer AFAIK.

Also, the rocks in most of these tanks really showed off the fish. We
have very soft water here, so the LFS said I should use the same kind of
rock they put in marine tanks (light coloured with lots of holes).
Trouble is it doesn't look anywhere near as good as the slate and blue
rock I have seen in these pictures. So, anyone know how to harden the
water whilst still having decent rocks ? I was intending using crushed
coral substrate to help harden the water, but the LFS reckoned I'd need
the marine rock too.

Thanx for any replies.

--
Alan Silver

[Indiana Jones]

"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> In article om>,
> Amateur > writes
> >www.amateurcichlids.com/tanks.shtml
> >www.cichlid-forum.com also has a lot of tanks to look at.
>
> Thanx to all who responded on this one.
>
> This leads me to a big question ... I was led to believe that you
> couldn't keep plants in a cichlid tank (specifically Malawis, which is
> what I am considering). I was told that they would take one look at the
> plants and say "Yum, salad for dinner !!". The tanks I saw today had
> plants - and looked much better for it (I'm a plant fan in case you
> didn't guess).
>
> So, any comments ? Any types of plants better or worse ? Any types of
> fish more likely to eat them ? I did notice that a lot of the tanks had
> Java Ferns which are (apparently) bitter and tough to eat, but quite a
> few had anubias which are softer AFAIK.

I will leave the plant comments to others (though in general one problem
keeping plants with africans is that plants tend not to appreciate ph 8 and
up, nor hard water)

> Also, the rocks in most of these tanks really showed off the fish. We
> have very soft water here, so the LFS said I should use the same kind of
> rock they put in marine tanks (light coloured with lots of holes).
> Trouble is it doesn't look anywhere near as good as the slate and blue
> rock I have seen in these pictures. So, anyone know how to harden the
> water whilst still having decent rocks ? I was intending using crushed
> coral substrate to help harden the water, but the LFS reckoned I'd need
> the marine rock too.

Crushed coral substrate has worked well for me, though it loses its buffer
effectiveness over time. Perusing the afforementioned web sites, you will
find DIY articles on how to make "African Rift Lake Buffer". Basically
though, you can harden the water and increase PH by adding baking soda,
epsom salts, and aquarium salt.

Although there are some "rules of thumb" out there for how much of these to
add to your water with water changes (ie - 1tsp or tbsp per 5 gallons), in
the end it will be determined by your local water. Buy yourself a Ph Gh and
Kh test kit, some baking soda, epsom salts and aquarium salt, and do a bunch
of trials and tests, recording all results, repeat for effectiveness, and
voila you can determine how much you need to add.

NOTE: once you have decided how much of the ingredients to use with water
changes, *slowly* (over the course of a few days or a week) increase the PH
and hardness of the tank. Not too fast.. dont want to shock them.

FWIW with local water of Ph7, Gh ~nil Kh ~nil, i settled on a formula of
Epsom Salts = 2tsp per 4 gal, instant ocean = .75tsp per 4 gal, baing soda
1.5tsp per 4 gal.

***

Having said all that, after a few months of doing the prescribed treatment I
decided it wasnt worth the hassle.
Now I just have my crushed coral in there, keeps the PH at 8, and it only
mildy hardens the water.

Hope any of this helps.


Jeremy



> Thanx for any replies.
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Alan Silver]

In article >, Indiana
Jones > writes
>I will leave the plant comments to others (though in general one
>problem keeping plants with africans is that plants tend not to
>appreciate ph 8 and up, nor hard water)

Just been looking at Tropica's web site, and there seem to be a decent
variety of plants that will do well in my tank conditions. Mostly slow
growers, but that doesn't worry me too much.

>>So, anyone know how to harden the
>> water whilst still having decent rocks ?
<snip>
>
>NOTE: once you have decided how much of the ingredients to use with
>water
>changes, *slowly* (over the course of a few days or a week) increase
>the PH and hardness of the tank. Not too fast.. dont want to shock
>them.

