"new" Tank

[sniperviper21]

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to post a video of my tank and get some feed back.
Now i have had this tank for about 2-3 Months, Originally I had
1 Yellow Lab, 6 Tiger Barbs, 3 Gouramis, and 1 5in Pleco.
They all got along well and hardly bothered each other, though Iv noticed the Gouramis
tend to stay towards the top of the tank and only chase each other around on occasion. Nothing Ridiculous.

Just the other day i got 2 Jewel Cichlids, 2 'baby' Acej Cichlids, and 1 Bumblebee Cichlids, so far there all marring well together.
I made sure to add more hiding places with rocks and small sidewalk pavers.

55Gal Marineland Aquarium with stand and glass top
Penguin 350 Filter, i put these 'bags' in between the filter pads to absorb Nitrite levels
200W heater, forget the name.
An air pump, that i forget the name at the moment as well.
black Tahiti moon sand
Silk plants.

I usually do a 20% water change once every 2 weeks or when needed.

My water specs,
Nitrate = 10ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Hardness = 200ppm
Alkalinity = 120KH
7-7.1pH
Tank kept at about 81-82*

This is just my normal tap water, i don't treat it other then for chlorination.
Though i know 7.1pH isnt optimum for most Cichlids i guess i figure it is a fare spot to balance all the fish out.
Also, the tiger barbs leave all the fish alone, everyone pretty much sticks to their own kind.



Any input/feedback is welcome.

 

[thereverendturtle]

If you can raise the pH to 7.5 everyone will be happy.

 

[dinsdale]

Really impressive, you've done a good job on the decor, I like the look of the moon sand. Those tigers are a good size and that yellow lab is stunning. The silk plants look a bit 'inorganic' up close but they're functional and offer a nice colour boost. Good job.

Btw is that Morgan Freeman in your house? He's an absolute pest, ate all my chocolate hobnobs he did.

 

[sniperviper21]

HAHA! yes that was Morgan Freeman, I was watching the tv show he hosts on the Science Channel.

And thanks for the reply's! This is my first true tank, basically started it as a new hobby, its a bit less expensive then PCs lol.
I really like the big leafy silk plant behind the roots, the rest do look inorganic though, eventually ill probably replace them with leafy looking plants.
Id really love to have real plants, But you cant grow those in just regular sand substrate can you?

Also, whats a good way to raise the pH? I know a decent amount about water caring, but mostly just for water purifying for human consumption not for fish lol.

and the Tigers remind me of 6yr olds running around playing with bouncy balls, they go crazy over the littlest things.
The yellow lab is the boss of the tank, but very just when it comes to shoving around others. He's not to rude.

Earlier today i was watching a show like "Blue Planet" or something and they had a special on Cichlids in the 3 lakes and how they all evolved to be mouth brooders, one showed how some Cichlids will make divots in the lake floor and "dance" on these formations to attract mates, guess that enplanes why my substrate has hills and valleys all over.

 

[Man of fish]

Nice tank!!

I was watching a show like that where they did a special on apistos and a few other fish like tetras or something. And another episode with arowana and stuff!!!

 

[dinsdale]

This hobby can be as expensive as you like I suppose. One thing's for certain, you made a good decision to join this forum as it is a veritable mine of information and will undoubtedly help you with your new hobby.
Plants can help buffer the acidity in your tank by absorbing the ammonium in fish waste but to actually raise it I'm not sure. I know ocean rock or coral sand will do this, which would be great for your African cichlids but not for their tankmates.
I've had plants before with just a gravel substrate and have encountered less than encouraging results. That was probably more down to my own ineptitude though.
You probably know this already, but planted tanks tend to fall into two catagories, hi-tech and low-tech. Hi-tech incorporates the use of Co2 injection systems. Either commercially bought, or DIY (utilising a fire extinguisher). This seems to be popular and can produce some amazing biotopes.
Lo-tech involves low lighting, a good substrate (usually soil), the addition of soluble plant fertilizers and limited fish.
After extensive research into aquarium plants, I will try again to get over that steep learning curve. Viewing some of the tanks in the planted section of this forum will definitely encourage you in this area.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[sniperviper21]

Hm perhaps Ill have to make a second small tank of about 10-15 Gallons and try my hand at real plants as a test.

Also, would you consider my tank to be at its limit of fish, and what other good looking (not Tetras)would mingle well with what i have now?

Id love a BGK, but i doubt that would work out in only a 55Gallon tank.
Id also like some Kuhli Loachs but i dont think those would work out either?

 

[dinsdale]

Hm perhaps Ill have to make a second small tank of about 10-15 Gallons and try my hand at real plants as a test.

That's not a bad idea as African cichlids would probably uproot them anyway. In fact, I would consider leaving your 55 gal as a dedicated cichlid tank as you've got a few of the more aggressive types in there, especially if they're a breeding pair.

[quote post='3316145']Also, would you consider my tank to be at its limit of fish, and what other good looking (not Tetras)would mingle well with what i have now?[/quote]

If it's a standard size 55 gal then I calculate that you can have 134cm of fish. That's allowing for their adult size of coure. Since you have an aversion to tetras, some Torpedo or cherry barbs or even lampeye killifish would make a nice alternative although I wouldn't put anything too small in with Mbuna.

Kuhli loaches shouldn't be a problem. Some half-buried plastic tubing would be a good dwelling for them but they can be quite evasive. Don't know anything about knife fish.

My Gouramis used to hang around the top of the tank. This is probably due to the auxiliary lung thing that anabantids have. Just keep an eye on those tigers in case they start nipping at their trailing fins.

Good luck.

 

[Hoveringpie]

If you can raise the pH to 7.5 everyone will be happy.

For the increase in point 4 I wouldn't mess with the pH its an on going battle and fish prefer a stable but slightly under/over pH rather than a perfect pH that is constantly moving

 

[sniperviper21]

Ya my Gouramis chill at the top to, all in a little family group almost, usually dont stray far from each other, though that may change as they age.

And Cherry Barbs would look cool on the black sand if i can get some dark colored ones. And the Kuhli would be neat, they would probably go crazy in the 2-3in sand substrate.

Here in a week or so i may start that planted tank, and at least it would be ready if my two Jewel Cichlids have fry, but.... how do you sex most Cichlids? are they all mostly the same? One is a much brighter color that shows off its fins more and the other isnt as bright colored and doesn't flair the fins as much.

 

[Man of fish]

Nope most of them are different

 

[sniperviper21]

ah lamesauce.