New Cichlid Set-up!

[timmystood]

OK, so into just 2 weeks of keeping Malawi Cichlids and I get told I have to move my 150UK Gallon tank!! Well, I thought I would use the chance to switch from gravel to sand and get a few more rocks in the tank!! The fish love it, hiding in all the rocks I never see them except for feeding - it's really natural and fantastic to look at! The pictures don't do it justice (mainly because of my camera work!!)

Tell me what you think! I will get some more/better pictures!

 

[jayjay]

Really like the rocks, I plan something similar on a smaller scale. Not sure if i like the rocks in the front left though

Well done

 

[ridewake210]

mm dang.

the wall of rocks looks great. but im not either a fan of the cluster of rocks on the left..or the right.

should try to keep them off the glass for a better look.

but its not my tank.

looks nice though. lots of rock. i'll be converting mine to sand here soon also.

 

[mamafish68]

KEEP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've seen THOUSANDS of tanks and I gotta say.... I've never seen one that had the effect yours does!

keep the sides!!!!

mannnn with some high powered lighting you could get some gorgeous algae to grow and dammmmm that thing would just be amazing!!!!

 

[timmystood]

WOW! Thanks very much. I really wasn't expecting comments that good seeing as this is my first set-up! I need to get new lighting for it anyway because a thunderstorm damaged it yesterday (and i've been meaning to get a new lighting unit anyway)! I'm gonna get some high powered stuff, like mamafish says so that I gets loads of algae! The fish love the new set-up, weaving in and out of holes - they love it!

 

[gaz guildford]

KEEP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've seen THOUSANDS of tanks and I gotta say.... I've never seen one that had the effect yours does!

keep the sides!!!!

mannnn with some high powered lighting you could get some gorgeous algae to grow and dammmmm that thing would just be amazing!!!!

totallt agree

 

[timmystood]

I've got a problem in this tank.. the nitrite is skyrocketing and won't come down

The filter is mature etc... why would the nitrite's go up? Would the rocks release Ammonia/Nitrite??
Maybe there's dead fish under the rocks??
Ever since I made the change the fish are really scared and hide between the rocks and I very rarely see them

Any help is very much appreciated.

 

[Nick Sw]

Could be your filter can`t keep up with the bioload ?
Like you say it could be a Dead Fish ?
How did you cycle the tank ?

 

[mamafish68]

I was afraid of this.... water changes water changes!!! search out for a dead fish. back off on food amount too, your fish wont starve.

 

[timmystood]

I've just done a 75% water change (second day running) and removed all rocks (means i've lost that lovely rock effect ) and found no dead fish...

Nick - The filter has been able to cope with the bioload for 2-3 weeks so why would it start crashing now?
The tank didn't need to be cycled, because the filter came with the tank and it was all mature (I brought it off eBay) and I managed to keep the filter bacteria alive.

I'm using silver sand and Scottish Cobble Rocks

It better be OK by tommorow night because I really can't be doing with another water change, it takes me 2 hours

EDIT - I have put rocks back in!

 

[mamafish68]

sorry kiddo but theres no way to know if you kept the bacteria alive since you bought off ebay. my guess is the tank was dead and you're just now seeing normal cycling activity. i'm surprised the fish didnt show any symptoms by now.



why would any water change take 2 hours??

my 110 gallon takes me 20 minutes and thats doing 40%!!!

you gotta learn to love water changes in this hobby or you might as well drop out now.

 

[timmystood]

I've been doing water changes for 2 years now on other tanks but this one is just a real crappy one! How do you do 40% in 20 minutes?

The bacteria was alive because the filter was only off for about an hour between me picking up the tank, getting it home and setting it up! Plus, it's been running for 3 weeks with fish in without any spikes

 

[mamafish68]

Timmy, is there a place you can put your africans while your tank finishes it's cycle? because IMHO thats what needs to take place, you put your fish in too soon it sounds to me. so rather then stressing them out more, move them to a stabilized tank and do W/C weekly instead of every 2 weeks.

when all parameters have reached zero or dam close, put your fish back in.

 

[timmystood]

Ermm... I Have 4 other tanks but all of them are occupied. Maybe I could put my goldfish in the cichlid tank while it cycles (because their hardy) and put the cichlids in my smaller goldfish tank (after all it's only for 1-2 weeks)

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

looks awsome!!!!!!!! id really like to see a pic of feeding time!