New Tank :)

[jnorris]

I am just getting back into the swing of things. I am looking for a nice tall 60+ tank that looks good. Any recommendations? I primarily have Psudotropheus species now in a REALLY small tank. It is amazing how big they get in such a short time.

[Boilermaker]

J.Norris, Why do you want a tall tank? are you gonna do angels, or discus? Africans don't need a tall tank what you want is more width, more bottom surface area. Unless your gonna do some topwater fish or have real tall rocks.

Wider is better :wink:

[Blue Mage]

Haps would appreciate the additional swimming room, but lenght and width is always better than height.

[chennes]

On top of all that, making a tall tank requires thicker glass/acrylic than a short, wide tank of the same volume.

But, you should try http://www.glasscages.com - I don't think he will deliver, but the price is right, and most dimensions are available. Plus he makes stands and hoods for them.

Chris

[jnorris]

The space I want to put it in is an issue. However I might make adjustments for the longer tank. If I were going to use a tall tank, I would problalby get a rock wall with tons of crevices and take it all the way to the top. Finding the rock will be the issue here.

The next big question I guess would be what medim I would use for the bottom. So far I am torn between sand and gravel, I will definately be using some crushed corel to keep the Ph in check. Primarily I will be having Auratus and Psudotropheus in there which will make it a lively tank. Due to the aggressive nature of these fish.

I am also going to incorporate some live plants that I have grown from bulbs in my smaller tank.

[jonah]

How about a 150 high like they sell at Petsmart? I think they're about 5' wide. I'd buy a 75g at least, they're only 4' wide.

If I were doing my tanks over again I'd use sand instead of gravel. I just like the looks of it and playsand is cheap at Home Depot. I got my Texas Holey Rock from a landscape supply yard.

Good luck with any plants in a malawi tank. It's not impossible, but the fish tend to think of them as a salad bar.

[jnorris]

I currently have a underwater jungle for a tank. I bought bulbs and planted them. They eat them a little but they grow like mad. The primary issue with plants is managing the Ph. I am constantly having to add Ph up and other Alkline boosters to keep it right. Overall the plants are worth it.

I am thinking a mixture of sand gravel and corel mix. 60:30:10 ratio. Hopefully I can find a good sized rock to fit in my tank. I might consider using shells as well. I think I will go with a 110 tank, two high power - power heads and a bio wheel.

What are the reccomendations on underground filtration? I am considering not using one and relying on a more biological approach. My 20 gallon doesn't have one and it seems to be in good balance as far as nitrogen and ammnonia levels go.

Any words of wisdom on underground filtration?

[jonah]

I wouldn't use undergravel filters if you're using any sand. It would just get sucked down into it and if you did a reverse flow it would be blowing sand all over the place. The other problem is cichlids dig and they'll uncover the UGF eventually. I do think UGF's are good filters, just not for cichlids. I think Boilermaker uses them, I'm sure he'll chime in.

[jnorris]

Well I just priced out my new tank. I found a good fish store in the process. Its a 75 gallon with two Penquin Powerheads and biological filter. 48 x 18 x 20 is the tank dimensions.

The dimensions are perfect for the area I am putting it which is the deciding factor.

I was considering using fine crushed corel is there any drawbacks to using pure corel? It turns out our water out of the tap is at a perfect Ph level.

I am going to pick it up Tuesday so that should keep me occupied for a month or so.

[SGypsyMermaid]

what are the plants that you're growing?

[jnorris]

Not a clue. Several varieties. I bought the bulbs at Pet Co. Unfotunately I live closest to there so its the easiest place to go when I am coming home.

The plants are so out of control that I have had to cut them back.

I will split them up when the new tank is installed. It is good for my smaller new fish because they can get away from my 3" Psudotropheus saulosi female. She can be difficult at times.

What is the common name for Psudotropheus saulosi anyway?

[jnorris]

Do you know of a good website for aquatic plants? Perhaps I can ID them from there...

[SGypsyMermaid]

to my knowledge, there is no common name for the saulousi--that's true of most lake cichlids.--could you be convinced to ship some of those plants?--for a fee, of course. :D

[jonah]

I was considering using fine crushed corel is there any drawbacks to using pure corel? It turns out our water out of the tap is at a perfect Ph level.

I am going to pick it up Tuesday so that should keep me occupied for a month or so.

My tap water is pH 8.2 with both GH and KH at 15 so I don't use any buffers with my tanks. I don't think crushed coral will harm your fish even if the water is already at the right pH.

If you're setting up a new tank, check out www.bigalsonline.com , they've got some outstanding prices (U.S. side, not Canada). What kind of filter are you using? I'd just put a couple of aquaclear 500's on it. That's plenty of gph and they're only about $34 at Big Al's. You wouldn't even need the power heads. A couple of sponges in each filter would be all the bio-filter you'd need.

[SGypsyMermaid]

i'll get back to you with some websites, but can we narrow it down?--can you describe the plant?--i have a feeling that it's a thai onion plant(crinum thaianum)--do a google image search on 'thai onion plant' and see if that's your plant.

[jonah]

Try www.thekrib.com and www.tropica.com . The krib has lots of info on aquatic plants and numerous links. Tropica will make your head hurt, but it's got lots of pictures.

[jonah]

SGM: What are those bulbs they sell at WalMart? One's something like a hybrid dwarf lilly and the other's hygro something or other. They both can grow fast in high pH/hardness.

[SGypsyMermaid]

i don't think that we have walmarts in ny, but i know that most hygros like hard water--they don't have bulbs, though. the dwarf lilies probably do grow from bulbs--the leaves on that look like lily-pad leaves, and the leaves on the onion plant look like green ribbons--sorta like giant vallisneria leaves.

[jnorris]

Ok. One of them is known as rigidifolius http://www.aquabotanic.com/4saleplant.htm


The other is bright green with broad straight leaves. I am still looking for this one.

Another one I have is pinkish brown with lilly pad type leaves.

[jonah]

I'm amazed that there's a place on this planet that hasn't had a WalMart built on it.

I'll take a look next time I'm there. I'm nearly certain they had hygro in the name. They looked like tiny cocoanuts and grew long grass like blades. I've only seen them in the SuperCenters (WalMart's on steroids).

[jnorris]

Ok the one I said that was bright green is known as ulvaceus.

I am actually starting to like the plant thing almost as much as the fish. I will bring my digital camera home to get pics of them. Its a small tank, but it seems to be stable in nature.

I don't have to do water changes as much as I used to. I still do them twice monthy 25-30%

[jnorris]

I am starting to see why I don't have the algea problems. The plants I have keep it in check.

[SGypsyMermaid]

maybe the pinkish brown one is nymphaea lutea of nymphaea aquatica. i didn't know that ulvaceous liked hard water--l love that plant!