View Full Version : Cichlid Tank Updates
AfroCichlid
05-30-2008, 7:49 PM
The 55 gallon Tang tank has been up and running for 14 months. Fought through some BBA ( which is still a bit visible ), but is coming along pretty well. Just a full tank shot, none of the " showfish " are out. My camera sux, so full tank shots do more justice to the tank IMO. Stocklist: 4 Brichardi, 1 Aulonocara jacobfriedbergi, 3 Calvus ( black, white, gold ), 1 Tret, 1 Sexfasciatus, 1 yellow lab, 1 CAE ( I know, has a pond to go to upon adulthood ), 6 Rosy Barbs ( just eating the remaining BBA )
Weezer
05-30-2008, 7:52 PM
Very nice..........:)
rich311k
05-30-2008, 7:56 PM
Nice setup!
AfroCichlid
05-30-2008, 7:59 PM
My 46 bowfront is currently growing out my " Geophagus " Brasiliensis. I had no idea how easily these fish breed. I'd estimate mine at 6 months old and they have already successfully reared spawn. At 4" ( male ), and 2" ( female ), they have raised a first time spawn of roughly 80 fry. The fry are 2 months old and the female is pregnant again. The couple are very gentle towards one another; the female taking charge shortly after the fry are born, and the male taking a more prominent parental position after 2 weeks or so. Real treat to watch the cooperation between these fish raising their young. Again, I wish my camera was good enough to capture action shots, but this is the best I can do with these active fish and my outdated camera:
AfroCichlid
05-30-2008, 8:03 PM
Seeing Coler's success combining Africans with plants has kept me trying with mine. I keep mostly Tangs, which are no where near the plant eaters Mbuna are, but finding plants that work in the water chemistry required for Tangs has proven difficult. Vals seem to thrive in harder water, as do the Ludwigia Repens. I'd love to hear of some other plants that would do well, or if someone has some up for sale, please clue me in. I run CO2, but am on the low side of lighting @ 2 watts/ gallon on a standard 55 gallon.
AfroCichlid
05-30-2008, 8:05 PM
Also, if anyone's interested in the Brasiliensis please let me know. I will have 30 or so to house. I paid $20 for the pair of mine. Make me an offer and pay shipping and their yours.
thesoul2008
05-30-2008, 8:17 PM
i have tried plants in my african tanks but no good they destroy them i have even put fake plants in there and they even pull them out the ground :) oh well i like my rock setup i got my other tank for plants now one is enough :)
you 55 is an AWSOME setup afrocichlid
AfroCichlid
05-30-2008, 8:42 PM
Hmmm. surprising to me. I haven't once caught my Peacock nipping at plants. Or the Lab for that matter. I'm sure having a male Aulonocara showing off to his harem would be a different story though. Mine shows off to the Lab, but doesn't so much damage to the aquascape. Try some ferns. Moss seems to be tasty to my fish, but they seem to leave everything else alone. I have mostly Tangs though. Coler would know more about what works with Mbuna.
pre98zetec
05-31-2008, 1:04 AM
Amazing looking tanks! I absolutely love the first one
Lady G
05-31-2008, 2:14 AM
Looks very nice!!!
Rbishop
05-31-2008, 6:07 AM
Great looking tanks!
Coler
05-31-2008, 11:13 AM
2 great tanks - love your 55. Especially like your tret; one of my favourite fish.
AfroCichlid
05-31-2008, 11:29 PM
2 great tanks - love your 55. Especially like your tret; one of my favourite fish.
The Tretocephalus is perhaps my second fav after the black and white Calvus. I tried to keep a pair of Trets but was unable in such small confines. At 4" it's an aggressive little fish. The residents here will eventually have a 75 gallon to themselves. Maybe then I can add another Tret and Sexfasciatus. They are by far the most outgoing of the Tangs I own. The Tret acts sort of like a saltwater Clown, always in the front, and swimming amongst the plants as if they were his host. With the Actinic bulb, he really stands out. Trets are by far the most aggressive Tangs I've kept, but still pare in comparison to Malawi Cichlids.
jm1212
06-01-2008, 4:34 PM
nice plants!
The Tretocephalus is perhaps my second fav after the black and white Calvus. I tried to keep a pair of Trets but was unable in such small confines. At 4" it's an aggressive little fish. The residents here will eventually have a 75 gallon to themselves. Maybe then I can add another Tret and Sexfasciatus. They are by far the most outgoing of the Tangs I own. The Tret acts sort of like a saltwater Clown, always in the front, and swimming amongst the plants as if they were his host. With the Actinic bulb, he really stands out. Trets are by far the most aggressive Tangs I've kept, but still pare in comparison to Malawi Cichlids.
