mrrick

I always see the same thing. Do a bit of hunting myself. Pigs and deer. Have a mate living in Welly that LOVES to go hunting if you want a buddy.

I like Indian fern too. Easy to grow, roots hang down and look awesome, My mates Gouramis have tried to 'blow' :-? an egg nest into his a few times.

I have found that my Cichlids do not touch Indian fern (I have it floating, with the roots hanging down, that could add 'height' to you tank, top down !) I want some Anubia, but can't find it anywhere. Otherwise, a plastic fantastic (I assume that is like swearing around here) might do the trick for plants !

That would be awesome, thanks !

Have done a hardness test, do not know how.. please enlighten !! I have a range of cichlids in there, and most I do not know (apologies.. I collect fish from a range of places) Kribensis Electric yellows, Taiwanese reef? some yellow and blue spotty ones Some pale peach (almost see through) I've tried to find them out, but can't nail them down.

HI. Today I bought a flasher (and more specific) pH test kit. Turns out my tank water is nearly at pH 6. Obviously my cichlids won't appreciate regular water changes. I have put limestone and coral in the tank to try and raise the pH (pH today is about 7.6). Does anyone suggest something else,(like what chemical to add when doing a water change?, to stop the pH swinging too much? or will the fishes cope with minor swings? (I have access to chemicals so am not only limited to LFS products)

Thank you for the link, I really enjoyed it (all 7 episodes)

My cichlids are feed "cichlid crumble" by Wardleys, and are given live 'water boatmen' every day (as are all my tanks) My cichlids are a variety, Electric yellows, kribensis, P.steveni, and some marbles (but i am not sure, I got them through trademe from a guy who thought they were Angels and 'see through' fish!) :fshi:

Tough choice. I made my own out of fibreglass. The problem is paintng it as there are few safe paints to use that will survive underwater. I'd go with the lighter one myself. The tank is there to see the fish, so what ever one will highlight them the most !

Hi guys. I checked the pH of my Cichlid tank today and it came up about 6.5 (which I see is too acidic) Is there any reason why putting a limestone rock in the tank would be a bad idea? Limestone will increase the pH, it looks pretty, and the worse it will do is carbonate the water a little bit ?? Also, my are my Africans not eating the plants in the tank? I have floating Indian fern, some Ambulia and Java fern, all untouched by the fish

I am learning so much, very quickly on here. Many thanks to those that take the time to give advice ! :dnc1:

The tank I have just set up has a sand sunstrate (aqua soil underneath). I pushed the Val in far to keep it there... any ideas to have it higher, but keep it down?

Ahhh... I buried the rhizome !!!

Can I ask what BBA stands for... I can't keep up with the acronyms on here ! I just got rid of the CAE because i was advised he would kill the otos, he did keep the tank clean, but was getting aggresive to my other fish. I have a few Bristlenoses in with my cichlids, so I'll move one into each of my other tanks. My mate (who knows more than me, says Bristlenoses will kill eachother if they are in the same tank. I have 4 that came together with some cichlds, so have left them like that... wise advice from my friend? Questions then. 300L community tank.. how many Oto's and Bristle noses to keep onto of the algae (planted aquarium, 80W T5HO lamps, Poret foam filtration@1000L/Hr)

HI... I have just bought a Aquazonic Superbright T5 for my planted tank. It comes with 2 tubes, a "tropical pink" and a "super sun" Just hoping someone could tell me a bit about the tropical pink light... why is it there ? Also, I bought some Twisted Val a few months back, and it has come with some small Java fern plants that do not seem to be growing, despite every other plant in my tanks going NUTS for growth. Is it a slow grower, or do I need some magic? I am low tech (I would put pics of my tanks up, but I can't find the post about "how to put pictures up" )

I need a new home for my apple snails.. the buggers are definitely eating plants before algae. I am going to buy a bunch of Oto's tomorrow for the algae.

I did see that Arawanas get big. I am hoping to get a bigger tank, in a bout a year unless one comes my way before that.

Have bought a 4 foot tank (only 200 L) I did want a 400-500 tank, but this one came along and was a good deal

Howdy group ! After recent criticism that my Cichlid tank was too small, I have gone out and bought another. Not as big as was suggested, but this one is in my price range and comes will lights and filtration etc.. I can pick it up locally too. The good news?? is that it comes with a silver arawana, which looks like it is about 25 cm long atm. Will it devour my cichlids? or do you think they will be able to hold there own. (the tank also has an Angel and some plecos in it atm) And seeing as I don't know much about Arawanas, any tips out there that I can't learn from Google over night. **Might sell it if it is beyond my skill level**

The support will be greatly appreciated

I'm a Science teacher, you think I would have got that right. Okay, it (she) looks really full around the middle (more than the others) I don't expect to see any babys, the tank is a real mix of fish (heavily planted) so they will probably get eaten. It appears my 'beginner' approach to this is making me look stupid.

HI !! Tank was very heavily planted with Elodea, have got christmas moss and Ambulia in there now. I have a breeding box, but it is so tiny !!

Don't disagree with you. Was a case of over enthusiasm, mixed with unlucky inheritance ( I bought a tank off trademe that was meant to have Angels and 'see through' fish in it, and they were all Cichlids, THAT guy had no idea what he was doing. I'm trying to improve their homes as quick as I can.

Yeah, I'd like a bigger tanks for them, but like everything, I only have so much space.. Find me a 100-150 L tank, and I'll move them ! I REALLY like Cichlids to look at, but I'm a community kinda guy too, so am frustrated at their exclusivity. More tanks will be the solution

Had my tank running for 4 months, plenty of baby platies (though no new ones lately) but have had NO baby guppies. Would they be eaten ? Should I separate the guppies from the platies