New to cichlids

[Freakgecko91]

Keep the rock work minimal to start, and try about 6-8. Provide 4-5 shells PER individual. What you can also do is add all your shells, count them, divide them by 4 and that will give you your total for the tank (of getting sexable adults, with a ratio of 1male to 2-3 females)

 

[stevenht]

I got all my supplies but I'm selling the house sooner the expected so I'm having to move into a rent house until our current house is finished being built.

So that means everything is on hold until December. Thank you guys so much for your time and advice.

I got my shells, sand, and a couple pieces of THR. I'll update this thread when I get the tank started and cycled.

I'm going to be ordering 6 ocellatus to start out with, with 36 shells in the tank. I think that plus the smaller rock fixtures should suffice.

 

[Freakgecko91]

That sounds perfect man! Definitely no advantage to rushing. Tang tanks can be super frustrating but making sure you have it perfect and are 100% happy with it goes A LONG way!

 

[stevenht]

Yeah I rushed into my last tank and wasn't happy with it but lived with it because it's not a easy project to redo an established tank.

I'm gonna make this one photogenic

 

[stevenht]

I'm going to revive this thread for some DIY questions.

When I said I wanted it to be perfect the first time I wasn't kidding.

I'm gathering all the supplies needed for a DIY 3D background out of styrofoam. I know there are a lot of videos out there on them but I want some first hand accounts (if anybody has any).
How hard are these to make?

I'm not worried about a long term project because I have a couple months before it's going to be set up.

I really would hate to use the cement I've seen in a lot of videos because of the pH spikes and the continuous daily WC needed to stabilize the tank. Is there an alternative to cement or can I seal it with some waterproof sealer? If so, what brand is recommended?

 

[stevenht]

I almost forgot.

Post pictures if you got a DIY or custom-made insert for cichlid tanks. I want some ideas!

 

[stevenht]

Can't believe it's been 7 months since this thread was alive but I got the tank set up, cycled, and fish are arriving tomorrow.

Starting stock will be
×6 leolamprologus multifasciatus
×5 julidochromis marlieri magara

I was thinking about adding some cyprichromis to have some swimmers down the road. Don't want to over do the tank and throw off my cycle with a massive bioload right away.

Shells will be in tomorrow for the multis!!!

I'll post pics when I get the fish in tomorrow morning.

 

[stevenht]

Got the shells in and fishies