72g Bowfront Mbuna Tank

[myswtsins]

So I have a thread for asking questions about this tank and a thread about building this tank but it is time to have a thread for the tank in general! Pretty much an update thread. Here is some back ground....

Long version
(click the links for FULL background info)
Planning the tank (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162308) (stocking mostly)
Building the tank (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162370) (LOTS of pictures! redo stand, reseal, canopy from scratch)

Short version
72g bowfront aquarium with pine stand & custom canopy
Emporer 400
Eheim 2213
Eheim 2013
Undergravel jet system (total of about 1180 gph!! :eek3:)
250watt Visi-Therm Stealth
2 - 55watt Ahsupply kits with 50/50 bulbs
Blue cold cathode moon lighting
Red cold cathode sunrise lighting
~90lbs Lace rock (adding more!)

The good stuff, pictures! Here is the tank after construction was complete.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_0875.jpg

First setup of rocks (left side had 50/50 while right side had a 9235k) :shakehead:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_0897.jpg

Current rock formation
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1208.jpg
There was a LOT more algae then that but after seeing as my mbuna were not eating it I added a female bristlenose and she went to town!

I added some ameca splendens to the tank first to make sure it was habitable. Then I added the first 8 Mbunas, yellow labs Labidochromis Caerleus.

Group shot
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1206.jpg

Munching!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1209.jpg

Dominant male, front & center (picture does not do him justice)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1204.jpg

Another of the dominant male, he always chases me around the tank so he gets the most attention
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1199.jpg

What is in the basket?
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1207.jpg
Frogbit! I got this to soak up any excess nutrients when I add another 32 fish on Wednesday! It is in the basket because the fish like eating it. :)


So from here I am planning to...
- Add more rocks. I have 260lbs of Appalachian gray rock that I will add on Wednesday before the new fish are added, not all of it of course though.
- Add new fish! 8 each of Iodotropheus Sprengerae (Rusty), Psuedotropheus acei (yellow tail), Psuedotropheus socolofi (albino), Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (maingano); all of which are coming in on Wednesday. Shortly after that I will be adding Metriclima estherae (OB) just waiting for them to age a little more.
- Add more plants! I will be adding java ferns & anubias to this tank on Wednesday as well. In the future I may add onion plants & vals too.

I can't wait for my new fish!! :D

[gustavo85]

Amazing Labs!!!

[Pittbull]

looks great my friend good job and i bet you will be happy when your done aye..

[myswtsins]

Thanks. I love the labs! They have sooo much character, when I sit next to the tank they all come over a stare at me. I enjoy the build & setup of the tank so much but am certainly looking forward to the end result! :)

[Rbishop]

A terrific tank!

[H3D]

Nice tank!

[snoopy65]

Awesome tank. Love the labs!

[Coler]

Brilliant tank - stock list sounds great. Updates as you go please !

[AfroCichlid]

Great choice with the black sand. Really makes for a great contrast with the Labs. I'm a big fan of bowfronts, looks excellent.

[Weezer]

Nice setup.........:)

[myswtsins]

Thanks everyone! I am thrilled with this tank myself & glad you guys like it too! :)

[Bk718]

Great looking tank Jen. The labs are looking wonderful in there.
Cant wait to see it with plants... and wow did you land on a ton of frogbit

[myswtsins]

Thanks Yuriy. Yup LOTS of frogbit! A little duckweed too. :D

[Bk718]

you shouldve kept the duckweed. Leave it floating in another tank for a week and then slowly throw some in this tank for them to eat.

[myswtsins]

I have some duckweed in my 10g & that is exactly what I have been doing with it. :)

[myswtsins]

:swear::swear::swear::swear:

Why do I have such horrible luck!? The place I ordered my fish from had no problem taking my payment but they forgot to ship my fish! :mad2: Anyone who has talked to me recently knows how much I have scheduled around these guys coming today.

I am trying to remain calm until after I get my fish (I don't want them "spitting in my fish bag") but it is so very hard. :) I think free shipping is in order?

[myswtsins]

All taken care of! Fish will be here tomorrow, yay! Back to waiting :)

[Pittbull]

myswtsins wrote:
(I don't want them "spitting in my fish bag")

:rofl:thats to funny aye spit in the bag.. hehehe.. yeah i am with you FREE shipping..

[myswtsins]

myswtsins wrote:

:rofl:thats to funny aye spit in the bag.. hehehe.. yeah i am with you FREE shipping..


:D I did get 1/2 price shipping & freebies because I was so calm & reasonable!

Unfortunately, somehow I broke 2 eheim 2013s today, one of which was housing the majority of the bacteria for the new arrivals. Any tips, other than watch water parameters and be ready to do WC everyday till the bacteria grows back? Right now I put all the media into a basket in the tank. I figured it was better than nothing,as you will see in the pictures.

I put all the rocks in today though. I don't know if I like it yet but I am proud that I was able to do it! :)
It is cloudy because I just got done disturbing it & don't mind that one bright & clean rock all the way to the left, it will dirty up give it time. :)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1225.jpg
Full tank shot

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1226.jpg
Left side

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1227.jpg
Right side

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1231.jpg
Center

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1230.jpg
And an angled shot from the left


My fish & plants should arrive tomorrow and I think they will help perk it up a bit. :p: ALL comments, question & advice welcomed!

[jameshilljr]

awesome layout-love the rockwork! I guess I'm not the only one with driftwood in an AC tank...

[myswtsins]

Thanks! I've seen a couple others with driftwood too. I have it in there because there is a BN in there plus I have some acei coming & they will appreciate it.


Plants arrived! I have 10 anubias plants that are in a holding tank while I test a couple in the Mbuna tank & the java ferns need to be weighted down since they don't have a lot of roots to shove in the cracks. So it might be a little while before plant pictures. Fish should be here soon!!!

[Pittbull]

cool i like the look of lace rock as well, psss i have a piece of wood in my shellie tank, hehehe be very quite thou the fish may hear us, hehehe, well wood doesn't hurt as long as the tank is not full of it to cause a significant drop in PH, ah anubias well i think i have like 20 anubias nanna, barteri and hostifolia in my 120gal i just love the look of anubias, cool tank buddy..

[blue2fyre]

I can't wait to see the fish!

I also have driftwood in my Mbuna tank for my acei and they are always hanging around it. Much to the dismay of my male greshakei since his territory is nearby :P

[myswtsins]

Thank you fellow wood keepers! :)

So I got 3 freebies...1 albino socolofi, 1 rusty & 1 Mel. cyaneorhabdos. Excellent quality & seem very healthy. I was a little concerned because the minute I opened the box it smelt like dead fish.... :confused: Everyone was intact though.

I took many random pictures just to see if I could by chance get a couple decent ones, I will try to get better ones later. They came out pretty dark too but that might be because I was using the Sport setting (motion shots). I do have more like these but these seem to be the clearest shots.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1259.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1264.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1266.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1262.jpg

I one with the flash on shows their actual colors but in my lighting they look a little different. The orange really stands out on the rustys fins, same with the light blue of the M. Cyaneorhabdos & the acei look like a dark purple. I am super pleased! It has been a great day! :dance:

[Pittbull]

wow dude those rusty's are awesome buddy good job..

[myswtsins]

I have to agree, I was quite surprised by how great the rustys are! I can't wait to see em grow up.

The only mbuna left to get now is my OB red zebras, then I need some other bottom dweller/scavengers. :dance:

[cam191919]

ooo, such colors :D

[Pittbull]

did you order the OB reds as well..

[Pittbull]

hey i was just checking out your DIY 5.5gal sweet i just took down a 5.5gal and switched it with a new 10gal, hehehe take it easy aye..

[myswtsins]

ooo, such colors :D
:D All the colors go together really well, seeing all the fish in the tank opposed to pictures online makes a HUGE difference!


did you order the OB reds as well..
The OBs are coming from M.Boona, a fellow Aquaria Central member, which is where I also bought my yellow labs. I am waiting for them to grow up just a little more.


hey i was just checking out your DIY 5.5gal sweet i just took down a 5.5gal and switched it with a new 10gal, hehehe take it easy aye..
Thanks. So far I am very pleased with the 5.5, I should be moving my betta over into it soon.


Well I just tested the tank, 14 hours along, and everything is A-OK. Ph-8.1, NH3-0, NO2-0, NO3-20. Let's hope it remains this way!

[jameshilljr]

great selection of AC's:thm: They look great together, and I'm sure your tank is even more active now!

[myswtsins]

Thanks. Super active! I love it. :D

[myswtsins]

Test from this afternoon.
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 30

Everything seems fine but I will continue to keep an eye on it. Today I got a chance to sit down and really take a good look at the fish & noticed almost everyone of the new guys have minor fin damage so I will be doing daily WCs anyway.

I tried to get some photos but they all go nuts when I am near the tank so I tried to get a video. That didn't turn out much better but here ya go! :) (If I can get the video to work)
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nrdJYFBml74&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nrdJYFBml74&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


:headshake2: I really need to learn how to take good pictures & videos. :silly:

I also need to buy a new filter since all the others broke, any suggestions? I would prefer a canister but money is getting tight (holidays!). Also I was thinking about adding Pictus catfish, comments?

[myswtsins]

I got some of the plants in last night, various anubias species. I took the basket out just for a photo shoot. It looks rather bare there but once I get a new filter to put the media in I will be adding a couple rocks/plants there.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1277.jpg

The tank is not that bright or hazy in person. :)

I really like the frogbit too. They do not seem to be eating it anymore either (may have just been the splendens) but they do like to hide in it and look for food. It is nice cause it makes them come to the top a lot.

Now that I have some more plants in there I switched the bubbler to only come on at night.

[RiftLakeRosco]

y such aggressive current in the tank??? african lakes are pretty calm, not even tidal for that matter.... just curious

[myswtsins]

Current was not an intentional goal but circulation was, current just happens. If you are referring to the video that is just the output of the HOB & the water was a little low. There is a lot of still water too but they like getting right in front of the outputs and swimming into the current.

