Caper

Grow to 5" or 8.5"...read in one spot they grow up to 8.5 and in another spot 5" in an aquarium?????? Caper

Hi & welcome! Yep, this is a great site...people are great to help! How many tanks do you have? Post some pics Caper

Ah, so that the tube is actually touching the card? Guess is sounds silly but really holding it right on (touching) the card I get different reading then when I hold it directly in front of the tube (not touching) :-? :-? BTW Caryl, I posted pics of my grandsons in the off topic section. Caper

Hmmmm...maybe my fake ones would stunt their growth :lol: Now, of course, you know I'm kidding Caper

Thanks The ammonia in all 3 tanks is zero. Okay, so the nitrate 10 - 20 is ok then. I know the kit says below 40 is ok but I didn't know if I should have been aiming for 0 or not. I will test my tap water to see what kind of reading I get with the test strip. I don't know if I like these but that is all they had. I know a consistent pH is acceptable in comparison to one that fluctuates. I just thought it was strange to get the lower readings with this one. Caper

Good one Ian :lol: :lol: :lol: So by your responses they do grow that big...wow Caper

Keeping on with the above: I have just eleminated the following Kenyi & Auratus both too aggressive and grow to large. I'm still reading but it looks like I'm down red zebra, firemouth & electric yellows. I'm going to stop by the store tomorrow. When the girl wrote down the names for me, she wrote the common names & I think they may have the "real" names too. I'm beginning to think that cichlids are NOT for me Caper

When I had 2 ottos in my 10 gallon they kept the tank clean. Now, I have 3 in a 20 gallon and the algae is quite visible. Could this be because I only have 3? I know it's supposed to 1 otto/5 gallons but they haven't had any ottos at the store in ages. Also, I have a poly resin log in the tank and it has what looks like a, how to describe it :-? I guess I could say like a velvet spots of what I'm guessing is green algae??? Again, could this be because not enough ottos? This log hasn't been cleaned in a long time, due to the fact when I'd clean the glass (& fake plants), I wouldn't touch trying to ensure they'd still have algae to eat! Anybody?? Caper

Very beautiful fish Caper

The store had these in the other day, but I couldn't see them because they were in a tank that was sort of high. All I could see were lots of fins sticking up But I just read that they can grow 13" to 14" and need a tank at least 75 gallons. So all wise fishie people, do they really grow that large??? Bet they don't tell people that! Caper

Thanks all for the help Caper

I've asked this in Freshwater but thought I'd post it here and a couple more questions as well 1)From what I've read so far, leftover flakes on the bottom is not enough, is this true? I'm really concerned about them getting enough food. Right now they are ok, because they are the only fish in the tank. So eating/food recommendations??? 2)Do you still vacuum your gravel when you have corys? I was doing a water change and did a "light" go over of the gravel. 3) I read somewhere they are scaleless??? Just to be forewarned can they be treated with malafix (sorry think spelled wrong). Caper

I have not tested my tanks in a long, long, very long time :oops: But, have started to do again. Now, keep in mind I have not made any major changes to my tanks re: adding anything new except maybe a fish or 2 & the odd new artificial plant. But anyway, I've started testing again so here are some questions. Nitrate: Thanks to Caryl who sent me a nitrate test kit; I can now test my nitrate: does nitrate have to read 0? Caryl, since you know the test kit, do I hold the test tube "just in front of the card" or "right on it". The reason I ask this is I realized today that if I hold the tube directly on the white card I get a reading of 20, whereas, if I hold it in front without it actually being "on" the test kit I get a reading of 10???? Oh, hope I explained that good :-? :oops: Nitrite: They have no kits in at present time. pH: When I tested in the past for the pH it was always the same. I think it was roughly between 7.4 & 7.6 (if I'm remembering correctly :oops: ). Anyway, the only test kits they have in are the strips. Tested today and except for the goldies tank (7.2) the other 10 gallon & 20 gallon were 6.8! How do I test my tap water? Do I have to leave it sit for awhile in a cup? Caper

