This is the original thread for my new tropical tank set up http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/ ... =ASC&type=&mode=0&start=0 which soon developed into a cichlid setup due to water conditions.
For our cichlid specialists, if you have personal titbits of info to pass on i would greatly appreciate it, plus i still have issues with increasing my PH to accommodate these little guys.

Thank you

Hi, have just read through your original thread, I love that setting up phase!
From the pics you posted a fair bit more ocean rock wouldn't go astray and would help with the ph.
My tit bit of advise would be;
Tetra Prima
Mine used to love it and its quite good for colours.

Hope you enjoy keeping them they have sooooo much character and bicker like a soap opera.
Any more tank pics yet?

HTH

Thanks for looking at my post, i appreciate all the help ive been given so far.

Im currently monitoring my tank and pleased to say that the filter is holding its own. Im feeding the tank with fish pellets in a pop sock and changing it on a daily basis, it keeps going slimy and leaving goo in the tank though, is this what its supposed to do?

I have ordered an extra 15kg ocean rock and milliput to build some height in the middle of the tank (thats the plan anyway) so hopefully this will also increase the ph FX, the ph monitor will also help me and give me an idea of whats going on in the tank.

Postman left me a card today, my escargot shells have arrived so ill have to collect them from the post depot tomorrow (cant wait to put them in )

Once im confident with the tank and a stable ph im going to get my fish...sooooooo excited, from what ive seen of these little guys they are going to have me riveted to the tank watching them

I will keep you all posted on the progress.

Jen

This is day one of the set up so far, lots more rock and shells to add yet.

Ooh exciting ...

shame there is no image with this, but this sort of thing should do ok on planting front if you were to have any birthday money left ...

http://www.plantsalive.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=78

(possibly the least troublesome sort of plant I have ever owned! - ready tied onto a bit of rock, just plonk it in and that's it, move it when it suits you)

Here ya go guys, this is with added ocean rock and shells..its comeing together really well now




PS, the bag at the back is full of mucky goldie gravel as i wasnt happy with the slight ammonia spike Ive changed a couple of buckets of water pinched yet again from goldie tank (Bless em they do put up with me really well) im going to do a water change tomorrow too see how it goes, NitrIte is stll 0.

PPS, I am happy O so happy to say the PH is finally 8

Jen

Quality

They'll have fun rearranging all those shells for you!

those shells took ages to sink, im still faffin about shifting them around to get all the air out

Next question.

My shellie tank is 110Lts, with approx 20Kg ocean rock and more shells than my yet to be bought fishies will know what to do with, how many fish do you reckon i can/should start with? bearing in mind they like breeding

Jen

Sorry should have given you top tip on sinking shells: always take each shell individually, hold it under water and tip it this way and that way and rotate it until you feel all air bubbles have come out, and then drop it. Rearrange when you have dropped them all in. If you just chuck them all in it will take forever. As you might just have learnt. Very sorry

I think I'd get 6 and ask for the 2 biggest and the 4 smallest you can see to improve your chances of getting pairs or menages a trois. I lost a couple of males at the beginning who were bullied out of existence, not allowed food or territory because I'd ended up with only one female at the beginning. Trouble is there is no way of telling in juveniles, and shops don't often have breeding pairs.