Frontosa tank question (pics)

[johnnymisty]

I have about 6 Burundi's I'm going to get 30gallon tank going for tonight and was wondering if a big piece of driftwood would be ok with them or should I just stick with rock and sand

johnnymisty

[alexrex20]

I don't like driftwood in any of my African cichlid tanks. Some types can soften the water, but they all will turn the water brown. I stick to sand and rocks, and no plants.

I hope you have a bigger tank in mind for those 6 frontosas. As they begin to mature they will start to pick each other off in a tank that small.

[mnemenoi]

With our liquid rock water out of the tap the driftwood should be just fine. It can leach tannins into the water and discolor it, but add some purigen and it will be crystal clear. I know that driftwood can supposedly 'soften' water, but in all honesty I have never seen it effect my water at all. Perhaps with softer water conditions it might be an issue, but our water from the tap is crazy 7.8-8.2 with a huge hardness that the wood will never buffer. I imagine for some peace of mind a small amount of baking soda or tang/african rift salt could be added. Our big Fahaka tank has a huge piece of driftwood and was leaching tannins like crazy, but purigen added and its crystal clear and the Ph sits on 7.8+

[alexrex20]

I forgot to add: I don't add driftwood to my African cichlid tanks because there is no driftwood at the bottom of the African rift lakes (at least according to all the videos/pictures I've seen).

[mnemenoi]

I know its not commonly used, but would be found in the lake just like any other I assume. Many plants come from the lake and are used throughout the hobby without realizing their native habitat. I would likely use some branchy manzanita if that were the route I went with.

[johnnymisty]

I forgot to add: I don't add driftwood to my African cichlid tanks because there is no driftwood at the bottom of the African rift lakes (at least according to all the videos/pictures I've seen).

That's what I thought but wasn't sure though do they need lil caves built in the rock work or will that cause aggression between them. Also the biggest is only maybe 3" and as they get bigger that means ill just have to get a bigger tank for them

johnnymisty

[johnnymisty]

With our liquid rock water out of the tap the driftwood should be just fine. It can leach tannins into the water and discolor it, but add some purigen and it will be crystal clear. I know that driftwood can supposedly 'soften' water, but in all honesty I have never seen it effect my water at all. Perhaps with softer water conditions it might be an issue, but our water from the tap is crazy 7.8-8.2 with a huge hardness that the wood will never buffer. I imagine for some peace of mind a small amount of baking soda or tang/african rift salt could be added. Our big Fahaka tank has a huge piece of driftwood and was leaching tannins like crazy, but purigen added and its crystal clear and the Ph sits on 7.8+

Ya I have purigen in my daughters tank and no tannins from the driftwood in there and it was leaching bad purigen is great stuff


johnnymisty

[supadave]

Right now you really don't have to worry about aggression . Fronts are probably the least aggressive Tang in the lake . Fronts only get mildly ....and I do mean mildly....aggressive when they are of breeding age . Your Fronts are a long way from breeding . I would like to give you a little advice . Get them in to a larger tank soon . If you get like a 125 gallon 6ft. And change the water every week.....they will grow really fast .

[supadave]

With our liquid rock water out of the tap the driftwood should be just fine. It can leach tannins into the water and discolor it, but add some purigen and it will be crystal clear. I know that driftwood can supposedly 'soften' water, but in all honesty I have never seen it effect my water at all. Perhaps with softer water conditions it might be an issue, but our water from the tap is crazy 7.8-8.2 with a huge hardness that the wood will never buffer. I imagine for some peace of mind a small amount of baking soda or tang/african rift salt could be added. Our big Fahaka tank has a huge piece of driftwood and was leaching tannins like crazy, but purigen added and its crystal clear and the Ph sits on 7.8+

I know its not commonly used, but would be found in the lake just like any other I assume. Many plants come from the lake and are used throughout the hobby without realizing their native habitat. I would likely use some branchy manzanita if that were the route I went with.

+ 1
Good advice .

[Geral]

I have mine with driftwood and rocks and they dont mind they use both as hidding spot at night
Plus if u wanna add a pleco later would be good

[johnnymisty]

I've got 2 albino bristlenose plecos to go in the tank

[mnemenoi]

They should be alright, I've seen a lot of folks use Ancistrus in tang tanks for algae removal.

[johnnymisty]

They've been in with them for a few days already and no problems with it so far I'm gonna be setting up the tank in a lil later for them

[Ballinxalex]

I have driftwood and sand with my 12 Burundis and it's fine mine doesn't leach tannins I just stick them in a bucket for a month or so an then put into tank and water stays clean they should have a good filter and water change is a must I change every week in my 125 and they grew from one in to about 4 in couple of months

[johnnymisty]

I just went pfs and some rock simple and easy and I do weekly water changes already uploadfromtaptalk1340758857344.jpg

johnnymisty