185g Victorian Tank

[BeefyG]

So after a bad bout of marine ich I've decided to go back to freshwater completely. At the moment I have a large group of pundamilia nyererei and thick skin haps. They're separate right now and my intention was to breed both but I don't have time to keep up with separate tanks. Therefore I'm considering switching my 185 to a victorian tank. I'd be interested to hear yall's thoughts and suggestions. Let's hear it!

I also have a nice colony of clown loaches that would go into the tank. Not victorian but clown loaches belong in every tank, lol.

[SunnyHouTX]

I don't know much about victorians to add to this thread. Only to say welcome back to the right side.

[Andrew_B]

If you're not worried about breeding (as they will cross), you can pull it off. A very very rocky tank, might even be worth making your own 3d background for it. For the full effect, you can't really overstock the tank and let them distinguish territories and be aggressive with eachother.
If I had the resources to do it, I would set it up like this:

- Pundamilia Nyererei: 2 male, 4 female.
- Hap Sp44: 4 male, 3 female.
(then make a trip or order from dave in SA)
- Pundamilia Blue Bar: 2 male, 3 female
- Then something really cool, like the Chronogynos Zue Islands 2 male 3 female.

All male tanks don't work with victorians as subdom males show little color. I think 2 males of each species would be good, except you could get by with more Sp44s, those subdom males show good color still.


In terms of scaping, I would do something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG-vAFOgAyg Lots of rock, across the whole back of tank, many places to control.

I'm real interested in this tank if you decide to go with it. I would've done this in the past but a 4ft 55gal tank just wouldn't be enough room for really anything more than 1 group.

[BeefyG]

IMG_1123.jpg
This is the tank they are in now. I'm not sure if I have enough black star rock to fill the 185 but I have a bunch of river rock or I could buy more. Yes thats an angelfish in a breeder. My daughter wanted them in the tank but I'm worried they'll get torn up.

[BeefyG]

Just looked at the blue bars... those look nice!

[76dragon]

vics

Vics are crazy mean to each other. You gotta keep an eye on them. They look great though


[QUOTE






=BeefyG;608625][ATTACH=CONFIG]11981[/ATTACH]
This is the tank they are in now. I'm not sure if I have enough black star rock to fill the 185 but I have a bunch of river rock or I could buy more. Yes thats an angelfish in a breeder. My daughter wanted them in the tank but I'm worried they'll get torn up.[/QUOTE]

[Rufus]

I am on a similar journey. I am only 5 months in, but have several Vic Males along with some peacocks and haps and having really good luck so far. My Vics happen to color up decent enough. Maybe the larger haps make good dithers for now. I am moving most of them from my 125 into a 280 soon, ask me in 6 months how it is going I guess. Zebras, red-tailed shellers, 44's, piebalds all seem to color well for me with single males.

[BeefyG]

Did you get the red tail shellers locally?

[Rufus]

Dave's in SA

[BeefyG]

Will victorians do well with aragonite substrate? The tank is full of seafloor special and I'd rather rinse it really well and reuse it.