[Istanbul_Kop]

Really beautiful tank mate. Your threads have been a great read to me, as I am just setting up and trying to get my stocklist organised. The UGJ system is a particular highlight to me, I think it's a great idea for a Mbuna tank with so many rocks. Might look into it myself!

[Fishhh]

Thats a really nice looking tank!

[myswtsins]

Really beautiful tank mate. Your threads have been a great read to me, as I am just setting up and trying to get my stocklist organised. The UGJ system is a particular highlight to me, I think it's a great idea for a Mbuna tank with so many rocks. Might look into it myself!
Thanks, glad you're enjoying the threads. The UGJ does make it more challenging to put up the rock structures but it certainly does what it is supposed to! I get very minimal waste on the sand, especially in the front where it would be the biggest eye sore. If I did it again I would go with a different design though, I'm not thrilled with the slightly strong output and position of jets.

Thats a really nice looking tank!
Thank you!

[Istanbul_Kop]

Thanks, glad you're enjoying the threads. The UGJ does make it more challenging to put up the rock structures but it certainly does what it is supposed to! I get very minimal waste on the sand, especially in the front where it would be the biggest eye sore. If I did it again I would go with a different design though, I'm not thrilled with the slightly strong output and position of jets.

Thank you!

What design would you try?

AND...where would you position the jets? My tank is about the same as yours, bow front as well.

Also, any ill effects of adding all the fish at once? Thinking of doing the same.

[Coler]

That is looking superb - great, great tank.

[myswtsins]

What design would you try?

AND...where would you position the jets? My tank is about the same as yours, bow front as well.

Also, any ill effects of adding all the fish at once? Thinking of doing the same.
I am not sure of how I would redesign it, haven't thought about it. I will think about it and let you know though. One thing I can say is that there is quite a bit of poop floating around the tank since it is not settling. :irked: I am thinking of turning the jets off for awhile and seeing what happens, I will report back! :)

Even though both of the filters I was using to grow the bacteria broke the day before I was going to add the fish I have to say it worked out great! (I just put the media into the basket in the tank) I have been testing the tank 2-3 times a day and have not seen any ammonia or nitrites yet! Adding all the fish at once is the best way to go but you must have sufficient bacteria to support the new bio-load increase, optimally fishless cycle is what you want to do. I had fish in the tank already so I just used another empty tank with a filter, some "used" filter media (starter colony) and a heater (set to mid 80's) to grow the extra bacteria.



That is looking superb - great, great tank.

Thanks Coler, means a lot coming from you! I'm still waiting for your updated tank photos. :grinyes:

[Istanbul_Kop]

I am not sure of how I would redesign it, haven't thought about it. I will think about it and let you know though. One thing I can say is that there is quite a bit of poop floating around the tank since it is not settling. :irked: I am thinking of turning the jets off for awhile and seeing what happens, I will report back! :)

Even though both of the filters I was using to grow the bacteria broke the day before I was going to add the fish I have to say it worked out great! (I just put the media into the basket in the tank) I have been testing the tank 2-3 times a day and have not seen any ammonia or nitrites yet! Adding all the fish at once is the best way to go but you must have sufficient bacteria to support the new bio-load increase, optimally fishless cycle is what you want to do. I had fish in the tank already so I just used another empty tank with a filter, some "used" filter media (starter colony) and a heater (set to mid 80's) to grow the extra bacteria.


Thanks Dude, kinda put me off the jets a little now. Would like a wave maker at the bottom do the same kind of job?

I intend to fishless cycle, I have a source of ammonia and some starter bacteria in a bottle (dubious, but apparently this is one of the few brands that works). I also have my existing tank which I could snatch some filter media from (do I need to worry about transfering diseases there though? - my tank is fine I think (all fish healthy), but if I can transfer bad stuff, I don't want to take the risk).

Cheers again Bro.

[myswtsins]

Not sure about the wave maker idea, I wonder if anyone has tried it???

It is possible to transmit disease from a "seemingly" healthy tank but unlikely. I would get some advice from more experienced members but I would think that at the high temp you will keep the tank at during the fishless cycle and the copious amounts of ammonia being added to the tank not much would survive long! I seem to get nematodes during my fishless cycles for some reason though. :confused: Once I add fish they are never seen again.


UPDATE!! I will be getting my OB zebras soon because they are now over an inch, woohoo! Still trying to figure out my bottom dwellers right now.

[myswtsins]

So I turned the jets off and definitely noticed more waste on the sand & no real reduction in the debris in the water column. Jets are back on! :)

The water is just full of debris though. Not poop or anything but just "dust", almost looks like tiny bubbles but it isn't. If the fish swim fast over the rocks it stirs it all up too. When I rearranged the rock I rinsed them all in tank water and it was better but it's back to being cloudy again. Any ideas? I may make another thread for this question cause this is really irking me! :mad2: All my tanks are crystal clear except this one.

Got my OBs today!! :dance: They are tiny but VERY cute!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1306.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1309.jpg

Don't mind the Christmas light reflection please. :)

I got a decent shot of my M. cyanerhabdos while trying to photograph the new guys though.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1302.jpg
(I messed around with the flash on and off)

Full tank shots (free hand!) I removed the WHITE basket and replaced it with the purple mesh shoved in the back corner, at least it is not AS noticeable.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1315.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1313.jpg

Pictures came out better right!? These colors are more true to life. Enjoy & feedback please?

[Pittbull]

good job buddy

[myswtsins]

Thank you buddy!

I am now trying to decide on what kind of filter I want to add to replace the eheim 2013. :read:

[Pittbull]

Cool deal

Well i am a big fan of the Rena XP series there pretty convenient.

[myswtsins]

I am definitely considering a Rena canister. I am also considering something to polish the water....maybe.


*EDIT* I think a Rena (XP2 or XP3) is going to be the winner, now just find a good deal. :)

[Pittbull]

Cool sounds like a plan. i have 2 XP3 and 1 marineland C220.

The 2 XP3's are on my 120gal and the C220 is on my 55gal with great results. so yeah i got a good deal on my XP series, i ordered an XP3 from my bros pet shop at cost that was sweet and the same week i was out and about and i noticed a yard sale with tanks and equipment so i did a u-turn and to my amazement they had an XP3 sitting right there on the lawn and i was like i have to have that, they had a 50 buck price on it and i was like man i only have 25 bucks and they took it, i was like yay and he went on to tell me it was only a few months old. can you say score. hehehe.

But really the XP series are real easy to operate and you will enjoy the convenience of them while maintaining them.

Good luck buddy i hope you find a deal like i did.. take care..

[Riiz]

Very nice, I always recommend plants for nutrient control even in non-planted also.

[myswtsins]

Cool sounds like a plan. i have 2 XP3 and 1 marineland C220.

The 2 XP3's are on my 120gal and the C220 is on my 55gal with great results. so yeah i got a good deal on my XP series, i ordered an XP3 from my bros pet shop at cost that was sweet and the same week i was out and about and i noticed a yard sale with tanks and equipment so i did a u-turn and to my amazement they had an XP3 sitting right there on the lawn and i was like i have to have that, they had a 50 buck price on it and i was like man i only have 25 bucks and they took it, i was like yay and he went on to tell me it was only a few months old. can you say score. hehehe.

But really the XP series are real easy to operate and you will enjoy the convenience of them while maintaining them.

Good luck buddy i hope you find a deal like i did.. take care..
SCORE! :) Yeah I got 2 free Eheim 2013s but we see how THAT turned out! :shakehead:

I love my eheim 2213 for the most part but HATE maintaining it, mostly because the media is all in one tall basket.



Very nice, I always recommend plants for nutrient control even in non-planted also.

Thanks. Plants definitely help, not the anubias so much as it is a slow grower but the frogbit certainly helped plus they really finished off the look of the tank IMO.

[Pittbull]

Sweet well sit back and enjoy your setup buddy you deserve it with all the hard work you have done so far..

[myswtsins]

I enjoyed all of the work except arranging the rocks but I am sure that will get better with time. And trust me, I sit and watch the tank for at least an hour a day, usually more.

I finally got my whole family interested in fish too! After months of my family poking fun at my obsession I catch them watching the tank, asking questions & even observing things I had not noticed (like the fact that my dominant male yellow lab has a distinct diagonal black stripe "through" his eyes & no one else does). So I must seize this opportunity and start planning a new bigger tank! :evil_lol:

I found a brand new Rena XP3 for $65 shipped so I will be able to get that media out of the tank soon, YAY!

[Pittbull]

Good job on the deal my friend, i am a sucker for discounts.

I have to agree with you on the hobby and family issue, my wife hasn't a clue on how a tank operates and really doesn't care for that matter but i do hear her when she says ahh isn't that a fish pretty. she has hobby envy hehehe..

Yep i do the same with my tanks as well my hardest issue is what tank do i sit back and enjoy, five tanks in all its sorta a toss up..

[Rbishop]

A great looking tank!

[M. Boona]

The full tank shots look great!

[myswtsins]

Good job on the deal my friend, i am a sucker for discounts.

I have to agree with you on the hobby and family issue, my wife hasn't a clue on how a tank operates and really doesn't care for that matter but i do hear her when she says ahh isn't that a fish pretty. she has hobby envy hehehe..

Yep i do the same with my tanks as well my hardest issue is what tank do i sit back and enjoy, five tanks in all its sorta a toss up..
My family is learning the inner workings of an aquarium, it may be under protest but they are learning. :)


A great looking tank!

The full tank shots look great!
Thank you! I especially like the far away shot.


Since the filter is coming now I have to decide what is going to be a good size to sex everyone and dismantle the beautiful rocks.

[myswtsins]

I found a holding yellow lab today! :D I will take that as a sign that the fish are happy with their home which is very reassuring & relieving. I will let her spit into the tank since it is her first time. Guess this means I need to start working on my grow out tank! :) I have a 29g stainless steel tank (3ft) that I have to reseal.

