Help me set up my a 125

[Discomafia]

Lookin' great! Defn. a step in the right direction...

 

[skye4jc]

fyi,

if youre looking for info on tanks needs, feeding habits and all that lovely info, plus lists of suitable tankmates/compatibility, try

the (almost exhaustive) fish profile page

it has loads of info that will be helpful in determining you new fishies needs etc. plus lots of peoples emails to get more info if youre looking for more specifics!

good luck, i know it will rock when youre done! B) definately keep us updated, and if theres anything else we can help w/, we're always around.

cheers

- Skye

 

[Blade]

I've added some decor. My current goals are to get the water clear and I want to add another 2-3 inches of sand as I don't like the current depth. I also think the rocks on the left and right are too small compared to the root system so I will replace them. Additionally I will be adding more moss.

I put in 2 female dwarf cockatoo cichlids for cycling, I will be putting in an order this weekend for a M/F pair of the same so my first inhabitants will be Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlids. Hopefully I can breed them.

Thoughts?

 

[Raechal]

I don't know if those cichlids are hardy enough to make it through a cycle, but I don't know anything about them at all.

Your tank looks good. The water should settle in a day or two, that is how mine looked when I first added sand. I wouldn't get the sand too deep as it could make air pockets under the sand and I heard they can turn into deadly gases to your fish and kill them. So you should stir the sand a little to get the air pockets out. I stir mine a little once everyweek and tons of bubbles come up!

 

[Discomafia]

Yea, I was about to say the same thing. Normally, 2-3 inches should be enough... Root compaction and those deadly gases is one thing that comes to mind when using sand as substrate. IF you don't wanna stir it up every once in a while, get some MTS to do the job for you.

And why those fish for cycling? They're not one of the hardy fishes that you always see people cycling with... And won't it take a while since the tank is so big? Why not just a school of zebra danios or something like that? Don't you have other tanks from which you can use media from to seed the tank?

 

[Blade]

Those fish were handy because they were in a 55 I took down. I am not as worried about cycling as I normally would be as I was able to get more than 1/2 my sand out of existing tanks.

What is an MTS?

 

[Discomafia]

Malaysian Trumpet Snails are recommended for people with sand in their tanks as they burrow under the sand, thus doing the same thing as you would if you mixed the sand yourself with a chopstick or something. Think of them as aquatic earthworms...

And you didn't mention you used 1/2 the substrate from your old tank...This will greatly help your cycle. Keep an eye on water params, as I'm sure you'll have a fully cycled tank within a week...

All the best!

 

[Discomafia]

if youre looking for info on tanks needs, feeding habits and all that lovely info, plus lists of suitable tankmates/compatibility, try

the (almost exhaustive) fish profile page

it has loads of info that will be helpful in determining you new fishies needs etc. plus lots of peoples emails to get more info if youre looking for more specifics!

Don't know if I'd trust that website entirely...

They said a rainbow shark would be compatible with a betta and a Fig 8 puffer (BW fish) to name a few. Plus, it said another rainbow shark would be compatible, which as I understand it, is a BIG no-no...

But in the care-sheet for the fish, it said "Only one Rainbow Shark should be kept in each tank as they are intolerant of their own species."....

Look at what they say is compatible with a betta...

http/www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/co...patible+Species

, just

 

[Blade]

Malaysian Trumpet Snails are recommended for people with sand in their tanks as they burrow under the sand, thus doing the same thing as you would if you mixed the sand yourself with a chopstick or something. Think of them as aquatic earthworms...

And you didn't mention you used 1/2 the substrate from your old tank...This will greatly help your cycle. Keep an eye on water params, as I'm sure you'll have a fully cycled tank within a week...

All the best!

You know of anywhere I can order some? I am all but certain none of my LFS carry them.

Thanks.

 

[Discomafia]

Have you checked? I don't know where you can order some, but if you'll pay S&H I'll gladly send you some of mine. You don't need a lot as they breed farily quickly as well... They don't eat plants which is a good thing as well. Did you try to find a pic. of them or maybe even some info?

 

[Blade]

I changed the rocks and added some additional java moss. The water is more clear except for the tanis as a result of the roots. I thought it would bother me but I actually like the way it looks.



Full

angle from right

center close up

angle from left

 

[OohFeeshy]

Are you going to add any more plants? It looks good.
BTW, are MTS fairly readily available, and do they breed like crazy?

 

[Blade]

Are you going to add any more plants? It looks good.

Yes, it will be when completed a fully planted tank. I placed an order for $25 worth of more Java Moss. Once I get to that how I want it, I will attach Java Fern to the rocks. I am undecided past that point. Suggestions welcome.

 

[Blade]

I've picked up the following dwarf cichlid's to stock the 125 with.

1 pair Apistogramma panduro

1 pair Apistogramma bittaeniata

1 pair Apistogramma baenschi

1 pair Apistogramma cacatuoides Triple Red

Not bad huh?

I also picked up a bunch of MTS and a few other safe for planted tank snails

(pics not of my actual fish)