Yes one is certainly best until you get the 75 up.
They are great little fish - and I have found if raised from juveniles with the psychos I mean malawis, they will more than hold their own.
AfroCichlid
06-01-2008, 7:48 PM
Coler, is the Tret the only Tang in your bowfront? I did the Malawai tank for awhile but it's just too stressful for the living room.
Here are a couple of resident pics, couldn't get the Black Calvus tonight. She really doesn't like the camera much. Aulonocara described to me as a Jacobfriedbergi:
AfroCichlid
06-01-2008, 7:50 PM
White Calvus, these guys grow soooo slowly:
AfroCichlid
06-01-2008, 7:54 PM
Female Brichardi:
AfroCichlid
06-01-2008, 7:56 PM
Dirty glass and some Brasiliensis fry with Dad:
Lady G
06-01-2008, 10:47 PM
Very nice!!!! I love that White Calvus
noodles62
06-02-2008, 6:33 AM
Nice tanks. LOVE the Brichardi - some day I will some of these...with my current tank I think my neon tetras would be scooby snacks! LOL
Coler, is the Tret the only Tang in your bowfront? I did the Malawai tank for awhile but it's just too stressful for the living room.
Here are a couple of resident pics, couldn't get the Black Calvus tonight. She really doesn't like the camera much. Aulonocara described to me as a Jacobfriedbergi:
more nice fish !
I also have a leilupi and a julidochromis transcriptus. Added as juveniles with the malawi, doing find; the leilupi is accidentally female and spawns all the time.
saltydunc
06-02-2008, 1:57 PM
beautiful fish....very nice set ups.
AfroCichlid
06-02-2008, 4:43 PM
[quote=
I also have a leilupi and a julidochromis transcriptus. Added as juveniles with the malawi, doing find; the leilupi is accidentally female and spawns all the time.[/quote]
I really love julies as well. Hopefully the 75 will be coming soon ( didn't want too many tanks to move, but may have to wait another year on a house ), and I can add a few of those as well. Nice that they stay small. Have any pics? I'd really love a group of Cyprichromis Leptosoma, but they are outrageously expensive here ( $15-20/ fish, and I'd like at least 7 ).
What is the leilupi spawning with?
AfroCichlid
06-02-2008, 4:54 PM
Nice tanks. LOVE the Brichardi - some day I will some of these...with my current tank I think my neon tetras would be scooby snacks! LOL
Possibly. I have read alot of other's experiences with Brichardi being aggressive. I admit mine have not spawned yet, but the Calvus may have something to do with that. They don't like the Calvus much, but they pay no attention to Rosy Barbs. Same with the others as well, like they're not even there.
AfroCichlid
06-02-2008, 5:13 PM
beautiful fish....very nice set ups.
Thank you. You have some sweet setups yourself.
Mgamer20o0
06-04-2008, 12:15 AM
great set up
AfroCichlid
07-16-2008, 9:33 AM
Some updates: Moved several of the Giant Val offshoots to the other side. Finally, some balance.
AfroCichlid
07-16-2008, 9:37 AM
Rosy Barb:
rich311k
07-16-2008, 9:40 AM
Very nice shots, the tank is beautiful.
AfroCichlid
07-16-2008, 9:43 AM
Can anyone ID the plant in the left foreground? I think it's a bog plant, it was free floating in a southern central Florida river. The water was really soft, so I don't think they'll like my water anyway, but just like to know what they are.
AfroCichlid
07-16-2008, 9:47 AM
6 month old Geophagus Brasiliensis male. BTW, has anyone reclassified this fish yet? It's supposedly no longer in the Geo family, but I haven't heard whether it's been reclassified yet or not. He's just starting to get his pearls. Can you spot the fry?
jpappy789
07-17-2008, 1:48 PM
Love the tank Afrocichlid! ANy chance you could snap some more closeups of the calvus? :D
AfroCichlid
07-17-2008, 5:31 PM
Lol, I'll give it a try today. It figures; they will all 3, ( Gold, White, Black ) sit lined up in a row right in the middle of the tank with the Ludwigia Repens behind them, but if I move for the camera they bolt.
AfroCichlid
07-17-2008, 7:56 PM
She's not really shy, but she doesn't know what to make of the camera. Black Calvus ( Altolamprologus Calvus ) :
AfroCichlid
07-17-2008, 7:58 PM
Need to clean the glass: