How Would You Change?

[jameshiggins]

hi there here is a pic of my tank, i need to change around a bit or a lot, i could do with gettin rid of the plants i feel they take up to much space, and the fish are starting to destroy them now they are bigger. i just cant picture it being any other way i have looked at the gallery and still now joy, i was thinking of sticking a load of large peble type rocks.

any suggestions?

many thanks
james

 

[snoopyfrench87]

if u do get rid of the plants you could pop them my way

 

[LosC519]

Make caves with a flat rock such as slate rock, easily done by stacking them up unevenly. Take a look around at other members cichlid tanks, african cichlid tanks especially.

 

[Colin_T]

it looks a bit dark and gloomy to me. Perhaps add another light or move the driftwood over to a corner. Then put some different plants in between the swordplants. Something with a different shape and maybe colour.
An aquarium backing might help too. You can get some with plants, wood, rock, all sorts of different ones.
And then put some fish in there. I can hardly see any. Try some rainbowfish to add movement to the middle and upper sections. Look up Glossolepis incisus, Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi, M. lacustris, M. praecox and others.

http/members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Melano.htm

 

[england]

if you want oppinons here goes

i would bunch all the plants up in one corner with the bogwood in front of the plants<this leaves an oppertunity to hide shoul,d one arise<not you the fish
then group up the rocks in the other corner making sort of areas for them to protect as theres....
dont put to many rocks in there,,,i have done this with my tank and they dont seem to use them much and it collects all the mulm under and makes more work to clean<good for old world cichlids>
just try to define areas in the corners


oh yes whats the fish list?

 

[jameshiggins]

it looks a bit dark and gloomy to me. Perhaps add another light or move the driftwood over to a corner. Then put some different plants in between the swordplants. Something with a different shape and maybe colour.
An aquarium backing might help too. You can get some with plants, wood, rock, all sorts of different ones.
And then put some fish in there. I can hardly see any. Try some rainbowfish to add movement to the middle and upper sections. Look up Glossolepis incisus, Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi, M. lacustris, M. praecox and others.

[URL="http/members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Melano.htm"]http/members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Melano.htm[/URL]

just wot i thought the plants realy take up most of the tank. makes it look quite gloomy like you say. i fink haveing no background make the fish standout more though

if you want oppinons here goes

i would bunch all the plants up in one corner with the bogwood in front of the plants<this leaves an oppertunity to hide shoul,d one arise<not you the fish
then group up the rocks in the other corner making sort of areas for them to protect as theres....
dont put to many rocks in there,,,i have done this with my tank and they dont seem to use them much and it collects all the mulm under and makes more work to clean<good for old world cichlids>
just try to define areas in the corners


oh yes whats the fish list?

i think i realy need to get rid of the plants there are quite a few holes in the leaves now and i think the fish are doing it, so was thinking of only having a few silk plants.

so debating wether to keep the plants or not?

many thanks

james

 

[jameshiggins]

this is wot ive done. i think il be changeing sand later in week, looks a bit 'green' in under the top layer.

wot do you think? i personally like it much brighter may try a black background

all opinions good and bad welcome

 

[england]

yep looking good mate
my wife much prefered it before but as i said to her its for cichlids and not tetras

 

[jameshiggins]

yep looking good mate
my wife much prefered it before but as i said to her its for cichlids and not tetras

lol thanks, forgot to say stocking its:

1 jack dempsey
1green terror
2firemouths
1blue acara
1 r/t shark

and all get on great.

more opinons welcome

 

[shroob]

yep looking good mate
my wife much prefered it before but as i said to her its for cichlids and not tetras

lol thanks, forgot to say stocking its:

1 jack dempsey
1green terror
2firemouths
1blue acara
1 r/t shark

and all get on great.

more opinons welcome

I like the new version better personally, that swordplant is nice and thick.

What size tank is it also?

 

[england]

cool,,,,glad its working out with the cichlids!!!!!!!!
looks good in my oppinion
tried again putting my jag with the oscars and guess what FAIL!!!!
Jags gone and got super aggresive

 

[jameshiggins]

I like the new version better personally, that swordplant is nice and thick.

What size tank is it also?
[/quote]

me too. the tank is 4ft

cool,,,,glad its working out with the cichlids!!!!!!!!
looks good in my oppinion
tried again putting my jag with the oscars and guess what FAIL!!!!
Jags gone and got super aggresive

ahh well u learn by ya mistakes, ive learnt that mixing chichilds is very 'trial and error'

 

[shroob]

I'm just wondering how wide, as you have got some fish that have quite a reputation for being aggressive. They may all play nice when young, but once they mature it's a different story. Appologises if you know, I just thought it would be better safe than sorry and to tell you.

 

[jameshiggins]

yes i did no but thank anyway shroob, its 12wide and 18 high upgradeing within the next 6 months.

as for the tank ive now stuck a planted background on, looks great.

many thanks