Nile Biotope

[9murphy9]

Hi, I have a 15 gallon tank with 2 x T5 bulbs in, I'm hoping that I can turn it into a Niles biotope. The only trouble is I have no idea what the bed of the Nile looks like so does anybody know what plants, substrate and so on should be going in there ? I already have a hemichromis letourneuxi as my main fish (possible the only one too) if that helps, the more info the better thanks

Alex

 

[Wills]

Hate to say it but a 15g is a bit small for a Jewel Cichlid.... that said though they cant be kept with much in any size tank really - I would want to see a bit of a bigger tank as it grows though.
 
Not sure on substrate for the tank but interesting idea - I would possibly start with one very large smooth rock as the base for most of the tank and then fill in with medium sized smooth rocks of the same type then mix pebbles of a slightly darker colour and then fill in the gaps with sand. As for plants most of the common easy plants are African/Asian I think - Anubias is I think though plants are not my strong point...
 
Floating plants would be good as well.
 
Wills

 

[9murphy9]

Thanks I have a fair few rocks in so I may go with that, in all honesty though I think a 15 gallon will be plenty its 75 x 30 x 30 cm and hes, s full grown at about 5 " so he has a decent amount of swimming room.

 

[TooManyChoices]

Hmmm I agree, I wouldn't go jewels in something that size. Maybe look at egyptain mouth brooders?

 

[HAMBONE]

15 gallons might be too small for a crocodile..

 

[9murphy9]

I think ill trust myself with tank size but anymore info would be great, do they have bogwood down there ??