[Pittbull]

Cool see how hard work pays off congrats on the holding female and yep i would let her spit in that tank with all that awesome rock..

The fry will probably get lost, hehehe..

Later buddy..

[spunjin]

Well, myswtsins, looks like you have a champion African tank. Loved following the build thread and I look forward to following this one as well. Great job.

[myswtsins]

Thanks guys. I'm SO excited! Thanks for the reassurance through it all too because there were times I wanted to push this tank right out the window! :)

Time to go watch my holding female again! :)

[myswtsins]

Whose got babies!?
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1344.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1352.jpg

Took a long time to get pictures of her. She does not like the camera right now. :)

[Pittbull]

Nice photos buddy..

[Istanbul_Kop]

Love the first one. Looks like she has a right gob on her.

[myswtsins]

Thanks guys.

I am pretty certain that the dominant male (Very beautiful!) is the father and she is one of the best looking females too so I hope some fry survive!

Still waiting for the new filter. Guess that is what I get for ordering right around Christmas! :)

[Pittbull]

Oh yes the long dreaded wait, i did the same thing man i ordered a crap load of stuff from ebay and cichlid breeding and i ordered some indian almond leaves for my pygmy gouramis out of Thailand, still waiting phew.....:cry:

[myswtsins]

Maybe Tuesday! I hate waiting. Good luck with your Thailand shipment!

[Pittbull]

Cool deal buddy..

Yeah it should be here in a few days i really want to breed these pyg gouramis..

[Gerber]

Your tank looks awesome!!!Very nice I really like the plants in between the rocks.

[myswtsins]

Thank you! I think the plants made a huge difference in the tank! Now if only I could keep so much algae from growing on them. :)

[Pittbull]

Ok i got rid of my pyg gouramis today i had a group of 6 Lamp. ocellatus gold given to me, man i have been wanting these for some time now yay..

So do you know anyone who needs some Indian almond leaves from Thailand.. hehehe..

[myswtsins]

lol...figures! :) I am glad you got your Lamp. ocellatus gold that you been wanting though! But sorry I don't know anyone who wants some Indian almond leaves.

The guy I bought my filter from JUST shipped it today! I order it on 12/20 and he said he was going to ship it that day. :( So it may be another week before I get it but I think it will arrive earlier then expected (I think he upgraded the shipping to cover up his error).

[Pittbull]

cool deal i like the upgrades when folk mess up hehehe

[efors]

Ok i got rid of my pyg gouramis today i had a group of 6 Lamp. ocellatus gold given to me, man i have been wanting these for some time now yay..

So do you know anyone who needs some Indian almond leaves from Thailand.. hehehe..

Oh my dear Pittbull!...:shakehead:. You change your fishes more than you change your underwear...:screwy:! Anyways, good luck with your new Lamps and enjoy them. And myswtsins, you really have a great, great tank; a beauty!

[Pittbull]

:lol: so true :evil_lol:

[myswtsins]

Thank you very much efors! I am very happy with the look of the tank & am so glad others enjoy it too!

[M. Boona]

Whose got babies!?
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1344.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1352.jpg

Took a long time to get pictures of her. She does not like the camera right now. :)

:hearts: That's awesome! So quickly too, I'm shocked! What's your secret! :p:

[myswtsins]

I am quite surprised by how quickly they spawned too. I am working on a grow out tank right now for future spawning. Secret....hmm algae covered plants & stubborn debris in the water? :)

[Pittbull]

:lol: you'd the fish myswtsins (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=87644)...

[myswtsins]

:lol: you'd the fish myswtsins (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=87644)...

:lol: Thanks! :)

I got my XP3 yesterday, well most of it anyways! It is missing almost the entire output assembly but I am trying to work that out with the Ebay seller, they are not making it easy. I digress! :) I did set it up anyways and the water is much clearer! A lot of little bubbles floating around from the HOB but no debris, YAY!

Momma Lab is doing good, lots of mouth movement & she still looks nice and healthy. And my rustys (the piggies!) have grown a lot!

The anubias are getting a lot of algae though, but the Mbuna keep it under control. They like to nibble on the frogbit but it is now growing faster then they are eating. They do not seem too interested in the new duckweed I added though which I don't understand.

[Pittbull]

Cool deal buddy, i have some left over stuff from my 2 XP3's not much but let me know what happens and if i can help you i will try, yeah stay up on that eBay stuff because i just had a dude from Hong Kong rip me and when i notified eBay they told me i should have asked questions before i made the transaction but to my knowledge that store was shut down as of now kinda of crappy part from eBay thou..

Lessions in life are always special hehehe..

Coolness on the Labs aye, man you added duckweed wow i hope you never tire of it because i here it is pretty invasive in all hard to get rid of..

Pretty much they would have to be starving to eat the amount of green stuffs to suffice them, do you need any other plants like some moss i have tons of extras..

Later buddy have fun..

[myswtsins]

Yea the guy said he is going to TRY to find the missing parts but he was a real jerk so I don't expect much from him. Thanks for the offer I will let you know what happens.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune with Ebay. I heard there were several over seas companies on ebay that were causing problems. This is why I use paypal for everything now. The few problems I have had with ebay were resolved quickly by paypal. Good luck to ya!

When I originally added duckweed it was just mixed in with the frogbit but the Mbuna ate ALL the duckweed without a trace. So I got more duckweed with some more frogbit but this one looks different, slightly different shaped leaves and the underside of it is purple sometimes.
If they don't eat it all it is ok too. I know plenty of people that have turtles that love the stuff! :)

[Pittbull]

Cool deal, yeah i only do pay-pal as well and with buyer protection i am not worried about it but man when i buy something i don't want to wait a few months to get my stuff or my money back, crappy aye..

Well i didn't use all of the stuff that came with mine, what i did use was the tubing and the flow in and out plastic pieces, i didn't use the spray bar stuff..

Cool man make sure you leave neg feed back on him, he deserves it if he is being a jerk, also who is it so that i can stay away from them because i do a lot of purchases on eBay with aquatics and such..

Later buddy..

[myswtsins]

Yeah I hate having to waiting for my money too but it is better then getting totally stiffed. :)

My filter is randomly shooting out bursts of tiny air bubbles. I think the hose clamps are not tight enough or something, gotta look into it more.

My fish are starting to scratch on stuff now too! I am going to add some aquarium salt and do a big WC and see what happens. There is no visible signs of Ich or anything though.

Also my holding female was eating today. :confused: Her throat is still all puffy but she has been out more often and defending her territory all day.

The user name on Ebay was mimile1029. 100% positive feedback but the whole deal was shady. Took 9 days for him to even ship out my filter and after he repeatedly said "sorry, my fault, been really busy" he said that it was Fedex holding it up. Of course I have tracking info and can see that is not true. It was incomplete, soaking wet(!), filthy, was packed in garbage (clothing tags, little plastic asprin wrapper, post-its, tree skrit tags etc.) & when I asked him about it (not threatening anything,yet) he just went off the handle. So now if he does not send me the missing parts asap I will have to take action which I did not plan on doing, I just wanted the rest of my filter. I digress again but I do not understand why people have to be jerks especially "business" people.

[Bre001]

Tank looks awesome!!!!

[Pittbull]

Yeah that sounds pretty messed up dude i would be ticked as well cool i will remember his name for further use thanks buddy..

As for the scratching that could mean your hardness is down a bit as well..
Later buddy..

[pitterpatti]

Hi, I am a lurker on this group.......but was searching on the internet last night and found this post about myswtsins already purchasing from this Ebay seller mimile1029.

I also bought a Rena XP but got it in an email first before buying that it was 99% there. Bought it on March 6th and still hadn't received it as of today. Tai Pham, lives in Tyler TX emailed me after I paid and said he wanted to make sure he had all the stuff for it before he sent it, so it would be a few days. This week I emailed him and asked for the tracking number and he said he lost it. I told him to contact UPS as they could help him get it. He disappeared for a couple more days then, so I emailed that I was taking the nondelivered item to Ebay and Paypal at the end of Friday. He did a few FU's and this is America and he can do what he wants, blah blah. So I initiated a claim. He finally gave me the transaction number later friday evening after being contacted by Paypal. The package had an exception in Irving Tx for a week, and if he had only checked on it, I would have it by now. I am scheduled to get it Monday. If it is not 99% there or in bad shape, I am telling him I want a refund. I think he will do it just to get rid of the hassle. He really thought he could do anything he wanted, but I explained the legally binding contract stuff, ebay rules, etc to him. I think he is surprised. I have never met someone so ignorant of professionalism on ebay. And what a rude, horribly cursing jerk.......

What is really great though is he emailed very nicely and asked that I take the hold off his payment. I told him I had nothing to do with it and to contact paypal or his bank. Haa! so my claim must have put a hold on it. I do see that a few others bought stuff yesterday....... I hope they get what they think they are getting.

Oh, this guys favorite line is "I will give you negative feedback if you give me negative feedback". I have it 3 times in emails. Abuse, and exploitation.

OH fun!

[AfroCichlid]

Wow, some people are just amazing. When it comes to aquarium equipment you've really got to do the research on the seller. Sometimes even then it doesn't work out. Reading about Myswtsins' experience ( aspirin wrappers, post-its, lol. Is a newspaper really that expensive? They throw free ones I don't want on my lawn twice a week! ), and yours ( delays, threats, etc. ), will ensure that I won't be buying from that seller, good feedback rating or not. Thanks.
Keep us updated, I would like to hear what sort of goodies he packages your shipment with.

[Pittbull]

yeah sounds like we all have a Pham in each state also that last name is famous or common Vietnamese name i had the pleasure of arresting one for scams and dangerous activities..

[myswtsins]

So I have been MIA for a while now and today I got some new additions to the tank so figured it was a good time to pop in!

