Hi everyone, I have had my 100 Gallon F/W aquarium for almost 18 years and have restarted it 4 times due to moving. We rented here for almost 5 years and we have finally bought our first home. So once again I am re-starting my Aquarium. For the last 5 years, I have raised tetras, Gouramies cardinal tetras etc. The water here is 7.9 out of the tap and I have always had to ajust my PH HOWEVER, with this move into a home of our own, I don't have to worry about having to move again so I can really do a nice tank setup & i am thinking about re-starting my tank as an African cichlid tank, the water PH is perfect. I have a few questions i need some answers on regarding African cichlids and I will list them here.
I know africans come from a few different areas AND I want to keep my tank species specific.
1- what and where are the different regions for african cichlids ( A C )
2-What are the pros & cons of the fish from each of these different regions ? such as temperment, heartiness etc.
3-I want my fish to stay a maximum size of 4 maybe 5 inches.
4-I want the most colorful fish as possible which region is best ?
5- SUBSTRATE- sand or gravel, I really want to use a good sand for once because I really like how sand looks, so any great advice on sand choices will be greatly appreciated, What IS the best sand to use ? I see the pre-packaged sand at the fish dealers store that says it already contains the much needed bacteria, wether it does or not, i do not know.I also read here about pool sand, what does THAT look like color wise and whats the difference between that and the sand from the fish dealer ?
6-Never having used sand before what do I need to be careful of in regards to routine tank maintenance, and power filters ( Magnum 350 ) & water changes with my python ?
7- I have some nice seasoned malaysian driftwood that i could use in my aquascaping unless the wood is not good for an A C tank.
I REALLY want to take my time and make the most stunning, aquascaped 100 Gallon A C tank that matches the region my fish came from with lots of caves & rockwork that provides plenty of hiding places for each fish, But has open swimming areas as well. I want my tank to look as nice as a marine tank looks with the sand & colorful fish, & attractive rockwork without looking "overcrowded"
I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL PICTURES OF AFRICAN CICHLID TANK SETUPS so that I can get some Aquascapoing ideas. I plan on getting a permanate aquascape done BEFORE i add any water but want to make sure it is aquascaped the very BEST that I can do, so please post some pictures of aquascaped African Cichlid tanks PLEASE !! click the links to see what my tank looked like before the teardown !
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...d.php?t=129211
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...ad.php?t=98772
Thanks !!!
Bert
I know africans come from a few different areas AND I want to keep my tank species specific.
1- what and where are the different regions for african cichlids ( A C )
2-What are the pros & cons of the fish from each of these different regions ? such as temperment, heartiness etc.
3-I want my fish to stay a maximum size of 4 maybe 5 inches.
4-I want the most colorful fish as possible which region is best ?
5- SUBSTRATE- sand or gravel, I really want to use a good sand for once because I really like how sand looks, so any great advice on sand choices will be greatly appreciated, What IS the best sand to use ? I see the pre-packaged sand at the fish dealers store that says it already contains the much needed bacteria, wether it does or not, i do not know.I also read here about pool sand, what does THAT look like color wise and whats the difference between that and the sand from the fish dealer ?
6-Never having used sand before what do I need to be careful of in regards to routine tank maintenance, and power filters ( Magnum 350 ) & water changes with my python ?
7- I have some nice seasoned malaysian driftwood that i could use in my aquascaping unless the wood is not good for an A C tank.
I REALLY want to take my time and make the most stunning, aquascaped 100 Gallon A C tank that matches the region my fish came from with lots of caves & rockwork that provides plenty of hiding places for each fish, But has open swimming areas as well. I want my tank to look as nice as a marine tank looks with the sand & colorful fish, & attractive rockwork without looking "overcrowded"
I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL PICTURES OF AFRICAN CICHLID TANK SETUPS so that I can get some Aquascapoing ideas. I plan on getting a permanate aquascape done BEFORE i add any water but want to make sure it is aquascaped the very BEST that I can do, so please post some pictures of aquascaped African Cichlid tanks PLEASE !! click the links to see what my tank looked like before the teardown !
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...d.php?t=129211
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...ad.php?t=98772
Thanks !!!
Bert