They are a very pretty fish...tanks looks really nice What are you using for the substrate??? Caper

MarkLB...is yonks a New Zealand term??? Caper

Hats off to you folks that can do that :bow:it totally amazes how you can (and even with them show how to pronounce them I still have trouble!) , but I'm not ready to try & memorize those loooooooooooong names, not yet anyway. Going to try all those places...thanks again Heck, have been reading up on electric yellows, first time I saw that it is a mbuna! Caper

Thanks all I checked at the store today to see what they get. I asked them to write them down for me so this is what I have: -venus -hap. ahli -kenyi -auratus -red zebra -firemouth -black convict The ones that they had that I'm not interested in: oscars, Jack Dempsey, & parrot....and oh, angels. When I asked the girl to write them down for me, I said, "I'm not interested in the angels", she said, "They're not cichlids". I told her they were & she said "Oh, nobody told me that". As I posted in another spot, having trouble finding websites to find out about the fish. I know there are lots out there but my problem with some of them is they go by, the "fancy" names so I'm having trouble, but still still looking. I know convicts are definetely out. Shoot, I forgot already why :-? :oops: darn, read on them earlier maybe it was size! As you can see by my list, they don't have peacocks. I do want/hope to have the electric yellows but was hoping for something else as well. One thing I've always tried to stay away from is fishies having baby fishies and I will not have fishies that must be fed fishies (just could not do that, shutters) As it is I don't know how I could deal with seeing little baby fishies being eaten So, if I can avoid that I will try:) Keep the suggestions coming folks, I sure do appreciate the help Is Nimbochromis Venustus the Venus Cichlid because if so it's off the list because it eats live for food??? Another one gone, hap. ahli, if I'm reading correctly they are the Sciaenochromis (various names after) and also carnivores??? Caper

Thanks Tropheus...I'll check them out! Ah, they seem to have the "fancy" names...how can I get the more common names? Caper

I would appreciate if someone could please recommend a good website to see pics and different cichlids any and all info on them...looked at cichlid.com but don't know the fancy names for the fishies. I'll keep lookin though. Caper

They probably will spawn again. Oh by the way, I just reread what I posted, when I said good luck with the next batch...just to clarify... :lol: :lol: I did mean fish and not husbands :lol: :lol: Caper

Hi all, Just posted in the cichlid section because hoping to put cichlids in it. Long story short, not set up and will be awhile so taking the opportunity to read and ask about cichlids and tank set up. I've been looking at pics of tanks already set up and trying to get ideas. I've spent hours already just looking at tanks First thing first, thought maybe trying sand. Now this is not a definite, as nothing is with this tank. 1)So, how do you gravel vac sand without it all getting sucked up and out of tank! 2)Would you say it is easy, difficult, around the same in comparison to gravel as far as cleaning/maintenance goes? 3)When necessary now with my tanks, I have to move the gravel away from the glass to clean will be able to do that if I have sand? 4) Does algae grow on sand?? Anybody Caper

Hi all I have a 55 gallon tank not set up yet. It is going to quite awhile before I do. So, thought I would take the time to read and read and read, and of coure ask a zillion questions :oops: ,up on cichilds and really plan out the landscaping before I do anything. Originally, it was going to be a community tank...but since this will be the last tank I would really like to try cichids. We do not get much variety in my local area but they have started taking in a few different ones. I think that what I'll do is actually find out the names of the ones they get so I can ask/read about them. They do get the electric yellows & do want them. But, first question, I do not want babies should I try for all males or would that be tooooooo aggressive all males??? Thanks Caper

WOW that is alot of ottos So it this really how they are caught and sold to suppliers, really???? I was kinda shocked how he was just taking them by the, what looked like, handfuls and putting in the bag. Gee when I buy fish, it's the last thing I do going out of store, won't put the bag down...and carry it ever so carefully Caper

Better luck with the next batch Kudos to your hubby for cleaning, at least he'll know the next time Caper

They were really great to watch