First of all in regards to the whole jerk on Ebay, I have been in contact with numerous people that are having the same issue, but still no negative feedback for some reason! I am just SO thankful to pitbull for sending me a couple of the missing parts and getting that guy out of my life, Thanks again pitbull! Moving on....

I have been having some trouble with red/brush algae (I think) in the tank, mostly on the anubias. I have cut back lighting to only a few hours a day and only 55 watts of 50/50 as well as increased water changes (50% every 4-5 days) and there seems to be a small improvement. Only time will tell I guess. The fish have not grown in well over a month, hopefully some extra water changes will jump start that again too.

BIG/GOOD NEWS time! I have at least one .5" baby yellow lab (out of 6 different holdings) It is only 1 but it is a start. And I picked up some new additions today, 1 red-tail shark (beautiful!) and 2 skunk botias. I went in with the intentions of buying 1 featherfin (syno eupterus) and a few pictus (Pimelodus pictus) catfish. They did not have any pictus and after discussing it with my buddy at LFS I decided against syno cats (they are not the prettiest cats and they hide all the time). I am super happy to be a loach owner! Although I think I am gonna go back a get a few more since they like groups.

I will take pictures later and post because everyone wants pictures not my rambling! :)

[myswtsins]

I have got to get a new camera! Not being able to zoom (because it would not focus) was bad enough but now it just won't focus. :( Here are the best ones I could get.

Start with one of my fav types in the tank. Not the dominant males but still pretty! (the same fish)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1509.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1511.jpg


My rustys finally have some nice colors to them! Down farther is a good shot of their colors.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1512.jpg
In this one you can see my holding Maingano popping her head out too. (top right)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1524.jpg

If I had to pick 1 single fish to keep it would be this guy...
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1519.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1520.jpg

I didn't get any good pics of the labs but one of the moms wanted to say Hi!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1521.jpg

And the Acei together as always! One of them is significantly smaller than the others though.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1526.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1527.jpg

Took a long time to get a decent pic of the albinos
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1530.jpg

And the baby! Of course the camera does not zoom or focus but this sadly was the best out of the 10 pics I tried to take of it. :)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1532.jpg
And then mom said no more!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1533.jpg

The view from the couch
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1537.jpg

And a sort of random one, notice the great colors the rustys in the back have though.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1523.jpg

The QT tank for the shark & loaches with my new java fern mat which is most likely replace the anubias (not doing to well with algae)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1538.jpg

No pics of the new guys yet though, I did not want to bother them but you can see the red-tail's tail in the shot.

Looking at some older pictures really shows how much they have not grown. Some of course have grow a lot (certain aceis & rustys) but not others, not at all. The yellow labs have been in the tank for nearly 6 months and have grown an average of a 1/2 inch, is that normal?

[efors]

Looking at some older pictures really shows how much they have not grown. Some of course have grow a lot (certain aceis & rustys) but not others, not at all. The yellow labs have been in the tank for nearly 6 months and have grown an average of a 1/2 inch, is that normal?

Hi and welcome back, myswtsins!
First: Your tank and fishes are still awesome!
Second: About the growing issue, remember that your tank is pretty heavily stocked (46 fishes in a 72gal bowfront tank); so if those are still the numbers, your fishes are going to grow slowly. So, I have to say that I feel a little bit afraid about adding a RTBS and 2 botias in that tank. Good luck, buddy!

[myswtsins]

Thanks for the welcome & the complement!

Good point about slow growing. Some of them did double in size (OBs) within a couple weeks then stopped. Guess I reached a growth spurt limit. :)

Why are you afraid of adding the red-tail and the botias?

[efors]

Well, I'm not sure if it is a good idea to add more fishes in your heavily stocked tank; how are the nitrate levels? Also, about the RTBS I have read about cases where they have been beaten by mbunas and others where they are too boisterous, chasing and intimidating the mbunas all the time. As for the botias, I'm not so sure they are going to be safe.

[myswtsins]

The current stock load is just for sexing purposing. Once they are big enough they will be sexed to a 1:4 ratio, most likely less depending on what I actually end up with. So the total will be no more than 30 mbunas.

From what I have researched and been told no matter what fish I add to the tank there is a chance they may be too aggressive or too timid so I have to try to add something. :) (every experience is different from tank to tank, fish to fish.)

I know a couple people that have RTBS & skunk botias in with mbunas (1 has nearly an identical stock list) and have had great success. "What works for one person may not work for another" of course that is why I will add them with caution just as I would any other additions. It will be a month before they go in the big tank anyways (QT time) so by that time I should have a better idea of how they will do.

I am certainly giving it second thoughts now though, (more like 102nd thoughts) thanks for your concern. My research/other's experience indicated these guys would do well in a Mbuna tank. :(

[BoCoMo]

Thanks for the update!!!! - Beautiful fish and tank!

[myswtsins]

Thanks BoCoMo!

[Pittbull]

What up myswtsins (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=87644) no problem, I see all is well with you and your fish cool deal, yeah i have to agree with you what works for one person may not the other, i just took back a pair of punk skunk loaches they were mean..

But cool that all is well with the fish and tanks along with the super spaz that sold you the filter which BTW did those parts do good for you, cool i cant wait for your Rusty's to breed are you going to hook me up still with some fry.. take care

[efors]

Anyways, I think you are going in the right direction and also knowing what to do, myswtsins! Good luck with your new additions.

[ChrisK]

looking very nice.

[myswtsins]

What up myswtsins (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=87644) no problem, I see all is well with you and your fish cool deal, yeah i have to agree with you what works for one person may not the other, i just took back a pair of punk skunk loaches they were mean..

But cool that all is well with the fish and tanks along with the super spaz that sold you the filter which BTW did those parts do good for you, cool i cant wait for your Rusty's to breed are you going to hook me up still with some fry.. take care

Yeah the moment I turned the light on last night the skunks were chasing and clicking like crazy, very interesting little guys. I think I am gonna go and grab a couple more today to keep aggression within their group.

Parts much appreciated and working well! As far as the rusty's go, breeding might be difficult if they all end up being males! :) Right now they all have beautiful male colors and no mating dances yet but we will see. Of course if get any fry you will taken care of!


Anyways, I think you are going in the right direction and also knowing what to do, myswtsins! Good luck with your new additions.
Thanks efors! I try to do as much research as possible but we all know how they can turn out, that is why I love hearing everyone's opinion here.

looking very nice.
Thanks ChrisK!

[AfroCichlid]

I love the FTS. More! Great aquascape and nice placement for viewing. Acei were always a favorite of mine for that schooling type behavior.

[Pittbull]

Cool thanks myswtsins..

[arapaimag]

Really nice set up and great rock formation.....

[Jakezori]

what is that substrate called? what other substrates do mbunas like?

[efors]

Substrates for mbunas: sand, aragonite and crushed coral are the 3 more used.

[Jakezori]

Substrates for mbunas: sand, aragonite and crushed coral are the 3 more used.

The only problem is... im really really not a fan of very small substrate. I like larger substrate that a python hose wont pick up. What substrate did he have in his awuarium and is it too light?

[myswtsins]

Sorry I did not realize this thread got bumped.


Really nice set up and great rock formation.....
Thank you! Unfortunately the rock formation will change soon once I pull it all out to sex them. :headshake2:


The only problem is... im really really not a fan of very small substrate. I like larger substrate that a python hose wont pick up. What substrate did he have in his awuarium and is it too light?

It is Tahitian moon sand. It is very small and very light. Mbunas prefer a small grain substrate. It is a pain to gravel vac it but I just graze the surface with the GV and then stirs it with my hand. Actually I am thinking about adding some MTS snails to help sift the sand.

BTW, I am a girl. :)

Since I am here, here is the only picture I got on my RTBS. It was the second day he was home so his colors are not that nice yet but he has colored up very nicely since then. I can't stand my camera anymore so no pics of the skunk botias yet.

[Pittbull]

Thats a cool red tail..

[myswtsins]

Thats a cool red tail..
I am not sure how I did not see this but thanks! :)


So today I ripped my whole tank apart to catch and sex all my mbuna. All I can say is that stacking irregular shaped rocks securely has NOTHING on catching Mbunas! :) So I pulled 20 extra males from the tank, every single one of my Rustys was male! :mad2: So I have decided to omit them from the final lineup. I did add 1 male rusty back into the tank before I realized that there were none in the female bin so I will have to chase him down again. Here is what I was left with...

1:3 Lab. caeruleus (Lion's Cove I)
1:3 Ps. socolofi (Albino)
1:0 I. sprengerae (Rusty) Tempoarily!!
1:1 Ps. "Acei" (Msuli)
1:5 Mel. cyaneorhabdos (Maingano)
1:3 Met. estherae (OB) (OB Red Zebras)

So once I get that last Rusty out the only group that needs attention is the Acei (my favorite!). I only need 2-3 females, think I could add only 2-3 2" females to the tank with the 2.25"-4.50" inhabitants without any injuries? The biggest in the tank IS the male acei btw. I would be concerned with conspecies aggression usually but the Acei are super cool, always schooling together, even the 5 males in the all male "for sale" tank are schooling still! This is why they are my fav though...and their adorable grumpy face too! :)

Total number of fish will be about 22 Mbuna, 1 BN, 1 RTBS, 2 skunk loaches. 22 Mbuna is a little lighter than planned for overstocking, should I add another group? or some haps or something?

The For Sale tank is awesome looking though! Wayyyyy over stocked but only temporary (hopefully all being pickup with the next 2 weeks!). 20 3"-4" fish in a 30g!! :uhoh: It is a 3ft tank at least!

Next pics are of the sorry state of the main tank being thrown back together! VERY temporary, hoping to add the new females ASAP and will rescape at that time. Don't mind all the hard spot algae on the back glass please, it has been hidden by the rock tower until now. :)

Last pics are of the monster Acei. He is at least twice the size of the next largest fish in the tank, why he grew so much faster I just don't know but I like it! :)

[Pittbull]

Cool that is a sweet Acei.. I just placed 11 of them in my 120gal Tang Community for Dithers and a reason for my Synodontis Multipunct's to breed..

