dino

Here is the tank, there is lots of drift wood coming to cover the heater, java ferns will be added to wood. Plants are new awaiting growth. larger plants at the back The rocks were boulders that nearly crashed through our house in Sumner. This was a great exercise with my son, we chiseled away with hammer. PH level at 7.9, ammonia at zero as no fish, but I do have amrid if needed when I add fish slowly. Any further suggestions much appreciated.

Hi Joe, I know that, I just read that you need to place a number in the tank, then a natural selection will take place, Once a single paring happens then you remove the others.

Plan of attack. 1. clean the tank 2. Add washed substrate and JBL Balls 3.plant the aquarium (heavily) 4. landscape it with wood and stones. 5. fill water 6. use 'used filter medium" in filter (canister) now here is the bit that is a bit controversial. 7. Insure water PH is at a constant 7.0. (ph up or some shell media etc etc) 8. Introduce 4 kribs (2male 2 females) (got 4 that need an emergency home, so I am helping someone else out here) 9 Constantly test for high level ammonia, make daily/weekly water changes, if emergency introduce amrid. 10. watch for pairing, if pairing happens remove other fish. I have a second tank available for the LC's or these Kribs. Question do I get 1 male 2 females I can get hold of 1-3 females.

Thanks guys, This article is clear and concise (there are a lot out there) http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biologicalcycle/a/nitrogencycle.htm it follows Alans line of thinking. There are some great charts ammonia monitoring and action: http://freshaquarium.about.com/library/begin/xcolorammoniachart.htm nitrite monitoring and action: http://freshaquarium.about.com/library/begin/ncolornitritechart.htm Introduction of maybe fish like guppies will have an added bonus of fry care logistics. Also I can establishing a plant waterscape, prior to the introduction of more exotic fish. Lastly my son will learn a bit of graph theory! and undertake this as a school project. Can I add bristlenoses at a early stage? great article cricketman

I was just reading up on cycling the tank. From what I gather I need to cultivating a bacteria colony i.e. nitrifying bacteria, This bacteria breaks down Ammonia, from fish waste and converts it to the various nitrates (NO2) and (NO3). What method do you guys use. Fishless (introduction of shop ammonia, and monitoring) or with fish. I do not have access to an established aquarium. I do have hundreds of goldfish in my pond. Thanks for looking after me guys, Dino. (ps i have just found some HAGEN Amrid and AQUA plus with P.H.E water conditioner, are these any good?)

Thanks Joe, your an inspiration I will follow you advice. Just one question about substrate, do I need to place some organic compost under the gravel? or will that make its way up and cloud the water. Almost ready to go, tank is empty. 1: Clean the tank. 2. Place heater 2. Compose the substrate. 3. Add wood and slate. 4. Add plants (I also hate anything artificial) plant keeping and growing is all a part of it, as you said! might also make some java sticks. 5. Slowly add water 6. Turn on the heater, reach temp of 24-26 7. Test water and make adjustments. 8. If all ok ADD FISH and wait and enjoy. :smln: Also I think I need to balance the tank, from an aesthetic point of view, I might introduce some bottom cleaning fish (any suggestions, bristlenose?). Lastly is there any other species I can introduce to the tank? cricketman suggested, bristlenose's with a potential bonus of them breeding. That would be so cool. Does anyone have any experience of breeding two pairs of fish in the tank with one being a cichlid?

Ok time to get the tank ready. Can anyone point me to articles I need to read, mainly about the following: 1. substrate and planting for a cichlid tank.. 2. water conditioning, water here in Christchurch is great to drink (but its not African lake water) 3. temperatures. 4. aeration, filtration and water movement. 5. dither fish. Once I have the knowledge, I can put it into practice. My Son will soon take over this thread, and post images, diary form, from start to finish, Hopefully finishing with images of fry. Thanks

Organism has ordered some, I just placed more money in the kitty. These fish will be treated like royalty. Thanks guys.

