Bear's 40 Gal Cichlid

[Bear]

Well, it is a little late but I guess I should get started on one of these.

Many of you already know my tank pretty well (due to my constant need of help ). I will start from the beginning.


After a couple weeks of talking my mother into it and moving my furniture around I was determined to get a fish tank. I simply needed a new hobby since my short funds did not seem to quench my thirst for cars plus, I love aquariums

I planned on having a small 15 or 20 gallon, but heard that my Grandfather had one that had been out of service for a while. So after a talk with him and a drive down to the OC I was on my way home with a 40 gallon with stand, light, heater, therm, 2 HOB filters, and a few airpumps. Once home I dug through the equipment to find that the only things worth keeping were the tank, stand, and the light.

After about another 2 weeks I had recieved all of my supplies from BigAlsOnline.com and form my LFS. The tank was set up and the water poured in.

After the tank was set up some fish were added. Since my father had funded the trip to the LFS a couple fish were added that shouldn't have been (a bolivian ram and a needle nose gar, dad thought they wre cool looking).

The bolivian ram is on the left with my hornet on the right.

One of my Auratus.

The Gar that tried to eat one of my Auratus.

Any ways, after many trips to the LFS, bringin back and taking home fish, I ended up with 1 Red Top Kimpuma, 1 Hornet, and 2 Auratus and after 2 weeks they had cycled my tank.

At this point I had decided the red and white rocks in there now were not going to cut it. I made a quick little trip down to the LFS and picked up about 70 lbs of lace rock and a BN pleco. Changing so much of the tank caused me to have a nice little mini cycle and held me back for a little.

Only about 50 lbs acually fit in the tank (I need to take a new picture)

Once that problem had clearned up I added 2 more fish. A Demasoni and an Albino labidochromis.

Over the last few days I had been having problems with clarity, but now seems to be alright after adding some Eco Start.

As of this morning the fish are happy, well fed, the water is crystal clear and I will be getting a call from the LFS on thursday about the order of zebras they put in for me

I will be checking the water and taking pictures when I get home from work for a little update

[harif87]

Very nice tank

[Bear]

Here's the small update

ammonia=0
nitrite=0
5<nitrate<10
ph=8.0

equip:
2x AquaClear 50 Power Filters
AquaClear 50 Powerhead
200 watt Visi-Therm heater
Tetra Whisper 40 air pump connected to an 8" airstone
50 lbs of lace rock
black and white aquarium gravel

PICS!









I am seeming to have a problem with the albino...the others are forcing him into the top left corner. They will not let him anywhere else in the tank for long period of time. Perhaps he will take a trip back to the pet store if the stress on him continues on thursday when I bring home a couple more friends.

[JustOneMore20]

Very nice tank! I like the black and white gravel with the rocks...its very dark looking, but very cool. I can't explain it. It looks cool though! It really makes the colors of the fish stand out. Now I need to set me up a cichlid tank...

[harif87]

I agree, beautiful tank. I happen to like the dark look

[JustOneMore20]

I happen to like the dark look

I do too...probably didn't sound like it in my post. But I did mean that I liked it! I couldn't explain myself very well. I do like it though Bear!

Question, where did you get your rock? A LFS? Just wondering...

[harif87]

Yeah its that rock that puts the cherry on that cake

[Bear]

wow...I didnt think it was much for show...maybe I wont change the substrate...yea I got rock from a friend at a LFS

[HybridS130]

The Eco-complete cichlid substrate kind of looks like that but might give a more natural appeal if you ever plan on swapping substrates. Tank looks great by the way it really does have a unique look to it.

[Bear]

update:
All that I have really done is change out the gravel for sand and the changes to the fish list are in my sig