My 400 Litre New Tank

[leecasey]

My tank cycled fairly quickly! I think this was because of 3 extremely large moss balls which were given to me from an established tank? I'm not sure but it took around 2-3 weeks. I was given some beat up fish which were getting harassed by a GT and Texas in my brothers tanks. So in here at the moment I have:

2 Green Sevs
1 Golden Sev (he claims its a red spotted sev, but I don't think it is)
2 Keyhole Cichlids (can anyone sex these for me? I heard you tell by the fin being longer, but I can't tell myself.)
2 Firemouths
1 Black Ghost Knife Fish (I bought this one myself only yesterday, you might be able to spot him in the green filter hose I put in for him)

To be honest these were not the fish I was planning to keep, so I may find homes for them yet. I must say though I love the Keyholes, what a lovely, peaceful under rated cichlid!

Currently running a APS EF2000 filter, Argos play sand, real plants - not sure which, and some bog wood I got with my tank!

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkUHcvcivj4

Gallery:
https/picasaweb.google.com/leecasey/JuwelRio400?authkey=Gv1sRgCKqb9M3Amo3yPw&feat=directlink

 

[tenohfive]

Looks nice - personally I'd have added more bog wood to create more territories, and if anything you sound slightly overstocked but most are fairly peaceful so you might get away with it. And it might be worth investing in a second external (even if you get one second hand) - if your main one breaks you've got nothing to fall back on. Running a second one and having it already cycled can only be a good thing.

Oh, and if you don't know what the plants are I take it that means you bought them from your LFS? If so keep a close eye on them and if they start to die, remove them - a lot of plants sold in LFS' as aquarium plants aren't meant to be submerged and will die off over time creating a right mess.

Nice clean looking tank though. You given any thought to dithers?

 

[leecasey]

thanks

They are not really my fish, the reason I didnt add more bogwood as I was planning on keeping large cichlids, maybe a single oscar or a couple of JD's or something so wanted plenty of open space. I'm still not sure on what I'm doing as far as stock goes. Sevs and Firemouths don't really interest me.

Update on the BGK... I'm not sure it's alive! It's been laying on its side, upside down, all over the place. I know they are nocturnal but it's even been floating around a bit with the current. I picked it up in the net and it didnt move. I did a bit of googling and found another person who said his BGK plays dead in the day time but is fine at night. I just would have thought if I picked it out with the net it would have moved or something. I just dont know... I will keep an eye on it tonight. I have no idea why it's died if it is dead. It wasn't being harassed, had its own hiding places, did a water analysis just in case and thats perfect. Weird.

Regarding filtration, I am already looking for an FX5 to run along side the EF2000.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Nice looking tank You will be overstocked once the Sevs mature, but OK for a while.

The Gold is definitely a Gold, with the Red Spots they have spots from small. A lot of LFS try it on. Honestly if you can get hold of a Red Spot, and swap it for one of the others, they have a great personality. Mine actually does gardening in the tank, swims sideways, shivers etc etc. He's a real personality. More so than my Green ever was, in fact she was boring.

The Keyholes both look male to me but I'm not an expert. Mine is definitely a male and he has long flowing fins. I agree they are very underrated cichlids. As they mature they have amazing colours.

I would get a bit more wood or rocks or something to put in the middle as well

 

[minnnt]

Where abouts are you mate? I would be interested in the firemouths. Tank looks brilliant, the play sand looks excellent imo.

 

[algir]

Fabulous looking tank!

 

[leecasey]

Where abouts are you mate? I would be interested in the firemouths. Tank looks brilliant, the play sand looks excellent imo.

Thanks mate, yeah, I was really impressed with the argos play sand. I ALMOST forked out for black tahitian moon sand, was going to cost over £100 though. The argos play sand cost me about 12quid! lol.

I'm in Harlow, Essex if you want the Firemouths. I don't want anything for any of the fish if anyone is interested. Decided I'm going to stick with my original plan of a GT and JD and hope they get along, if not I'll remove the JD.

Lee

 

[minnnt]

Shame mate, im in nottinghamshire although i am travelling to B49, Warwickshire tomorrow?! lol.