It All Begins... Again

[c-dub]

Great thanks for your help willis, I really appreciate it. My heater and filter and other tidbits should arrive this coming week so when they're all running I will be ready to start aquascaping and stocking because I'm half way through my cycle.

I will keep you posted thanks again very much for your help!

 

[kaivalagi]

As Willis has mentioned ask at the LFS what they can order in for you

You've got lots of options for cichlids, you could mix it up or go species only and get some breeding action. I'll list a few ideas I would be entertaining if it were myself. I am not an expect, this is just what I have seen working:

1) Breeding option 1, get some Geo "red head tapajos", high ratio of females to males is the preference I think, about 6 in total maybe. Nice pics here: http/www.cichlidae....php?f=5&t=4447
2) Breeding option 2, get some Roitrell Sevs (ask Willis/Star4!) - star4 has a ongoing post here but not many pics: http/www.fishforum...74dbec65c02373c
3) Mix it up and get a variety of SA's (less conflicts between cichlids I think)
4) Mix it up and get a variety of male CA/SA's, what I've done but not sure I would do now
5) Mix it up with Tanganyika and Victoria cichlids


There are more options but these are what I'd be contemplating if starting with a fresh setup.

I started with option 4, I currently have a juvi Firemouth, Blue Convict, Port Acara and Geo "Red Head Tapajos". They are growing up together, and although there has been some aggression between them a few tank decor changes have helped a lot. I am also in the process of getting a bigger 5ft tank as these fish will soon need it, plus I want to add to it. I did have "dithers" by way of 6 zebra danios for a time, and they got ignored by the cichlids. I think with Balas you wouldn't need to worry about any hassle of any cichlid...?

In your position, where getting fish is difficult, I would find out about the LFS doing orders for you. Then maybe go with a breeding tank with a group (or two?) of same species cichlids you could order in one batch. Are you in a position where others might want to buy juvis off you where you are? Willis could both a group of Redheads and Rotreil Sevs co-exist in the same tank? That would be awesome!

Edit: see this youtube vid, big 1000L SA tank with adult geos, sevs, other indivduals and lots of other non cichlids, just gorgeous: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGMvLG09PiQ&feature=channel I say get geos first, then add some sevs after a bit

 

[c-dub]

yeah yeah thats cool.

One of the best cichlids IMO for anyone with a tank big enough is a Severum, not that rare or hard to come by. Big size, lots of personality, lots of activity and things like the super reds have a lot of colour but personally I prefer the natural colours like the greens which are still very nice I believe that there are actually quite a lot of geophagus in Australia but I realise its a much bigger country than the UK haha so I guess they might be differing levels of availablity depending on where you are but I think it would be worth asking at the LFS to see if they can order them in? I would assume that most of the fish there are from asia and the fish markets there are insane so they might be able to get some special orders in, it shouldnt cost you anything extra as they will get a batch in and you will be able to pick yours from them.

Wills

As Willis has mentioned ask at the LFS what they can order in for you

You've got lots of options for cichlids, you could mix it up or go species only and get some breeding action. I'll list a few ideas I would be entertaining if it were myself. I am not an expect, this is just what I have seen working:

1) Breeding option 1, get some Geo "red head tapajos", high ratio of females to males is the preference I think, about 6 in total maybe. Nice pics here: http/www.cichlidae....php?f=5&t=4447
2) Breeding option 2, get some Roitrell Sevs (ask Willis/Star4!) - star4 has a ongoing post here but not many pics: http/www.fishforum...74dbec65c02373c
3) Mix it up and get a variety of SA's (less conflicts between cichlids I think)
4) Mix it up and get a variety of male CA/SA's, what I've done but not sure I would do now
5) Mix it up with Tanganyika and Victoria cichlids


There are more options but these are what I'd be contemplating if starting with a fresh setup.

I started with option 4, I currently have a juvi Firemouth, Blue Convict, Port Acara and Geo "Red Head Tapajos". They are growing up together, and although there has been some aggression between them a few tank decor changes have helped a lot. I am also in the process of getting a bigger 5ft tank as these fish will soon need it, plus I want to add to it. I did have "dithers" by way of 6 zebra danios for a time, and they got ignored by the cichlids. I think with Balas you wouldn't need to worry about any hassle of any cichlid...?

