New shots... SE Asian and African biotope tanks

DrV, the tanks look awesome, I'm glad you didnt let me scare you away from the obsidian. Particularly nice with the airstone, I love the volcanic tie in. Don't know if you are familiar with this site, http://www.wetthumbaquatics.com/fish_list.htm, I've never bought from them so cant personally vouch for them but they have a great selection of Tanganyikans. Keep the pics coming, your tanks inspire me.
 
I received the shells today for the Tangan. tank and after some boiling water sterilization/scrubbing, added them to the tank. I researched clam and snail species that would reasonably simulate the snails/clams at Lake Tangan. and with some great input from those at the Cichlid forum, decided on a combination of Whale Eye, blond nerite, and small purple clam. Here are some updated photos. If you look hard, you can also see a few of the juvenile Gold Head Comps in the fields. They seem to appreciate the shells strewn about and are already staking claim on thieir favorite Whale Eye.

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Rock pile on the left, shell field on the right.

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Small, but fiesty and healthy juveniles. As I posted earlier, these came from LiveAquaria MUCH smaller than promised; I was sure they would be feeder for the bichir. However, they are having no issues several weeks in.

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Next up are a few additional anubias specimens to soften the edges a bit.

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DrV, the tanks look awesome, I'm glad you didnt let me scare you away from the obsidian. Particularly nice with the airstone, I love the volcanic tie in. Don't know if you are familiar with this site, http://www.wetthumbaquatics.com/fish_list.htm, I've never bought from them so cant personally vouch for them but they have a great selection of Tanganyikans. Keep the pics coming, your tanks inspire me.

Thanks Dominion for the very kind words! Awesome site that I did not know of.... greatly appreciated! I'm very lightly stocked at the moment but am also in no hurry...
 
I have indeed rehomed 2 of the 7 gold gourami and will now add some schooling fish to the SE Asian. I think the addition of a schooling shoal will add an interesting twist visually, and I'm convinced that 7 golds are too much bioload for even a 125 gallon (they are outrageous dirty!).

I got some great advice from the forum here, and it looks like I'm going to go with either a harlequin, gold, or black rasbora school or a school of gold barbs. All are SE Asian appropriate, but I'd like to get the Mrs' input before placing the order. I may also throw in an Kuhli loach to go along with the three Retics.

Lake Tangan. is also doing well. All three Gold Head Comp juvenilles have escaped the bichir (how, I do not know) and he has given up on chasing them. I'm also looking to add additonal cichlids to that tank but am leery of stressing out the Gold Head juvies. I'm researching these options thoroughly before placing another order.

Incidentally, how exactly do you guys get video uploads? Shoot the video, upload to the computer, but then what intermediate web upload program is usable? I have never uploaded a thing to YouTube LOL

I'll post new shots of both tanks soon.
 
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Finally had some time to upload a few new shots while watching the Monday Night football...

SE Asian Flooded

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The growth in the Asian tank is cut at least once a week. The Hygrophila corymbosa specimens in particular are like trees now. They truly are nutrient sponges. I'm forcing the Indian rotala to remain lower in height with cuts, and it seems to be rewarding me with consistent growth on the crown. The dwarf grasses are also forming a nice uniform field and requries crop-cutting at least once a week.

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Quite a difference from the shots of the rotala and Hygrophila just a few weeks ago... CO2 injection is really a wonderful thing. The snails don't have much to pick at, but they make do. After researching (and discussing with the wife!), the tank is getting a small school (8) of well-grown zebra danios. In additon to the ID shark, the 5 gold gourami and 3 reticulated loaches, this tank has now reached its stocking limit.

Lake Tanganyika

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The polypterus and the Gold Head Comps are getting along nicely, despite the size difference.

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Rock fields mean plenty of cruising for the Senegalus...

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The Comps are definitely growing in size, but its clear it will be a while until they are sexually mature. This is one of my favorite shots of the African tank thus far.... the Comps are very entertaining to watch as they jostle for and defend their little territories.

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