I'm Back to Freshwater and Starting a New Build

[speedy51]

Wow, looking high tech! Much left to do?

Please send some cold weather our way. It’s getting into summer peak here

Yeah, there a lot left to do. I still have the dosing pump to put in which I will put in tonight.

The tank I re-caulked the seams and I have to get the excess silicone to get out. followed by a quick wipe down and then on to the hardscape.

 

[speedy51]

Sorry for the delay on the sump pics.

 

[speedy51]

And this pic you'll see part of the plumbing. the two on the right are the drains coming from the overflows. The drain on the left (all black) is my emergency drain just in case one should get clogged there is a backup

 

[TMRC Exotics]

Nice sump build, I like the added redundancies for emergency, no one thinks of that until their floor is flooded.

 

[speedy51]

Nice sump build, I like the added redundancies for emergency, no one thinks of that until their floor is flooded.

Thanks TMRC. I learned this lesson the hard way once already. Not about to make the same mistake twice

 

[speedy51]

I posted this elsewhere on the site and I didn't get a response so I am going to try here. Hope someone can shed some light....

I've done searches looking for threads that may answer my question about High PH and plecos but I have not been successful. I am look for algae eating pleco that can handle High PH

So, to all my fellow cichlid keepers I need help. I am starting a new freshwater tank which will house about 70 or so male peacocks. As I understand it Malawi cichlids can be kept in a range of 7.5-8.5.

if I keep Peacocks in the lower range 8.0 or less will this affect the color or their health? If I do this then my options for plecos have a larger pool.

If I keep Peacocks in the higher range 8.1-8.5 my chances of getting an algae eater shrink tremendously. Is higher PH better for their health and coloration?

I found the Liposarcus anisitsi which gets to about 16 inches and can handle up to 8.2, Chaetostoma joropo, my favorite which will get about 4.7" and can handle a ph of up to 8.6 but no one sell this in the US, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus this can get to be monster size and will redecorate my tank and Panaqolus albivermis, which is a wood eater and not what I am looking for.

Are there any others that I haven't found yet?

Malawi Cichlid keepers what Ph do you normally keep you cichlids in?

In the end I want to get their water chemistry as closely replicated to their natural environment as possible but yet keep plecos.

Is this wishful thinking?

I need your help.

 

[V227]

Speedy
I successfully kept a Bristlenose Pleco with Africans. He is an algae eating T Rex. My water PH is 8.2. Bristlenose don't grow very big, maybe 5". Don't forget to add four or five Synodontis Multipunctatus, to your cleanup crew.

 

[speedy51]

Speedy
I successfully kept a Bristlenose Pleco with Africans. He is an algae eating T Rex. My water PH is 8.2. Bristlenose don't grow very big, maybe 5". Don't forget to add four or five Synodontis Multipunctatus, to your cleanup crew.

That sounds awesome. Thanks I plan on aquascapjng this weekend filing and starting the cycle process. Getting close

 

[speedy51]

Rockscape feedback please

Finally I got to setup the rockscape for the tank. I decide to use dragon stone which I know won’t help buffer the water but my substrate is a mixture or layers which have argonite mixed in. Let me know what you all think

 

[speedy51]

Additional pics

 

[speedy51]

Here is a few more

 

[speedy51]

Last ones plus a short video

 

[Delapool]

I like it! Did you buy the driftwood or find it? That’s about exactly the sort of piece I’d like to get several of to run across back of tank.

 

[coralbandit]

Nice set up..

 

[speedy51]

I like it! Did you buy the driftwood or find it? That’s about exactly the sort of piece I’d like to get several of to run across back of tank.

I actually bought it on eBay. It’s manzanita wood. I’ve had it soaking for about 2 months

 

[speedy51]

Nice set up..

Thanks Coralbandit. I should be done filling it tomorrow so I can start the cycle process

 

[V227]

Good job speedy. Manzanita wood is my favorite too.

 

[coralbandit]

If you are going with African cichlids why are you using RO ?
Do you plan on re mineralizing to achieve proper conditions for the life of the tank?
What is your tap like?
I kept Tanganyikans when I was on well water that was pretty hard.
They loved it and really it was my water then that made them the right choice for me.

 

[V227]

As Bandit indicated, you might be going through a lot of trouble needlessly regarding water preparation. If I'm not mistaken Florida in general typically has hard water due to massive limestone deposits throughout the state. Unless Miami processes it's water supply to demineralize the water, you just might have perfect water for Africans already.

 

[speedy51]

Bandit/V
I’m using the RO since I had it for my saltwater setup. Filters are still good. The tap PH is pretty good the the rift tank so is the RO. Down in south Florida the using chlorine and Chloramine to disinfect the water. The RO carbon blocks that I use strip the chlorine and chloramine from the water. I know it’s an extra step that most wouldn’t use but since I have it I might as well use it. Beside it a 300 gpd system so it produce good amount of water. I do plan on remineralizing. I have a dozing pump all set up and programmed to do the job once a week with my water changes