It's been a long time coming, but after years of experimentation and learning the hard way, I have finally achieved 3 rather good set-ups. I like my tanks full and lively and I was never gonna spend a lot on lights. Here is what they look like
The first one is a 55 gal. It is home to Thomasi cichlids, Congo Tetras, Glass bloodfins, Hatchetfish, and the regular clean up crew (otos, siamese AEs, yamato shrimps, bulldog pleco).
The second is another 55 gal with my beloved Bolivian rams. Since these guys are as mellow as cichlids get, they can be kept with rather small buddies. Hovering around the moss and hygros are a few dozen boraras, in the moss are some cherry shrimps. I am phasing out the gold tetras and Harlequins r. with Espes and Hengelis. Moving in and out of cover are the rummy nose tetras. This tank also has the regular clean up crew.
The little one is a 20 gal cold water tank with too many cherry shrimps to count and a dozen celestial pearl danios. These guys used to be a little shy when they shared the place with white cloud minnows, but they are now more in your face. ( I had some pond snails in there but crushed them all out in about 2 years)
Both 55 gal have 2 eheim canisters running, the 20 gal has 2 aquaclear 20. All water intakes are pre-filtered with a foam block (aquaclear with a hole dug in them). All lids have a LED light strip (cool white) added. The 55 gals are back to back and have an architect light in between. Plants are nothing unusual: hygrophilias, anubias, crypto balansae and a few other I forgot the names. There is also plenty of duckweed. Flourish + Flourish Iron + Excel does the trick for me, if I hide Jobe's Ferns plant food spikes in the substrate.
WC are done every week, about 20%. I use Prime.
I've had the rams for some years now with the regular spawnings, but everything gets eaten quicly. I've had the thomasis for just a few months but they are also awesome cichlids for a community tank.
I am overstocked but the bioloads have been stable for 3 years now, saved for a brief venture with hemichromis in a tank 2 years ago. (never again) With regular WC, all is fine.
The first one is a 55 gal. It is home to Thomasi cichlids, Congo Tetras, Glass bloodfins, Hatchetfish, and the regular clean up crew (otos, siamese AEs, yamato shrimps, bulldog pleco).
The second is another 55 gal with my beloved Bolivian rams. Since these guys are as mellow as cichlids get, they can be kept with rather small buddies. Hovering around the moss and hygros are a few dozen boraras, in the moss are some cherry shrimps. I am phasing out the gold tetras and Harlequins r. with Espes and Hengelis. Moving in and out of cover are the rummy nose tetras. This tank also has the regular clean up crew.
The little one is a 20 gal cold water tank with too many cherry shrimps to count and a dozen celestial pearl danios. These guys used to be a little shy when they shared the place with white cloud minnows, but they are now more in your face. ( I had some pond snails in there but crushed them all out in about 2 years)
Both 55 gal have 2 eheim canisters running, the 20 gal has 2 aquaclear 20. All water intakes are pre-filtered with a foam block (aquaclear with a hole dug in them). All lids have a LED light strip (cool white) added. The 55 gals are back to back and have an architect light in between. Plants are nothing unusual: hygrophilias, anubias, crypto balansae and a few other I forgot the names. There is also plenty of duckweed. Flourish + Flourish Iron + Excel does the trick for me, if I hide Jobe's Ferns plant food spikes in the substrate.
WC are done every week, about 20%. I use Prime.
I've had the rams for some years now with the regular spawnings, but everything gets eaten quicly. I've had the thomasis for just a few months but they are also awesome cichlids for a community tank.
I am overstocked but the bioloads have been stable for 3 years now, saved for a brief venture with hemichromis in a tank 2 years ago. (never again) With regular WC, all is fine.