I would just add a larger colony of Acei instead of a new colony of something different..

[myswtsins]

I think I agree with you about the larger group of Acei. It is nice seeing a species stick together in this setup, very unlike everyone else in the tank.

[efors]

Great job done, myswtsins! I think you will not have any problems adding 2-3 female aceis; their conspecific behavior is excellent as you pointed out. Also, I think that yes, you can add another fish group in the tank; but with the species you have already, IMO it's better to stay with mbunas. They can be too aggressive to haps or peacocks.

[Pittbull]

Yeah all of my Acei's stay together..

[myswtsins]

Great job done, myswtsins! I think you will not have any problems adding 2-3 female aceis; their conspecific behavior is excellent as you pointed out. Also, I think that yes, you can add another fish group in the tank; but with the species you have already, IMO it's better to stay with mbunas. They can be too aggressive to haps or peacocks.

Thanks efors for your continued support and input! I figured the mbunas would be too much on haps or peacocks but thought I'd through it out there. When I started my research for this tank I TOTALLY ignored anything not Mbuna, stayed very focus so I only know the few things I've happened to hear around here about haps or peacocks.

Now where to buy just a few small female acei, that's the hard part! :) I am gonna try to strike a deal with Atlantis Fish Hatchery since I bought most of my fish from them in the first place.

[efors]

Now where to buy just a few small female acei, that's the hard part! :) I am gonna try to strike a deal with Atlantis Fish Hatchery since I bought most of my fish from them in the first place.

Well, good luck with your search for them!:thm:

[myswtsins]

Thank you! :)

[ibr3ak]

Nice, the second pic with low light looks awesome :)

[f|sH gUy]

nice tank great color on the labs!

[Pittbull]

It does look pretty cool girl great job..

[myswtsins]

Thanks everyone! I really like the way the low light picture turned out too. I think I finally found a setting that works well! :)

[Razzo]

Here is what I was left with...

1:3 Lab. caeruleus (Lion's Cove I)
1:3 Ps. socolofi (Albino)
1:0 I. sprengerae (Rusty) Tempoarily!!
1:1 Ps. "Acei" (Msuli)
1:5 Mel. cyaneorhabdos (Maingano)
1:3 Met. estherae (OB) (OB Red Zebras)

Very nice - they all look great. I especiall like the Maingano and the Acei.

Are these wild caught fish?

Beautiful :thumbsup:

[myswtsins]

Thank you!

I honestly do not know. :) I bought them from Atlantis Fish Hatchery (they sell wild caught and pond raised) & I never asked when I bought them, wish I had though! Some have absolutely stunning colors while others have major "defects" all within the same batch of fish so I can't even take an educated guess at it.
Not like it matter because no one will buy my fish anyways! :( Yes I still have ALL the males for sale & wow does the main tank look empty now. :)

I have been completely sick for over a week now! Blah! Once I get back on my feet I plan to rearrange the tank some & maybe add a few female Acei (IF my guy at the LFS comes through for me). So better pictures coming soon!

[efors]

We are waiting for those next pics!

[myswtsins]

Can't keep efors waiting, must think healthy thoughts!! :)

[Pittbull]

I would keep him waiting granpa efors is cranky lately hehehehe..

[colematthewmala]

beautiful tank i like the yellow labs thats what i have in my malawi tank.

[efors]

I would keep him waiting granpa efors is cranky lately hehehehe..

:irked:...Look who said this! A rabbit is accusing a donkey for being long-eared. :shakehead:

[Pittbull]

hehehe you my buddy efors..

[myswtsins]

Thanks colematthewmala, the labs seem to be a big hit with everyone.


:irked:...Look who said this! A rabbit is accusing a donkey for being long-eared. :shakehead:
:rofl:

Looks like I am gonna have to keep you waiting though, sorry! :D

[efors]

OK, then I will stay cranky... I mean, waiting!!!

[myswtsins]

Still no rescape yet! I have been waiting to disturb the tank until my mbuna sold because I have to catch 1 more guy anyways. Problem is that 4 people back to back now have asked I hold the fish while they get their tanks setup and then stiff me! Now I am the cranky one here. :)

On to happier news! I got sick of never having any fry survive after being released into the main tank so I seized the chance to catch a holding albino socolofi and put her in a seperate tank to spit. 14 fry were released! Tomorrow they will be a week old. They have been feeding on fresh brine shrimp, cucumber & I tried a little crushed flake last night.

Pictures are a little clearer if you click them.
Day 1
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1733.jpg

This morning eating some BBS (I use a flashlight to attract the BBS & the fry come running!)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1742.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1743.jpg

It seems odd that I can not sell my current fish but am trying to raise more right? I am hoping to get a few more females of each species & just sell the few extra male juvis really cheap. Although I currently have relisted my subadults at about $8.33 a piece and still no luck, anyone want some fish? :D

On Monday I have 1 or 2 OB zebras moms that will be ready to be pulled so I plan to rescape the tank then....let's hope!

[Pittbull]

Cool deal yeah you will learn that some people will stiff you in a split second.. Good job on the fry and nice photos.. Also you may have to come down to five bucks a fish to sell them.. take care..

[myswtsins]

Thanks pittbull! Hmm you told me to sell them for $12 just a little while back. :) I paid more than $5 for them when they were 1/3 the size, only a few cents more but still that was a bulk discount. All but 1 of them are 3.5"+. I know times are hard but I am selling these for less than what I am paying for little juvis, some places online are charging $20+ each and that doesn't include shipping. :)

[efors]

Congrats for the fry! Nice looking little guys those albino Ps. socolofi!

[myswtsins]

Thanks efors! The bigger my adults get the more I love them, the male always has his fins spread & is just gorgeous! And of course anything in miniature size is just that much better! :D

[Pittbull]

Oh yeah i understand but if there not moving than you will have to come down a bit hehehe sorry.. Or you can do buy 2 get the third free or a penny deal.. marketing is the illusion that someone is getting a deal ..

[AfroCichlid]

IMO you're never going to move them trying to sell them at retail prices. I never had success selling Mbuna... doesn't mean you won't, but you might have better luck with local pet stores, and even then you might end up with store credit rather than cash. I haven't paid for food or ferts in months on fish trade ins, but these are 1" ers and usually Brichardi or Geophagus Brasiliensis. Works for me.

[myswtsins]

I totally understand what you guys are saying & I agree I can't get retail prices for them, that is why I am selling them for nearly 70% less than retail prices. :)

I wish my local stores would take trades in, even for store credit. I have tried 5 different LFS (2 over 45 minutes away) and none will take any fish trade ins, a couple won't even take returns. 2 stores won't even just take em for free!

I have several new hits on the new price, we will see if any follow through. I have now had more than a dozen people arrange for pickup & either never show up on the pickup day or cancel at the last minute. Buyers remorse is setting in awfully early these days. :)

[AfroCichlid]

Are you using Craigslist? I got rid of a lot of fry that way. Local pick-up, and you can preview the homes. I always posted the requirements and asked about folks' setups. I still never made a " profit " though. After raising fry to 1" it's tough to make back what you've invested in foods. The best sellers are rare fish.... I've had success with Tanganyikans and Eartheaters. Mbuna are tough to sell. Good luck though, I hope you find a reliable buyer.

[myswtsins]

Yeah I have posted on craigslist & several other websites too, maybe 6 or so. Craigslist has been a nightmare! A lot of pervs...:uhoh:

I am not looking to make a profit really, just trying to get my money back on all my extra males (bought juvis, grew them out, sexed them into breeding groups). I am WAY in the negative at $8 each when you include food & electric. If I were to sell fish for profit it certainly would not be Mbuna, learned that the hard way. :D Thanks for your advice & support!

[austinpetemo]

pervs? o god. im scared to buy my amp from there now lol. what do you mean?

[Pittbull]

yeah you have to watch craigs list full of perv's and serial killers..

[myswtsins]

I mean pervs, creepy guys! :) One guys would not stop calling me & my friend after buying some aquariums awhile back, saying really creepy things (I think he thought he was being smooth). Yesterday I had another guy keep emailing me (AFTER he said he did not want the fish anymore) asking to go out sometime, talking about his hot car and blah blah blah. Pittbull is right, gotta watch out! Needless to say I have never let any craigslist people pick up directly from my house. :D

[AfroCichlid]

I mean pervs, creepy guys! :) One guys would not stop calling me & my friend after buying some aquariums awhile back, saying really creepy things (I think he thought he was being smooth). Yesterday I had another guy keep emailing me (AFTER he said he did not want the fish anymore) asking to go out sometime, talking about his hot car and blah blah blah. Pittbull is right, gotta watch out! Needless to say I have never let any craigslist people pick up directly from my house. :D

Lol, I didn't think of the gender aspect of Craigslisting. Being male, I risk only getting scammed by Nigerian Princesses ( whom I currently support three ), and male enhancement ads.
You however, are the perfect candidate for the Creepy Fish Geek Stalker. They find out you breed fish and next thing you know they're watching you do water changes though your window. I know I would.

[austinpetemo]

wow what freaks. at least im a guy so the chance of stalking is alot less.

[myswtsins]

Lol, I didn't think of the gender aspect of Craigslisting. Being male, I risk only getting scammed by Nigerian Princesses ( whom I currently support three ), and male enhancement ads.
You however, are the perfect candidate for the Creepy Fish Geek Stalker. They find out you breed fish and next thing you know they're watching you do water changes though your window. I know I would.

Oh no, Afro is one of them! :thud:

[ibr3ak]

lol he's just looking for a stalker.

[austinpetemo]

if someone stalked me i think id punch them in the face.