I would probably mess about with this before adding any fish to the
tank. ill it with water and spend some time tinkering until I got it
right. Only then would I add fish.

>FWIW with local water of Ph7, Gh ~nil Kh ~nil, i settled on a formula
>of Epsom Salts = 2tsp per 4 gal, instant ocean = .75tsp per 4 gal,
>baing soda 1.5tsp per 4 gal.

Thanx, useful starting point.

>Having said all that, after a few months of doing the prescribed
>treatment I decided it wasnt worth the hassle. Now I just have my
>crushed coral in there, keeps the PH at 8, and it only mildy hardens
>the water.

This actually sounds like what I want. I would much prefer an approach
that involves letting the rocks do the water conditioning.

I was wondering about granite. Do you know if that would help ? I'm
really not sure which rocks will harden, which might soften and which
would leave the water alone. I have a friend who deals in stone, so I
could probably get chunks of granite, marble, Yorkshire stone, you name
it.

>Hope any of this helps.

Sure does. Thanx very much

--
Alan Silver

[Indiana Jones]

"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> In article >, Indiana
> Jones > writes
> >I will leave the plant comments to others (though in general one
> >problem keeping plants with africans is that plants tend not to
> >appreciate ph 8 and up, nor hard water)
>
> Just been looking at Tropica's web site, and there seem to be a decent
> variety of plants that will do well in my tank conditions. Mostly slow
> growers, but that doesn't worry me too much.
>
> >>So, anyone know how to harden the
> >> water whilst still having decent rocks ?
> <snip>
> >
> >NOTE: once you have decided how much of the ingredients to use with
> >water
> >changes, *slowly* (over the course of a few days or a week) increase
> >the PH and hardness of the tank. Not too fast.. dont want to shock
> >them.
>
> I would probably mess about with this before adding any fish to the
> tank. ill it with water and spend some time tinkering until I got it
> right. Only then would I add fish.
>
> >FWIW with local water of Ph7, Gh ~nil Kh ~nil, i settled on a formula
> >of Epsom Salts = 2tsp per 4 gal, instant ocean = .75tsp per 4 gal,
> >baing soda 1.5tsp per 4 gal.
>
> Thanx, useful starting point.
>
> >Having said all that, after a few months of doing the prescribed
> >treatment I decided it wasnt worth the hassle. Now I just have my
> >crushed coral in there, keeps the PH at 8, and it only mildy hardens
> >the water.
>
> This actually sounds like what I want. I would much prefer an approach
> that involves letting the rocks do the water conditioning.
>
> I was wondering about granite. Do you know if that would help ? I'm
> really not sure which rocks will harden, which might soften and which
> would leave the water alone. I have a friend who deals in stone, so I
> could probably get chunks of granite, marble, Yorkshire stone, you name
> it.

Granite is very inert (also very heavy), and while it won't harm your tank,
it certainly wont help it either. Limestone is basically the only way to go
as far as raising Ph and hardness. If you get a small bottle of HCL (got
mine from a Geology professor at school), you can test rocks.. if they
fizz.. they are calciferous (they will harden the water). Vinegar works for
this as well, but will only give you a positive result if the rocks are VERY
calciferous (or whatever the word is).

Rocks to avoid: Mica, anything micaceous, anything with metal.

I think you will rely on the crushed coral in the end to do the trick....
all the little pieces have infinitely more surface are than any large rock
decorations will. Putting crushed coral, or crushed oyster shells (cheaper)
in your filters will help too.

Good luck.



> >Hope any of this helps.
>
> Sure does. Thanx very much
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Alan Silver]

In article >, Indiana
Jones > writes
>I think you will rely on the crushed coral in the end to do the
>trick.... all the little pieces have infinitely more surface are than
>any large rock decorations will. Putting crushed coral, or crushed
>oyster shells (cheaper) in your filters will help too.

Thanx, that seems to be the opinion of a few people. I may stll go with
the granite for the decorations as it looks good. I'm not too worried
about the weight, the stand I intend to build will be strong enough to
park your car on ;-)

Thanx for the reply

--
Alan Silver