phoenix44 Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 I have always liked the demasoni, and I've always wanted them. In the past I did not know where to get them from, but now I'm willing to get rid of all my plants, gravel, fish, plants...everything... and make the perfect tank for them. I'm hoping to get a total of 24 of them, and have them either in a species tank; or with a contrasting number of e.yellows or a suitable similar sized, bright yellow african cichlid. I'm so happy to see beautiful fish for sale, locally and across the country; and so I want to make the jump to keeping them. What I need to know is where I can get thin slate like stone from so i can make thin shelf like layers at the back of the tank. I have everything else I need, except for crushed coral which i want to put in one of my 405's. so i need to know where to get that too. The tank is 4 ft long, 1 ft deep and about 1.5ft high - 200L. I'm very excited about this; but I know it will take a while, as I will need to get rid of all my current fish and plants except for my plecos and 4 Clown Loaches whom I cant possibly part with. Any and all advice and suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 should have slate at your local landscape supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 I just got some. Trust me, you won't regret making the change; they are stunning fish. I don't know if I'd go for coral personally, even though I know some people who have white substrate that looks awesome, I just think it would take so much work to keep it bright and clean. Also, darker colours tend to bring out the fish colours better; my dem tank is all black and their colours are so bright and great. You can't really see the dems there, but imagine them all swimming around; it's impressive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 Sounds like you have a good plan and a good sized tank to start with If you want to come out and see mine you are welcome too, I will have some for sale in the future as mine are just starting to breed properly now have a few people to sort out first though My tank is only 3ft but taller, I used darker substrate to bring out the fishes colour more and burried limestone and coral rock to buffer the water. There are a few river rocks and some random plant that grows alright seems to grow more than they eat it also a few peococks, trio of red empresses and 21 dems (dominant male from different place at different time etc) which I will be adding a couple from each spawn to and build upto a colony of 40 or so. Your clown loaches and pleco's maybe alright with the demasoni its a hit and miss type thing. Good luck you wont regret it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 thanks for the pic lauren. I dont want a white substrate either. it shall be natural rock, or juwel rock background. the coral shall be in the filter as i have ample space in the cannister. Im hoping to get slate like in tank 2 in this link http://www.aquahobby.com/tanks/e_tank0801.php I want no plants in the tank at all. itwill be a huge step for me, cause i know how amazing plants are at maintaining mywater quality. and i love plants in the tank. but the tank must be perfect :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 o0oO a new post! thanks Ryan. Im hoping on getting every aspect of the tank right, so wouldlike to know everything i can about them. ive read so much online, but nothing beats personal experience! it will probably take a while for me to get rid of everything in my tank. Re- the dominant males. Ive read they can be a problem and its best to have 1 male and a whole lot of females, but this will not be possible if i get smallish ones oh well.. could always trade fish with people if there are too many problems. but im hoping a high number of fish will help with with aggression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 Wow, that pic is awesome, I'm scared of piling up big heavy rocks though. I also know what a pain it is to take them all out to catch 1 silly fish You'll have to do a photo diary of your current tank to new dem tank, I can't wait. I'm so excited for you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 Some nice tanks there I got sick of piling the rocks that high it was a pain in the bum to get them all out to catch a fish! You are best with 1m and heaps of females however that isn't always possible making up for it with sheer numbers is the best way and don't be tempted to thin out too many excess males it caused trouble with my original colony that I lost.. Like I said if you want to come and have a look you are welcome to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 I cant wait either, lol... plan is to get rid of the plants first, so i can catch the current inhabitants, and find thousands of baby steel blues, lol.... then sell the fish, and then the gravel.. then empty out the tank... get the coral, shove it in the filter, re fill the tank with new water. get the substrate and rock positioning perfect... cycle the tank - wait, add 24 dems. then see if i can add e.yellows. any other bright yellow fish? i like red zebras too, but they may not go well with dems (as in not look right.. if you know what i mean). I mainly only want 2 species of swimmy fish + plecos. Id get rid of the clowns too but im too attached to them. :oops: Ryan I will prob have to take you up and come visit some time, and then you can drill me about the dems. I want no nasty surprises, lol... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 lol save me a female steel blue if you do strip your tank Sounds like you have a good plan if you put in enough rock work and only stock with yellows and dems the population should increase itself when they do mature and start breeding.. Dems are pretty easy really, just buy lots of them and they will be fine, I think not buying enough is half the problem people will encounter with them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 Maybe we should make it a fun day at Ryan's, and he can school us all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 lol anyone is welcome here to look at the fish Not much schooling though I only know what I know from countless hours of surfing around the net.. And also trying stuff so always happy to talk about what I think would work and what wont, the great thing about fish is someone will always prove you wrong and you can never stop learning.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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