Organism has quoted $22.95 each for Laetacara curviceps, don't want to be a skinflint :oops: but that is a bit heavy for me. I know I will get great fish and good parental stock. Has anyone else got any fish for sale. Species discussed in this thread. Thanks Dino.

Thanks Joe,OK I AM SOLD how can I get in touch with john at organism? Thanks Dino.

Not only is my son getting excited about this so am I. Thanks danval I will try. This is a paragraph from the web: http://www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?id=127 Laetacara curviceps - Dwarf Flag Cichlid "Some hobbyists prefer to remove the eggs to a separate tank before they hatch. While you may be able to exercise a little more control over the situation this way, you would miss out on some wonderful extended broodcare behaviour. This can continue for several months after the fry become free swimming. It's a joy to watch the adults shepherding their young around the tank, all the while defending them against potential predators." apparently even when you keep a spawning tank you can keep dither fish like pencils, who will not eat the eggs or fry. I think I am now homing in on the exact species, thanks joe. Does anyone know where I can buy some, apparently I have to buy them in a group and allow paring to develop, then keep the pair and remove the others.

great alternative options. I have shown my son these posts, he feels that it would be nice to keep electrics, but tank is too small. He loves Kribensis, expecially some of the pictures on the net, their actions of digging nests etc. when i was younger I used to keep some ramirez dwarf cichlids, they were the highlight of the community tanks, maybe this is a good option it will bring back great memories. Dwarfs (cricketman) you are right, they are sweet fish and my number 1 option. brichardi, dafodil, Julies are all great options thanks ryanjury so this the short list, can I keep two pairs, each different, will they eat the babies etc. you guys have helped me immensely I will start posting images from start to finish (case study, son will do 9 years), and if allowed use your names. Hopefully finish with little frys eating brine. Thanks Dino

thanks guys I will only use this tank for the breeding pair, no other fish (maybe a pleco) will be in the tank. I will place a strong external filter and have the water moving. This tank is 95L what size would I need for electric yellows? my son loves the idea of a mouth brooder. The dwarf option maybe be a good. Any for sale? Micky cam I pm you to get back a price, I live in Sumner, Christchurch. Thanks Dino.

A beginner here, so would like together with my son to start breeding some Cichlids. I do have holding tanks etc. My main tank is an AR620. Not looking to sell or make any business out of it, just a nice project, father son thing. If someone could advise me on the best cichlids to start with, maybe ones that are good parents (colours would be nice, not afraid of a challenge either). Thanks in advance. Dino.

All sorted :lol: ..I think. :roey: I placed a gauge switch on my barrel that switches on after the barrel reaches a certain level, the pump then switches on for 10 secs via a timer. Gravity then does the rest, till empty. I have more then topped up the pond now, and I will continue to use this system even for my veggies. I do sacrifice the first barrel load as it may contain contaminants from the first rain roof wash. Maybe I should market such a barrel. :thup: Last question is: Is rainwater safe? given that we live in Sumner Christchurch where air pollution is ok. I also keep out possums and rats from leaving their droppings on the roof.

Thanks guys, what I have done is put a barrel to collect rain water from roof, and in that barrel I placed a pump to pump the water into the pond. Only need to switch the pump on for 5 secs then boyles law takes over as we live on the hill. I read somewhere that rain water, because of roof and air pollution was not good to use. But hey, this is an emergency. I would prefer not to use chemicals, mainly because I have not got any at the moment. Should I put some meth blue into the baby oranda pond just in case? Thanks

Need help here. :dunno: Normally I just top up my ponds (one for babies, the other for adults) using tap water, as Christchurch water was untreated. &c:ry These are quite small ponds. But now the water is treated! how do I top up? Is rainwater any good? Can I add small amounts of tap water (smells quite strong of chlorine). Never had to Dechlore before, do not know how. Does anyone know what type of chlorine they are using here? Do you just add chemicals to the pond and top up? :dunno: can I get away without using chemicals? I have baby orandas in one pond. Thanks, So many questions! Dino