View Full Version : African Cichlid Gravel
I recently started a new tank. 29 Gal with large rocks and salt/peppered "Cichlid Sand". During the cycle, the rocks started growing lots of algea. I thought it look good. After the cycle, I added six small Mbuna and two small Frontosa (all less than two inches). The "plan" was to move everyone to a 55 gal when they grew. The algea took over (probably because of a high phosphor content in the rock?) I transferred a small common pleco (~4 inches) from the 10 gal he was outgrowing. No one really bothered him, and for about 3 days he ate very well and cleaned up the tank. He did not make it. I thought that maybe I stressed him during the 'capture'. I then tried a 3" SAE. Only lasted about 2 days. Could the Cichlid Sand be the real culprit? If so, I will give up on the algea eaters and go to scraping.
Welll...I don't know what 'Cichlid Sand' is - I'm thinking it has some Ph/hardness buffering qualities. It's unlikely to have killed properly acclimated fish though, even if they are soft water/acidic types. How did you acclimate yours ?
btw Fronts get too big for a 55.
Rbishop
06-09-2007, 9:12 AM
How long was this "recent" period?
What kind of cycle did you do to prepare the tank?
I would put a much bigger tank than a 55 on your wish list for the fronts.
Cichlid Sand is buffered. It is a little courser (larger) then other sands that I have seen. I netted the pleco and put him in a large plastic baggie. Did the 'float the bag" for 45 minutes to ensure temps stabilized. Opened bag and let him find his way out. Starting temps from one tank to otherwere close (within a degree). Water params were close too. (0 ammonia, 0 nitites, and 10-20 nitrates). He was difficult to net.
Not sure if others had used this white and black sand with plecos.
As far as the Frontosa, I knew they will out grow the 55 gal. I have the 55 with assorted tetras and want to get a 75 or 100 eventually to handle the Africans. I just couldn't pass on the Frontosa for $12 bucks each and was assured that I have at least a year or more before I will need larger than 55.
rbishop - please don't kill me for doing a fishy cycle (about 30 feeders fo 6 weeks). I know that it is not the favorie method by most, but it is easiest (sorry). The tank had been cycled for about 3 weeks before I added the pleco.
mee-mee
06-09-2007, 9:23 AM
What kind of cichlid sand do you have in the tank..
I found this web site about different kinds of sand....
http://www.fishinthe.net/html/section-viewarticle-50.html
It could very well be the sand....:)
I netted the pleco and put him in a large plastic baggie. Did the 'float the bag" for 45 minutes to ensure temps stabilized. Opened bag and let him find his way out.
That's probably it - there's more to acclimating than temp. You need to float the bag and over the course of an hour or so add tank water. I add a cup full every ten minutes for 30 mins, then siphon out half the water and add a cup full every ten minutes again for another 30 mins.
He was being moved from to a buffered tank from most likely a lower Ph & soft water tank. You need to go even slower in those circumstances.
I lost one of my first fish to osmotic shock for doing a crummy acclimitisation - he went in just like you did yours and died 2 days later. He (lab. caerulus) would basically sit around on the bottom of the tank or on a rock not moving much - I'm thinking if a plec did this you probably would not consider it abnormal, but it looks to me as if this is the likely cause of his death.
edit : just re-reading that he ate well cleaned the tank for 3 days following the move. If that's the case I don't know that it was the acclimation process that killed him.
drdud
06-09-2007, 10:28 AM
My tap water is poor. Many have told me that the high mineral content of the water in the Chicago area makes for good cichild water. The water is not soft in any of my tanks. Nearly impossible to change pH below 8.2 due to high minerals and massive buffering.
I do appreciate the advice for acclimating fish. Slowly changing the water in the bag makes sense for future additions. Thanks.
The Sand is "Eco-Complete African Cichlid Substrate ". It i black and white course.
Rbishop
06-09-2007, 10:29 AM
rbishop - please don't kill me for doing a fishy cycle (about 30 feeders fo 6 weeks). I know that it is not the favorie method by most, but it is easiest (sorry). The tank had been cycled for about 3 weeks before I added the pleco.
No worry, buddy, you do what you gotta do. Just keep up the monitoring and water changes. You have a new tank with fish losses, and possible acclimation issues.
What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings?
MbunaFishKeeper
06-09-2007, 10:40 AM
with africans you dont really have to worrie about algea because the Mbunas will eat it off the rocks. if you watch you may see them eating off the rocks its funny watching them chew at the rocks.
drdud
06-09-2007, 10:53 AM
Params: ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0, and nitrate - 10-20. 20% water change twice a week. I quite checking pH long ago. Always 8.4. (Tried several years ago to lower pH - used lot of pH down and had no affect)
I do enjoy watching them peck at the rocks. I really enjoy these fish.