mitch Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 I have of late found it hard to keep up with the costs of keeping 2 tanks on the go so i have to figure out which of the tanks to keep. Cichlids or what would you say... the rest. I do know it would be nice to have plants in a Cichlid tank.. Ideas please, even some pics would help (just incase i have set things up wrong) i say this because it Cichlids are nice fish but the tank is not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 by Cichlids you mean Malawi's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 What size tanks do you have? And what do you have in them What type of cichlids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 When you say the costs of 2 tanks... how much are you actually spending? Once the tank is set up there should be little ongoing cost apart from a bit of fish food and power? A lot of things that pet shops try and sell us isn't actually needed Rift lake cichlids and plants just aren't going to live together.. it's one or the other there. So if you want planted tanks sell them off. You can allways go to more peacefull cichlids like Kribs or Rams that wont wreck the tank and everything in it. Give them a nice quiet tank and they will probably breed anyway. You wont make a fortune selling kribensis, but it might cover the cost of the fish food they ate :roll: Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch Posted July 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 I think the tank is 100ltrs I have 6 Zebra (metriaclima) they are breeding 3 Blue-white labido (labidochromis caeruleus) Electric yellow and 1 Auratus (melanochromis auratus) money is on filters and and liquid bacteria etc.... i do a water change every 2 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 Your tank is probably a little small for africans if it is only 100 litres.. Do you have any pics of the blue-white Lab's? And how are your filters costing you money? You should only be needing to rinse your existing media in tank water and add some tap water once a week, shouldn't cost you anything except food and maybe dechorinator if your that way inclined.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 Yep, and you dont need to buy liquid bacteria.... it does nothing... absolute waste of money.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch Posted July 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 once every 2 to 3 weeks with the AR120 because the water backs up and onto my floor.. The eheim filter pad about the same 4 weeks. Stress Zyme every week and stress coat ever 2nd week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 Are you replacing the pads and that? Who told you to pour all that stress zyme and stress coat into your tank? Thats just $$ down the drain.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch Posted July 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 yes just the white pads and the answer to the other is under directions for use: cost is $19.00 for a 284ml bottle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 The guys have just saved you a whole wad of cash The old filter media are gungy because they are full of benefical bacteria, probably about as many as there are in 1,000 bottles. Just give them a light rinse out occasionally and bung them back in. That way you maintain a good population of ammonia eating microbes living in your filter and no need to add more. The liquid bacteria stuff might be of some use when you first set up a tank and need to seed the bacteria in the filter, but it's cheaper to just steal some media from another tank to get things started. By changing the media all the time you effectively have to recycle the filter each time. The other chemicals aren't needed as a normal maintainance, fish have lived without them for millions of years. Use them if you have a specific problem (new fish, injury, disease etc). Keep the stocking levels sensible, then a good cycled filter, plenty of fresh water changes and some food will see you right. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch Posted July 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 i didnt know that.. Any way i like my Cichlids they are fun to look at when they are out and about and i think under the right lights you will not find better coloration unless you are into marine species..... but i dont think i like just rocks in a tank.. As with the other tank it is all set up with plants and decorations and looks fab but the say the cichlids will dig it all up and they are territorial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.