Tank near window?

[John]

Originally Posted by ikermalli

I don't think you should get an Oscar, I have read that they are more prone to diseases than other fish and you probably wouldn't want your fish getting sick because of your Oscar.

I doubt I'm going to get an oscar, it's just an idea. Does anybody have any other recommendations for South American cichlids that can live with Convicts?

[emc7]

Convicts are American.

Pink convicts (albinos) do breed readily with black (normal) convicts. Fry of albinos of striped fish usually prefer the dark mothers. They are the same species.

Skip the Oscar. A 55 is too small for one long term even alone. Plus the convicts would beat him up.

I would start with a 4-6 fry to give you good odds of a pair. You can mix black and pink, but you can't predict how they will pair off. Convict start breeding at a small size defending a small territory, but they keep getting bigger and meaner.

Two breeding pairs of cichlids is about all a 55 will hold. I think you might be able to do 2 pairs of convicts or a pair of convicts and a pair of firemouths but ask the American cichlid experts. If things get really ugly, you could divide the tank. You prob. also could keep another kind of fish that doesn't want the bottom of the tank. A group of tetra, live-bearer or danio that swims near the surface. Some of these will eat convict fry which is not a bad thing.

You can keep a pleco if you give some tubes to hide in, but wait until you actually have algae for it to eat. Skip it if you can, esp. if you get 2 pairs. Plecos also want the bottom of the tank.

[emc7]

Convicts like hard water.

[John]

Thanks for the great information emc7.

Could my tank hold more than 4 cichlids if there's only one breeding pair, like a pair of convicts and then 1 each of Firemouth, Salvini, Rainbow, Blue Acara, Port etc.?

And if I have Tetras or Live-bearers or Danios the cichlids won't eat them?

Also, could I have a scavenger catfish other than a pleco?

One last thing. The filter I'm planning to use for this tank is a HOB canister filter, and I'm worried about fry getting sucked up the intake valve. So where do I find a sponge to put over the intake valve? Will my LFS have one?

[Obsidian]

You can use the sponge from an Aqua Clear 20 or 50 (I don't think they have a 30, but they might) replacement sponge. You just slit a hole in it and slip it on over the intake. Works like a charm.

[John]

Does it decrease the suction/speed/flow of the filter? Are the sponges expensive?

[emc7]

Could my tank hold more than 4 cichlids if there's only one breeding pair, like a pair of convicts and then 1 each of Firemouth, Salvini, Rainbow, Blue Acara, Port etc.?

I think so. But you should get all of one sex to avoid mixed pairs. The main thing with Americans is the aggression during breeding. I think a 55 is big enough for the convicts to be satisfied with one corner (or the middle) of the tank. But aggression varies among fish. You should have a 20 high or other tank ready as hospital in case of thrashing. I would recommend this for most American cichlids. Keep an extra foam filter running in the big tank. You can alway go buy a tank and fill it up if you discover a need.

if I have Tetras or Live-bearers or Danios the cichlids won't eat them?

If they can catch them and they fit in the mouth.

[emc7]

I'm going to have to revise my earlier advise. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ies.php?id=132
This is a good source page and it suggest 6ft for more than one convict pair. I've seen convicts spawn in 10 gallon tanks without killing the other inhabitants, but thats when they are small. The story alway seems to end with one killing the other. As they get larger, they get meaner, so if you are thinking long term, I'd suggest looking at milder C.A. and S.A. cichlids. Like the firemouth, the Acaras and the rest. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=65

[ikermalli]

Originally Posted by John

Does it decrease the suction/speed/flow of the filter? Are the sponges expensive?

I have heard you can take a pantyhose and put it over the intake part. I don't think it will decrease the suction/speed/flow of the filter. No the sponges aren't too expensive, I think they are about 4 dollars or something like that.

[jones57742]

John: Please keep in mind wrt this post is that my experience with cichlids is limited to angels.

John: This thread has really "gone on" but I have reviewed the posts in order to attempt a reasonably logical structure to this post.

The problem with placing a tank next to a window is not the light intensity and duration as these can be easily controlled. What cannot be easily controlled is the weekly change in the light intensity and duration.
Having said the above the major factor is the nonuniform distribution of light in the tank.


With respect to the sponge filters I have two and they were "h...l" to get to properly functioning.

Many folks use sponge filters as their primary filtration but I do not (although when properly implemented these are really 1st class).

I use sponge filters in tanks in which fry may appear.


TR

[jones57742]

Sue and TOS:

Please note that at least for me "Thread Tools" does not function on this page.

TR

[TheOldSalt]

Yeah, we frequently run across that. Some pages it works on, some it doesn't. We don't really know why.

[Obsidian]

ikermalli: I have used both the sponge and the pantyhose. Trust me, the pantyhose DOES restrict flow. First you have to pull it incredibly tight over the intake, just to keep any flow at all. Then when the little particles start gathering you have a reduction in flow again. With the sponge I have not noticed any significant reduction in flow, although I am sure it reduces it to some extent. And I am sure it would also depend on the sponge one is using. The AC sponges I use are not a problem. I believe Kristin (just1more20) uses the same sponges I do

[John]

Originally Posted by emc7

I'm going to have to revise my earlier advise. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ies.php?id=132
This is a good source page and it suggest 6ft for more than one convict pair. I've seen convicts spawn in 10 gallon tanks without killing the other inhabitants, but thats when they are small. The story alway seems to end with one killing the other. As they get larger, they get meaner, so if you are thinking long term, I'd suggest looking at milder C.A. and S.A. cichlids. Like the firemouth, the Acaras and the rest. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=65

Hmm, then maybe I should change my choice (another reason is that I don't consider Convicts very attractive).

Then again, I'm not thinking long-term, as I have a few other tanks I can set up if I need to. But it would be nice if I didn't have to do that.

I think what I'll do is I'll start with a pair of small convicts, keep them by themselves in the 55 for a while, and then add 1 or 2 more S.A. cichlids, 3 at the most. Probably a Firemouth and some kind of Acara. I think I'll be happy with 4 cichlids and a pleco. From what I've heard so far this sounds like it should be fine for a while, right?

Also, are there any other catfish that I could put in this tank? I love catfish.

"The problem with placing a tank next to a window is not the light intensity and duration as these can be easily controlled. What cannot be easily controlled is the weekly change in the light intensity and duration.
Having said the above the major factor is the nonuniform distribution of light in the tank."

Well, the light will be distributed pretty evenly (if at all, since it will only hit the tank from above and there will be a cover on it). Still though I should probably cover the window just in case.