[AfroCichlid]

Oh no, Afro is one of them! :thud:
" yeah, so those labidichromis you have... are they Lion's Cove? Cuz I think Lion's Cove have this, I don't know... sensuality about them. I don't really want to buy any, but I'd love to vacuum your gravel, perhaps over a raspberry Martini? " - The Fish-Geek Continental

[Pittbull]

Dude Ethan do i need to worry about you now hehehe yeah i let those folks on craigslist know i am police and they dont think twice about screwing around usually scares them off and they avoid me hehehehe at any rate i hope you are correct austin do not under estimate anyone bro your young..

[austinpetemo]

unless shes hot lol....... with my luck it would be some old micheal jackson like guy and id have to punch him in the face. people are freaks these days, its amazing how the world has gotten. you cant even sell fish without weirdos messin with you.

[myswtsins]

" yeah, so those labidichromis you have... are they Lion's Cove? Cuz I think Lion's Cove have this, I don't know... sensuality about them. I don't really want to buy any, but I'd love to vacuum your gravel, perhaps over a raspberry Martini? " - The Fish-Geek Continental

:lol: The scary thing is that is similar to what creepy guy #1 would say, about how fish turned him on.

You can never be too careful these days, that's for sure. I always try to bring a buddy & I always let someone know exactly where I am going.

[AfroCichlid]

True. I guess I sort of take it for granted. I'll post in the free section when we throw something out. I like to time them. They've been here to grab a crusty old garage couch within 15 minutes of posting before.
On the flip side though, I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable with my wife being home alone.

[Pittbull]

so agree

[myswtsins]

Upon pulling out all the rock to rescape I discovered my UGJ was not working (sand!) so I decided I obviously did not need it. I pulled it out and replaced it with a full egg crate bottom which gives me SOOO much more freedom in rock placement.

But I just could not decide what to do with this tank! Lace rock & slate looked cool but was so hard to stack, slate alone looked to uniform so even though I don't have enough lace rock I went with just lace rock in a slope. So here is the start of the rescape.

FTS (view from loveseat)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1794.jpg

Left side
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1796.jpg

Right side
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1798.jpg

View from the couch
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1799.jpg

Another angle, sort of after you walk in the front door
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1800.jpg

Plans include the addition of fake plants & a rubble pile in the right corner for fry to hide in. I also am getting rid of the HOB because I HATE it (it wouldn't restart after the WC, like always, so I just didn't bother with it) & I need to find a way to hide the blue XP3 intake tube.

I only have 20 Mbuna in this tank right now which is about 10 short of my plans (stupid extra males!). I'm trying to grow out some babies to add later but right now the tank is pretty empty! I must say the aggression level has increase dramatically since I removed the 21 extra males & there is nearly no aggression in in my 30g where they are being housed, overstocking is GOOD! :D

[AfroCichlid]

I wish lace rock wasn't so heavy, I'd ship you a ton. I like the rockscape, but when I look at that empty spot on the right it screams " Shellie Pit! " to me. Must be the Tang nut in me. I think I would try to enlarge the cave openings a bit and continue it across the whole tank. If you stack the larger pieces at the bottom and build up, adding mid size pieces and then the smaller ones to close caves off or cap top pieces it seems to work well.
Either way it looks great. I like to rearrange my rock-work every now and then just to give it a different look. I love the black substrate, btw.

[mr.cichlid]

myswtsins, that is an awesome looking tank...i really like the pile slope at the end...and i agree with afrocichlid...it wud look good and also help fishes if the cave openings are bigger...

i really like the OB zebra you got in there...very nice...

[myswtsins]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I bought most of my lace rock by mail because my LFS wanted $6 per lb! I paid $1.50 per lb and had it delivered to my door, much better!

I'd love to open the caves some more but all my pieces are so darn small! I only have 3 pieces that are over 9" long. A lot of those pieces are just barely touching each other to make decent caves.

But there are a lot of caves & about 10 good sized ones that my 5.25" Acei gets in & out of with room to spare. Besides by the time they grow up I will be rearranging the tank again anyways! :p: I have been looking into making my own rock actually. Something I little lighter and semi-sectional for easy dismantling.

That blank spot would be a GREAT shellie pit but I am already unhappy with the "+ scavengers" ruining the purity of my Mbuna tank. :) Don't worry I will get into Tangs soon enough!

Mr. cichlid - Thanks. I have 2 male OBs with great marking that I can't decide on which one to keep. :) I prefer the really orange color of the subdominate males, the dominant ones always get that blue sheen to them and it makes them look washed out.

[myswtsins]

I picked I'm feeling lucky on youtube and the same song came up every time so that is what you get! Better than the loud water and fan noises! :D Of course watch them is HQ if you can!

1st video is of my 2 week old albino socolofi fry at feeding time.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GiVrabiA0_A&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GiVrabiA0_A&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object

2nd video is so bad I am embarrassed to post it! Camera insisted on focusing on the algae on the glass instead of the fish. :D I caught them at the end of breeding but at 1:17 you'll see a few eggs.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8JnREVRm9g4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8JnREVRm9g4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

3rd video I cleaned the glass :D
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QWVmJA55VKo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QWVmJA55VKo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[myswtsins]

Audio doesn't seem to be working properly, at least for me, so mind the loud background noise. :)

[Pittbull]

cool yeah you have to fool with the sounds a bit til you understand it i had the same issue.. nonetheless great vid's

[efors]

I really like the re-decor you have done in that tank. I also wish you good luck with the future labs fry.

[myswtsins]

Thanks guys!

[myswtsins]

2.5 week old albino socolofi. Not a great video but I just can't believe how fast they are growing! They are about 5/8" now except the new runt that I found hiding in my Mommy tank, he is maybe 1/2" & very timid. You can see the runt on top of the 2nd rock in the beginning of the video & at the end.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FDeZ9KWjckY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FDeZ9KWjckY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


22 OB fry, 3 days old, with their full tummies! I am hoping to get some nice blotched female from this bunch.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_1823.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_1825.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_1826.jpg

I have seen many mixed age fry tanks but everything I read says that if they are more than a week apart don't mix them because the old ones will harass the young ones to death. These guys & the albinos are 2wks apart, what do you guys think? I think I am going to have to setup another tank. :) OR at least divide one. I should also have yellow lab fry in a little over 2 weeks....:duh:

[ibr3ak]

I've got my 4 week old yellow lab fry with a 2 week old acei fry, the labs poked the aceis in the first few seconds when I put them together, but other than that they all stay to themselves now. And aceis are 2-3 times smaller than the labs.

[efors]

Yeah, I would keep them separated; myswtsins. IME, mbuna fry are rough with younger ones of even the same species. But maybe it was because I had just very few fry together, not enough to spread aggression efficiently.

[ibr3ak]

Yeah I think the numbers play some part in it, I've got about 15 labs and 30+ aceis, was afraid of the labs mistaking the aceis for food, because they were smaller and a darker color.

I've actually added about 10 aceis at first to see what the labs would do and after everything seemed fine I dumped them all in.

[efors]

Cool. Maybe the species play some part in it too. Will the socolofi fry behave as well as the lab or acei fry? Good luck with your fry, myswtsins and ibr3ak!

[ibr3ak]

Thanks efors :)

I think it's always a gamble, if it was me I'd probably drop a few guinea pigs in with the older fry and see what happens.

[efors]

Then myswtsins, you have 2 good alternatives:
1. Drop in a few OB fry with the socolofi fry to see what happens.
2. Raise them separately; which could be the expensive alternative... but maybe the safer.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

[myswtsins]

Thank you guys! I'll see if I can squeeze another tank in amongst the 7 already in my bedroom. :D I have plenty of spare tanks but filters, pumps & space are starting to run out. I'm gonna need a fish shed soon!

[myswtsins]

I got my order from Kensfish today, no freebies though & it took 5 days for him to actually ship it out. :( I love kensfish so it really doesn't matter much! :) Anyway, that means I got my supplies to setup my grow out tank.

Obviously you can tell from the pictures that I decided to go with a divided tank. I was hoping to get 3 sections out of the 3ft tank but I think they will grow better with the extra space & I will just have to keep the next batch of fry (yellow labs) in a 10g.


FTS - hard to get a decent picture cause the tank is shoved in a little alcove, floating plants are just temp. came from fry tank
Click on the photos for BIG picture mode! (EDIT- or not....I uploaded them to photobucket in HUGE size but it doesn't get huge here, they were huge when I was trying to write the post.....????)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_1912.jpg

Albinos - growth has slowed a little but I expect it to pick up again now that they have more space. Some have some distinct barring is that a bad thing? Quality wise
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100B1850.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_1832.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_1833.jpg

OBs - This is the first time the poor little OBs have been out of that stupid breeder net! They are so cute! Some have almost completely black eyes while others have almost completely silver/iridescent eyes, very cool. 1st pic is just to show how dark some of them are (really hoping for lots of blotches!!!!)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100B1863.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100B1870.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100B1871.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100B1880.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100B1881.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100B1882.jpg

They seem to like each other lol They have been hanging out on the sides of the divider most of the time. Enjoy!

[efors]

All those kids are looking great!

[Pittbull]

cool babies..

[myswtsins]

Thanks, I am addicted to these guys! It is to be expected though, technically these are the first fry I am raising. I had babies before but they just stayed in the tanks with the other fish.

[myswtsins]

So I picked up some more rubble for the fry hideout & got some free plants so I updated the tank. I still need some more lace rock but it looks much fuller now at least. One of my light bulbs broke so the pictures are a little dark, much darker then IRL.

Before (And when both lights were working)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1794.jpg

After
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1958.jpg

Just a bunch FTS so you can see all the fish out and about.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1959.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1960.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1960.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1962.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1963.jpg

Female M. cyanerhabdos
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1982.jpg

Now all the rest of the pictures are dark, sorry.

