My fish room for Malawis

[mattrox]

hehehe That is the step ladder I use to feed the fish on the top shelf. I have ordered more filter hosing so it can sit on the floor, it should arrive this week.

 

[mattrox]

The last rack with some tanks on it.

I'm waiting on the rest of the 2fts and 3fts and filter equipment for Germany to finish the room. But all the 4fts (10 of them) and 1 6ft have the heaters and filters working. I hope to get fish late next week which will fill all these tanks. I have cycled filters on other tanks so I can swap filter baskets to have all filters fully cycled when all the fish arrive.

A few bad fish shots from my existing fish.
My male Aulonocara stuartgranti "red shoulder" (aka Aulonocara hansbaenschi)

My yellos Lab colony. The 2 largest are male and female and I traded 5 of their grown babies for 5 new ones so he can breed with hopefully unrelated fish.

Some of my fry

Some young "Red Shoulder" Peacocks. A few males have coloured/are colouring up.

I moved on 19 young hongi today. I'll be moving on the young red shoulders next week. I need the tank space for the previous fry.

 

[Aquarium1]

Your fish look beautiful! lol

 

[mattrox]

Your fish look beautiful! lol

Thank you.

 

[CA_BroncoFan]

Wow, those are some really beautiful fish!!!!

 

[mattrox]

A couple of days ago I drilled 5.5mm holes in the PVC pipe and inserted silicone airline. I used "the nasty green" PVC adhesive to glue the airlines in.

Today I painted over the PVC pipe to the black brackets, hide marks and the green glue. (I also did a once over of the wall where there were dirty hand marks and green drips were). As you will see it was really only a once over, most it will be hidden when the rest of the tanks are in.

I turned the pump on too, mainly to clear toxic vapours from the glue out of the pipe work. I found that some airlines were blocked so I pushed a coathanger wire up the pipe. It cleared the blockages, but I had to cut 2 of the airlines which I will have to rejoin later.

A couple of pics.

 

[Etunes]

I like the idea of the sponge filter, nice job.

 

[mattrox]

This is my fish list for the room. I will be getting 6x juvies of each to start colonies and then remove fish excess to requirements and get additions in the future to genetically strengthen them. And yes they will all fit, I have organised them into tanks in my head.....
I am getting them in 2 shipments to ease introductions.

Aulonocara cobue
Aulonocara kandeense
Aulonocara lwanda
Aulonocara ngara flame tail
Copadichromis borleyi Crocodile Rock
Lethinerops sp. Red Capuz
Otopharynx lithobates Zimbabwe Rock
Scianochromis fryeri Maleri Island
Protomelas Chimoto Steveni
Cynotilapia afra Cobwe
Cynotilapia afra Cherewe
Cynotilapia afra Jalo Reef
Cynotilapia pulpican
Labeotropheus trewavasae
Labidochromis caruleus White
Labidochromis chisumulae
Labidochromis Mbamba Bay
Labidochromis nkali
Metriaclima hajomaylandi
Metriaclima barlowi
Pseudotropheus polit
Pseudotropheus daktari
Pseudotropheus Red Top Ndumbi
Pseudotropheus acei White tail
Pseudotropheus elongatus flavus
Pseudotropheus elongatus cherewe
Pseudotropheus elongatus Mpanga
Pseudotropheus saulosi
Pseudotropheus scolofi
Pseudotropheus acei Msuli Point
Metriaclima aurora
Metriclima gresheki
Placidichromis phenochilus Mdoka
Melanochromis johanni
Melanchromis cyanorhabdos
Protomelas taeniolatus Fire Blue
Alounacara Usisya
Ophthalmotilapia ventralis
Parachyprichromis nigripinnis

 

[meegosh]

That is going to be one awesome fish room. I cannot wait to see the tanks stocked. Some interesting and colorful species you have chosen.

 

[mattrox]

They may not be colourful when I get them, I will post pics when they arrive. Might be a week or so away.

 

[mattrox]

The 2' tanks arrived. They are smaller than I expected (24L"x12"Wx14"H), but cheaper too. They are for fry and small juvies so I'm not really bothered, cheaper to put backing on too!

I had just enough vinyl left to do one tank. Still using the round sponge filters until the delivery of foam and airlift tubes arrives. When that arrives I'll fit the filters and put substrate in.

13 new Yellow Labs and 3 tiny fryeri call this home.

 

[mattrox]

I got a package from Germany today! Tonight I made a prototype of the Hamberger Mattenfilter. It was quite easy. I'll post a step by step in the DIY section.

I like the way it turned out and has more than enough water movement. I used old gravel and didn't wash it, I want to see if I can get gunk into the sponge, or behind it. I only had one spare suction cup and clip so could only make 1. I'll get some from the LFS after I get backing for all the tanks. In hindsight I could have ordered "Hobby" brand suction cups and clips cheap as chips from Gremany too.

I will remove the round sponge filter in a few weeks.

 

[sarahh]

great idea on the sponge thingy.. might have to give it a shot next batch of fry i have...

 

[mattrox]

Its worth setting up dedicated fry tanks this way, it might not look the best, but it is an awesome filter. I am getting huge surface agitation and a nice gentle little current in the tank.

 

[meegosh]

Very cool! I've never seen anything like that, had to do a bit of reading on it. Seems like a perfect filter for a fry/grow out tank. I'd have to nominate either you or HN1/severum for the busiest hobbyist on the site. LOL.

 

[mattrox]

This is a filter I put in last night in action. It is in a 3" tank.

I made another one of these today and I did a step by step of it in the DIY section.

 

[mattrox]

I got some terracotta pots and siliconed them together as DIY 'rock work'.

I also got all the tanks laminated and on stands now. I only have to fill them as I need them, but everything is in place now.

 

[Aquarium1]

Sweetness!!! I can't wait to see those terra cotta pots in a tank lol, that's such a cool idea!

 

[CA_BroncoFan]

That's looking really good!! Can't wait to see it all

 

[tropicalfishsuccess]

Very impressed and following along!