I Have A Biotope!

[timmystood]

OK, so as some of you know I got a 150 UK Gallon tank 2 weeks ago and decieded to start keeping Malawi Cichlids! However, their tank didn't look quite right.. it was tacky and nasty to look at! Well, it's my day off today so after researching on here I went down to my local garden centre, went to the rockery and £30 later came away with loads of Scottish Cobble Rocks!
I've just finished assembling them in my tank! I still need a tiny few just to finish off the left-hand side of the tank but it's pretty much done!
Sorry about the crappy pictures - I took them with my camera phone! I will get some decent pictures tonight when the water clears and when I get hold on the household's camera! lol!


I'll be honest... I can't help but worry that the tank with split and flood the living room!


Tell me what you think!

Like I say..... better pictures to follow!!

 

[4ftguppy]

I'll be honest... I can't help but worry that the tank with split and flood the living room!
Tell me what you think!


-yeah looks great. I also worry about broken tanks, but none so far. I can't imagine one of those stones breaking your glass by falling, and as long as you have a decent thickness of polystyrene underneath, the base shouldn't crack.

I think i would silicone a few of the top stones if I was worried - or if it was in an upstairs room - or if my carpet was worth saving (its not)

My tanks are all in my garage - and regular flooding does my floor no harm (usually because I leave something running rather than a broken tank)

 

[Ferris]

Looking good

 

[timmystood]

Looking good

Thanks Ferris!! I think it looks pretty cool! I get so worried about the glass breaking, but i've followed all the info on other posts so I should be OK!

I might leave the little un-rocked bit on the left part of the tank and put some sand there (and only there) so there's a little place different... could also be used for spawning..

One problem though.. my cichlids don't seem to have terrotories in my tank, they all just swim at the surface Looking for food!

 

[Ferris]

One problem though.. my cichlids don't seem to have terrotories in my tank, they all just swim at the surface Looking for food!

Believe me, that is not a problem. When they start staking claims to territories that's when the problems begin aggression-wise. Enjoy it while it lasts!

 

[Cheffi]

Looks really good.... good choice

 

[timmystood]

Thanks!

 

[Nick Sw]

Looks good I think its a brilliant job especially for a first attempt, well done.
I worried about the rocks as well (a lot), the tanks are stronger than you think. Don`t worry.
Some more pics would be good.

 

[timmystood]

One problem though.. my cichlids don't seem to have terrotories in my tank, they all just swim at the surface Looking for food!

Believe me, that is not a problem. When they start staking claims to territories that's when the problems begin aggression-wise. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Yeah But I would like them to live inside the rocks and caves.. it would look good! Rather than them just swimming round by the surface all the time!

Looks good I think its a brilliant job especially for a first attempt, well done.
I worried about the rocks as well (a lot), the tanks are stronger than you think. Don`t worry.
Some more pics would be good.

Thanks Nick

More pictures will be posted tonight!

Now that there's been a change in the tank I might take the chance to introduce my 8" Gold Nugget Sailfin Plec as mentioned in another post!

 

[gaz guildford]

looks good!
they will usually take a while to find there own hiding holes
things like egg crate are good to distribute the weight of rocks so im told im a bigger fan of ocean rock myself but as of yet to get some plus i find my plastic tubing gives my fish ample hiding holes wich does reduce the aggression so ill stick with that for now im sure ur fish will settle and love that habbitat
good luck!

 

[Ginge]

I really like your tank but one peice of constuctive critisism is that i am not to keen on the little greeny/blue rocks in the tank.

 

[mamafish68]

theres a fine line between constructive critisism and an opinion. my opinion; the green pebbles are a nice touch to break up the color scheme.



way to go for a african newbie!!!!

 

[timmystood]

Awww... thanks everyone!

As for the blue/green rocks... what i'll do is take them out and see how it looks. If it looks better then i'll keep them out, if not, then they'll go back in!

 

[timmystood]

OK, so as promised! Here's more pictures!! Pretty much same as last pictures though as the water is still cloudy (hopefully better quality though) I might do a water change to clear it!

 

[Ginge]

Nice, Is that nehbours the in the TV's reflection???