Male OB Red Zebra - he has more a bluish tint than it appears, he is becoming quite beautiful. You can tell how much bluer he is than the females in the FTS
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1965.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1966.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1969.jpg

Male Albino Socolofi - couldn't get a decent picture because he is a bit of a bully, always chasing everyone away from his rockpile
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1971.jpg

Dominant male acei - hangs out in the dark side a lot or is chasing the other , now know to be, male SO this is all you get. :) But you see lots of him in the FTS
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1975.jpg

Holding Lab - 24 days and she has been hanging out by the fry pile, yay!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1977.jpg

Female BN - I couldn't believe she came out! Best I could get with the crappy light.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1980.jpg
This pic is actually of the BN in the java ferns but everyone got in the way. :)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1983.jpg

Dominant skunk loach - used a different setting which gives me more light but less clarity but look how big he is!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_1984.jpg


I am really happy with the new setup now, I wasn't at all for awhile. Especially comparing it to my old setup, which is currently in a little contest on this site (I'm excited!).

In case anyone was wondering how the non mbunas are doing in tank......
I love the skunk loaches & they are doing great! They rarely fight with each other, only 2 in this size tank gives them some decent terriotry, & they are fast so the Mbuna don't bother them...well for Mbunas anyways. :)

The RTS does gets beat up a little from time to time but nothing major. He is ALWAYS out and moves very gently which is nice in this tank.

The BN of course is doing great too. I have seen her defend her cave before so I have no worries about her! She is rarely out but that just makes her appearances that much better! I love plecos but hate the poop so she is perfect!

[myswtsins]

Wow, no responses...that's not good! Well I bought 32 more lbs of lace rock today which means I have some power washing to do! :cry: So the tank will change again soon to try to open up the caves some more. Any feedback? Other than learn how to use a camera. :)

Oh BTW, I won TOTM for my previous layout! I can't believe it!! I am super happy and a bit sad at the same time because I miss that setup.

[RDTigger]

Just found this thread...

picked up an 80g Perfecto bowfront with TPool2 sump and was looking for ideas.. so much good in this thread.. please update..

[xDetroitMetalx]

Your pictures are waaaaaay to large, I can't even see it all without scrolling : (

[myswtsins]

Thanks RDTigger & good luck with your tank!

xDetroitMetalX - Sorry about that! If you refresh the page it seems to fix the problem.

So I bought 6 new boulders to help open up the caves and they worked well. I still need to put some more greenery in there but I'm beat!
The pictures don't show all the caves naturally because some are in the back, under neath, sideways or just hidden in shadow. 1st picture is horrible but shows the caves pretty well & the last photo is just cause she was sitting still. :)

[Pittbull]

I think your tank looks great..

[efors]

I really like how your tank is looking now, myswtsins!

[ibr3ak]

I think your tank looks great..

I think I agree :D

[RDTigger]

So what is your current stock list in the main tank...?

I am getting close to putting the pieces together on my own identical setup and have this on my list...



6 L. caruleas (pre-ordered)
6-8 Acei's
Proto's between spilontus/solo..



Just trying to put the colors together... but have been disappointed in not finding a supply of 3M Black fine sand.:huh:

How many #of THMS do you have in your 72g mystwins?

[mr.cichlid]

your tanks looks awesome...nice pile of rock to a very decent height...
all your rock background is dark and the fish are nice and colorful...it looks perfect...

do you block light from the sides too? also what types of plants do u have in there???

[myswtsins]

Thanks guys! As long as I have Pitbull, efors & ibr3aks approval I am happy. :) If Coler pops in that's a super bonus!!

Current stocklist is..... (1 male per group except acei)

4 - Lab. caeruleus (Lion's Cove I)
4 - Ps. socolofi (Albino)
2 - Ps. "Acei" (Msuli) Both males unfortuately
6 - Mel. cyaneorhabdos (Maingano)
4 - Met. estherae (OB) (OB Red Zebras)
2 - Skunk Loaches
1 - Redtail shark
1 - BN pleco
And ZERO babies! Someone loves to eat fry in this tank because hundreds of babies have been released but none survive.

I am currently growing out OBs, albino socolofi & acei (thanks to pitbull!) to add some females to my groups. I have a holding yellow lab & cyaneorhabdos separated from the main tank too.

I have 60lbs of Tahitian moon sand, I had to dig through old post to find that out though. :D And I was just in Pawley's Island looking at houses for my friend! She ended up buying a house in Murrell's Inlet though.

[myswtsins]

Thanks mr.cichlid! I originally had 2 55 watt AHsupply kits on this tank for real plants but my water grows algae much better than plants so the real plants had to go. Then I broke one of the bulbs anyways so now I just use 1 55 watt 50/50 bulb centered over the tank.

Plants are all fake right now. I had a java fern in there but it was just dying so I removed it.

[mr.cichlid]

how are you able to stock the rock that high...are u using any glue? do u have a side shot of the tank...just wondering how the front wall is supported in the back...

[myswtsins]

I start with a wide solid base and just work my way up, no glue. :) It takes me a long time, this time was about 2 hours. The rocks are not supported in the back in anyway, I think 1 might be touching but I really try not to have the rocks touch the glass. I do have egg crate on the bottom though. Trust me I have been looking for the secret of rock piling and have yet to find one. The best advice I can give you is have patience!

I will go takes some side shots now.

[mr.cichlid]

thanks!
i have egg crate in my tank...i have the same rock...i want to pile up the rock to a decent height in the middle and want to add plants on both the sides..i was thinking about amazon swords...do u think they wud work???
i have installed UGJ recently its going great...i just need to find a nice sand sifting fish and will be adding a BN pleco soon...

[myswtsins]

It is hard to tell from the photos but none of those rocks are touching the back glass, you can see that the heater is back there towards the bottom. I tried to get a top down shot to show how much room there is to swim too.

1st photo is the left side but you can't see much with the plant there.

[myswtsins]

The only plants I know of that can be kept with mbunas is java ferns, anubias & some vals. Every tank is different though so even those don't not always work.

UGJ do work well, I loved how clean mine kept the tank but I they were getting too much sand in them (need to raise them higher) & constricted where my rock pile could be so removed it. Honestly I do not not see a huge difference because when the fish swim around and chase each other it has the same affect as the pumps. :)

[blue2fyre]

Beautiful tank and fish! I love the rock. I couldn't find lace rock near me so I went with granite cobblestone. Looks quite different but still nice :)
I ended up having to do fake plants in my mbuna tank as well. They just kept shredding everything I put in there. Now it looks a lot better though somehow they keep taking my plastic plants apart as well lol.

[myswtsins]

Thanks blue! I love your rocks too though! When I am need of another change I will either go with a large round stone like yours or that speckled granite blocky looking stone. My next major money spending project will be a pond though. :D

Mbunas love to rearrange & uproot stuff! You can always count on that. :)

[mr.cichlid]

myswtsins, thanks for the pics...it looks great...i agree ugj leads to deep sand bed (if aesthetics are important)...i am still thinking it over how to set everything right...currently i am running UGJ and a koralia powerhead 3 too...but my UGJ pushes sand over to a corner and i am not liking it...need to rearrange stuff a little bit....

[efors]

Thanks guys! As long as I have Pitbull, efors & ibr3aks approval I am happy. :) If Coler pops in that's a super bonus!!


On behalf of us, the 3 Musketeers, I want to say you: Thanks for considering our opinion that important. I'm sure that D'Artagnan (Coler) will say something about your tank very soon and that he will like it too.

[Pittbull]

HAHAHA efors so we are the three Musketeers aye i want to be the leader LOL... Yes indeed Jen your tank is pretty neat i rather much like the Lace rock suits the tank and stock very well..

BTW how are those babies i sent you.. please take a photo so i may see, thats if you don't mind aye..

[efors]

HAHAHA efors so we are the three Musketeers aye i want to be the leader LOL...

No problem, buddy; you can be the leader! But remember that...All for one and one for all! Yeah, alright!!! :dance:

[Pittbull]

All for one and one for most hehehe..

[myswtsins]

Alright Pitt I have tried so many times to get pictures of the babies Acei but they are SO active! Plus every time I come near the tank they are all at the top begging for food so they are behind the trim & I can't see em. :) So I did the best I could.

Please excuse the algae! (diatoms maybe even)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_2611.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_2614.jpg

I didn't have a great picture night but I'll share anyways!
Here are my biggest babies, 4mo Albino Socolofi & 3mo OB Red Zebras, plus 4 of the large acei fry. I will upload a video in a little while.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_2610.jpg

And the newest babies! For sure the little blue striped ones are mainganos BUT the yellow & white ones I am unsure of. Help me out here! All the babies came from 1 holding yellow lab that was separated from the main tank at like 19 days & was allowed to spit naturally (and she was a GREAT mother, even taking in stray mainganos that snuck past the divider) but some babies are very yellow and others are very white (with dark eyes, not albinos). Could they be hybrids or possibly do female yellow lab fry take (a lot) longer to color up? As a refresher I have albino socolofi, yellow labs, OB red zebras, mainganos (cyanerhabdos) & acei in the main tank.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100B2530.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100B2540.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100B2550.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100B2551.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100B2560.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100B2580.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100B2591.jpg

Wow my tanks all look so dirty! :jaw-dropping: I'll upload some videos soon but youtube KILLED the already poor quality, sorry.

[efors]

Hi!
Well, I think they are just paler yellow labs. There are yellow labs not so yellow. As a matter of fact, I have 4 adult labs: 3 of them are bright yellow and the other one is pale yellow; by the way, I think this last one is a female. Congrats, all your fry are looking great!!!

[DrgRcr]

Nice looking fry sins. Love the maingano babies. They were one of my original stocking choices, but I couldn't find them around here, or from where I eventually mail ordered. I've got 2 batches of Rusty fry growing out myself right now.

[myswtsins]

Thanks guys! I think I am going to separate the pale ones out to see how they mature.

Here are some videos.
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[Pittbull]

myswtsins (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=87644) cool deal those Acei look good you are getting them in great shape..

[Rbishop]

Nice vids!

[RDTigger]

myswtsins (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=87644) cool deal those Acei look good you are getting them in great shape..