In your position, where getting fish is difficult, I would find out about the LFS doing orders for you. Then maybe go with a breeding tank with a group (or two?) of same species cichlids you could order in one batch. Are you in a position where others might want to buy juvis off you where you are? Willis could both a group of Redheads and Rotreil Sevs co-exist in the same tank? That would be awesome!

Edit: see this youtube vid, big 1000L SA tank with adult geos, sevs, other indivduals and lots of other non cichlids, just gorgeous: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGMvLG09PiQ&feature=channel I say get geos first, then add some sevs after a bit

Thanks to you both big insights for me. I will go have a look at a couple of LFS's today and report on what's available in the world of Cichlids!

 

[c-dub]

Just bought 2 pieces of driftwood. Soaking them now will have pics up soon...

I also saw a tank full of juvi convicts... they were so cute I want some!!

edit: just realised how big these bits of wood are... gonna take a lot of soaking and maybe even then they wont sink!

 

[kaivalagi]

Just bought 2 pieces of driftwood. Soaking them now will have pics up soon...

I also saw a tank full of juvi convicts... they were so cute I want some!!

edit: just realised how big these bits of wood are... gonna take a lot of soaking and maybe even then they wont sink!

My first bit of driftwood, sumatra one I think, took a long before it stayed under without weighting down. I would suggest soaking it for as long as you can and if it still floats then use some slate/rocks to anchor it down for a while...next rescape you'll not need the rocks in place anymore.

I have a Blue Convict or Honduran Red Point, he is a character and takes no cr4p. My favourite pic of him is this one with him eyeing up the oto:



Does your LFS take fish orders?

 

[c-dub]

If I was going to order I can just do Livefish.com.au to my door.

I just came inside after siliconing the hell out of them to a few pavers we had left over from out the front. I'd say I used half a tube to make sure they stay down!!! I had them soak all day... they're dry again now of course but I wanna get them in.

P.S. Nice convict... NAUGHTY THO!

 

[c-dub]

Here are the pieces of drift wood after I nuked them with silicone to 2 x pavers siliconed together on each...

 

[c-dub]

Just installed the driftwood and went from white pebbles to charcoal:

 

[c-dub]

I'm letting this crappy old filter do the cleaning up before I put in the new hydor cannister and external heater that should arrive this week sometime. Hopefully tomorrow!

I can't wait to plant and stock this thing!

Clearing a little:

 

[kaivalagi]

Getting there

 

[c-dub]

I have one of these on the way I won on eBay for 70 bucks.

http/cgi.ebay.com.au/4FT-AQUARIUM-LIGHT-PL-4X55W-BY-AQUATHRIVE-HOT-PRICE_W0QQitemZ160380793429QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Pet_Supplies?hash=item255770b255

All this new stuff better hurry up!

edit:

does anyone recommend any good plants that would match in nicely?
http/www.livefish.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2&zenid=c6d87507d95df92e2a0db41c2132dac8

maybe some from here? I can order those ones.

I might have to add in a Co2 thingamabob too
Learning about planted stuff lately!

 

[kaivalagi]

I have one of these on the way I won on eBay for 70 bucks.

http/cgi.ebay.com....=item255770b255

All this new stuff better hurry up!

edit:

does anyone recommend any good plants that would match in nicely?
http/www.livefish....a0db41c2132dac8

maybe some from here? I can order those ones.

I might have to add in a Co2 thingamabob too
Learning about planted stuff lately!

Cichlids can nibble on quite a few plants and also uproot them

The only plants I have had that doesn't suffer from nibbling are the Java Fern and Moneywort, my Vallis has been torn to shreds...

Maybe the more experienced fish keepers can highlight other plants that can withstand cichlid abuse

 

[c-dub]

Cheers kaivalagi.

all i ever read about cichlids is them cutting sick and digging up substrate and maiming plants the filthy pigs.

i will keep those 2 plants in mind.

 

[c-dub]

Water change and started again due to filth from old + new gravel and the driftwood still shedding a little colour:

 

[c-dub]

Just set up the filter and heater...

OH MY GOD THE FILTER IS LOUD! I CAN BARELY HEAR MYSELF TYPE FROM THE NEXT ROOM!