Yea.. I need a few acei's for my 72..

[Pittbull]

Cool deal i sold the last of my Acei's to Myswtsins you should be able to find them local aye..

[myswtsins]

Thanks, yea I might have some extra Acei in about oh 6 months or so. :D Growing everyone out to a sexable size takes a VERY long time & a lot of space! A lot of my 3-4mo fry have eggs spot already though.

[RDTigger]

Thanks, yea I might have some extra Acei in about oh 6 months or so. :D Growing everyone out to a sexable size takes a VERY long time & a lot of space! A lot of my 3-4mo fry have eggs spot already though.


I have some ROOM for rent..lol...

the fish in my 30 are going in the empty 72...so there is a vacancy...:clap:

[myswtsins]

:irked: Just came home from a very nice lunch with the whole family to find my male yellow lab dead! Everything tested OK, ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate - 40 (higher than I like it but tomorrow is WC day) Ph-8.2. His belly is a little swollen and he was belly up on the bottom of the tank but I don't think it is swollen enough to be bloat. Just seeing if you guys have any ideas.

Bummer that it is the male! He was 4" for anyone interested.

[blue2fyre]

Sorry for your loss :(

What are you feeding your mbuna?

[myswtsins]

They strictly get NLS now. They show little interest in fresh veggies anymore. Although I have been giving them some dainichi veggie fx on occasion lately, they have gotten it maybe 3-4 times.

[blue2fyre]

Well food shouldn't be the problem then. I just wanted to make sure.

[myswtsins]

I haven't updated this thread in awhile because of everything else going on with this tank but here are some pictures. Sorry about the dark pictures, the light is rather dim on this tank & the pictures make it look even darker.

FTS with rescape
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3310.jpg


FTS with high white balance so you can SEE the tank layout. :) left side is cut off a little though
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3315.jpg


Side shots
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3338.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3339.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3341.jpg

A holding, about ready to spit OB
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3320.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3321.jpg


My big boy!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3325.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3326.jpg

I added 4 poorly colored small yellow labs to the tank to see if they would survive at that size....well one did!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3318.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_3319.jpg



And some photos of the fry because they don't have their own thread.
My beautiful blochy female ob, I'm very happy with her!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3363.jpg

I wasn't even trying to get the acei in this photo, although I did try MANY other times. :) The 3 larger acei I took from the other fry tank have grown SO fast, they are over 2" where as the others are about 1"-1.25".
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3366.jpg

The albino group, always together always out. These are actually a month older than the OBs but just haven't flourished.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3346.jpg

My beloved OBs son may be even more of a stunner than his papa! 2.25" this picture doesn't do him justice!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3371.jpg


Almost FTS 20g growout
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3376.jpg

This tank is crazy, they are so fast I had to use the flash!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3380.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3384.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_3385.jpg

[blue2fyre]

Looks great!

Your fish are so pretty :)

[Razzo]

Beautiful fish & tanks!

[RDTigger]

What are you feeding them now..? NLS?

[myswtsins]

Thank you. Everyone gets NLS, the fry/juvi have gotten it their whole lives (except for the 1st week when they got BBS) and my big guys have been eating it almost the entire time I've had them.

[mike dunagan]

they look great

[myswtsins]

So as many of you may know I changed this tank's stock AGAIN. I removed the new additions (cobalts & a couple female OBs) because they were not integrating well. I also removed the maingano group because although they were beautiful up close you could barely see them from the couch & the male was rather aggressive.

Current Stock List!
Adults
1:1 Ps. socolofi albino
1:1 Ps. acei
1:3 M. estherae OB
0:3 L. caeruleus
2 skunk loaches

8 unsexed 2" Ps. socolofi albino
3 unsexed 2.5" Ps.acei
0:5 2" Ps. estherae OB

I added extra juvis to account for any loses, I do not intend to keep all these fish as adults. I also have 11 L. caeruleus & 11 Ps. acei growing out to 2", again they all won't be staying in the tank.

Future Stock List!
1:4 Ps. socolofi albino
1:4 Ps. acei
1:5 M. estherae OB
1:5 L. caeruleus
2 skunk loaches
But we will see how it goes. :D


Funny story. I have had these acei for a year and a half, I sexed them awhile back and thought I had 1:1 but they never bred and they both looked & acted identical. I re-vented them at a larger size and they appeared to be 2 males, not a big deal. As soon as I added the new juvis the smaller male is holding! Most of you what I went through trying to get some females & that darn little gal was there all the time! Pitbull even sent me a bunch of fry which I have raised up and NOW the originals decide to start breeding. :)

On to the pictures! Since I STILL have not fixed my lights the pictures still come out really dark so I tried fixing some of them in photobucket and they came out a little green. :huh: Oh and excuse the poo, I took the close ups before the WC, FTS after.

Acei Momma
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4022.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4019.jpg

Daddy acei & what I have to try to take pictures around all the time!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4027-1.jpg
The bowfront makes the yellow lab LOOK almost as big as the acei!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4039.jpg

Daddy with his new friends- Thanks pitbull! They are doing great!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4041.jpg

New acei
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4025.jpg

Swim together! Juvi aceis
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4044.jpg

OB male in his non-breeding dress. He is amazing, I can actually watch him turn blue & his spots disappear, unfortunately he is too excited at those times to get a picture. :D
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4040.jpg


Him hanging out in his breeding hole, he resides on the other side of the tank.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4038.jpg

One of his original females & a new albino socolofi
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4029.jpg

One of the new extra blotchy female OBs, woohoo!!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4030.jpg

Holding albino socolofi & a newbie
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4036.jpg

Size comparison
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4033.jpg

Randomness
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4042.jpg

The first juvi to survive & let me know when it was ok to add new juvis!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4045.jpg

And tons of full tank shots!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4072.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4052.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4053.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4049.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4070.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4068.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4064.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4061.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/100_4059.jpg

I am tired of the dark dirty natural algae look though. I can't wait to change these lights, 1 55 watt ahsupply light is plenty enough to grow algae in a 72g. ;)

[efors]

Fishes and tank are looking awesome, myswtsins!

[Pittbull]

Hey Jen are those the Juvie Acei i sent a while back if so wow you have taken good care of them..

[myswtsins]

Fishes and tank are looking awesome, myswtsins!
Thank you.

Hey Jen are those the Juvie Acei i sent a while back if so wow you have taken good care of them..
Yes they are! Those 3 were slightly bigger than the rest and grew much faster so I separated them very early into my 30g grow out and they surpassed everyone in that tank too, just can't seem to stop em. :D The other guys are catching up though. I'll try to post an updated pic of the rest tomorrow.

[blue2fyre]

Looks great!

You decided to keep the mbuna?
Hooray!!!!

[londonloco]

I just read thru this entire post after first seeing the last page and that beautiful tank. WOW...I love the rock formation you have going. Reminds me of a reef tank. Are you still just balancing them on top of each other? I've never had texas holey rock, do the holes go thru the entire rock? When I had my reef I drilled little holes in my live rock and used zip ties to hold the rock together. Eventually algae would grow on the zips and you couldn't see them at all. Not sure how I that would work with this type of rock tho. Again, your tank is beautiful.

[Dego510]

Beautiful tank! I'm so jealous of your albino socolofi. I can't find them anywhere in Illinois.

[myswtsins]

Looks great!

You decided to keep the mbuna?
Hooray!!!!
Yeah, I went through so much work to raise the juvis I couldn't just sell em all off, so I gave it another go. :)


I just read thru this entire post after first seeing the last page and that beautiful tank. WOW...I love the rock formation you have going. Reminds me of a reef tank. Are you still just balancing them on top of each other? I've never had texas holey rock, do the holes go thru the entire rock? When I had my reef I drilled little holes in my live rock and used zip ties to hold the rock together. Eventually algae would grow on the zips and you couldn't see them at all. Not sure how I that would work with this type of rock tho. Again, your tank is beautiful.
Thank you so much! Yes, I just place the rocks on top of each other, they do not get attached in any other way and do not touch the glass. The rock in this tank currently is Lace Rock not THR (which I also have never had but the holes do go all the way through for the most part). All the caves you see are made from stacking many smallish rocks, none of these rocks have caves/holes in them themselves. Good idea with the zip ties!


Beautiful tank! I'm so jealous of your albino socolofi. I can't find them anywhere in Illinois.
Thanks! They are a beautiful fish but VERY sensitive so a lot of fish stores do not carry them. I have had a 56% fatality rate with these guys so far. :(

[blue2fyre]

I've had high loses with my albino socolofis as well. Out of the 17 I've had I only have 2 left.

[Pittbull]

cool deal

[myswtsins]

Here are the acei & yellow labs from the 30g growout, the only growout tank I have left WOOHOO! You may also noticed a little albino socolofi, it was found a week after the others it the mother recovery tank. I don't know how that one has survived giving their delicacy & it's obvious disadvantage.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_4079.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_4078.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_4077.jpg

And this is the runt. He/she is almost half the size of the other acei and oddly shaped.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g%20Reseal%20Progress/Fry/100_4082.jpg

[Pittbull]

Sweet Jen

[livebearerfreak]

any updates? only mbunas i have ever bred were demasoniis and socolofis :) right now i have haps/peacocks and 2 yellow labs ( wanting 4 more ) but great tank so far! yeah i know this is old, but thought i would see if you can update? :)

[myswtsins]

Unfortunately this tank was converted in a peaceful community tank. This tank sits in my parents living room and they grew tired of the endless chasing and bullying, just as my white labs were grown too! Thanks for the interest though and good luck with yours.

[livebearerfreak]

thanks! so what fish you have now?

[myswtsins]

Lots of ember tetras, a few rummy noses (need more), long fin albino BN, standard BN, one lonely meteor minnow and a some amano and cherry shrimp. Nice and generic! :)

This was the tank at initial planting, need some updated pictures.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i93/myswtsins/72g Planted Community/100_5945.jpg

[livebearerfreak]

nice!