new 65 gallon tank

[gambs]

i have Brasiliensis, Surinamensis, Redhead Tapajo, Satanoperca Deamon, Guianacara, and I still have Satanoperca Jurupari.

Cool, get any fry out of them other than the pearls?


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[chadw1920]

I'll take the filter. What do you think needs replaced?

[troy tucker]

Im not not sure what it will need. I haven't used it in years. Hoses maybe the empeller. What part of town do you live in. I am on the west side.

I'll take the filter. What do you think needs replaced?

[morpheus]

Wow you guys have been a great help. lots of good stuff said and I will be on here often I'm sure. I'm really not in a big hurry cause I want to do this right and not rush it. but I do need to get a filter to get it cycling. I'm guessing it'll take a month or so to cycle for a tank that size. then I will be needing some fish from you guys that breed and sale.

cycling just takes time and can take a few months. some people cycle with fish, others do not. if you can get your hands on some seeded filter media it will help, and other chemicals like Seachem Stability will introduce good bacteria.

this is getting ahead i know...but i normally let mine run a week or so without anything in it. mainly to see if the pH is stable and the temperature as well, but then i introduce fish. once the fish go in keep an eye on behavior (eating and swimming) and also buy a master water test kit. they normally sell for around $25-$30 and give tests for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH. test the water daily and do water changes when toxin levels start to rise. it can delay the full cycling but keeps the fish much happier.

[chadw1920]

I live in north west houston by willowbrook mall

[troy tucker]

Cool you are far at all. I will pull the filter out today and see if it's worth your time or not... I will PM you.

[chadw1920]

Ok cool i appreciate it.

[Woody]

Pros & Cons of sand vs. pea gravel

I've found that sand is cleaner for the tank appearance but will tear up your impeller shafts on the pumps with fish that stir it up like cichlids do so you have to watch out for that. On the other hand, pea gravel (the smaller the better) will not be a problem with the pumps but will need to be cleaned regularly. I found some really small gravel years ago from a pool supply, the 4mm stones are much easier to deal with than the typical "Home Depot" type crap.

Also, the only tanks I have had to put Assassin snails into were the pea gravel tanks. The sand doesn't give the snails places to hide & multiply like in the gravel.

[mnemenoi]

I know its something that sparks a brand debate, but Impeller and pump location on canisters can help in using sand. Fluvals usually have their impellers located on the bottom of the filter, while Eheim locates them on top and I have yet to get sand into the top of an Eheim. Something to consider when buying the filter initially I suppose.

[chadw1920]

Ok so I've been looking at the different types of cichlids from lake Malawi and I've read that you should stick to a certain type and not mix all different types together. can someone please give me some feedback on that as far as what their experiences have been and also is their a certain species that is easier to keep than the other. I'm a beginner when it comes to African cichlids and need your help.

[Austy16414]

There are three main lakes in Africa that cichlids come from. Malawi, Tanganyika, and Victoria. It is best not to mix fish between lakes. From Lake Malawi, there are mbuna, also known as rock dwellers, and then haps and peacocks. Neither are difficult to keep, but beware of Mbuna aggression, as these guys can get be very territorial. Most haps and peacocks are not quite as aggressive, but tend to get larger than mbunas. For a starter tank, you could always go with some yellow labs, demasoni, red zebras or another mbuna of that sort. Or you could just grab some assorted peacocks, which I would recommend. Hope this helps

[mnemenoi]

Wish I could help, but Malawis are not my better suit, more Tanganyikans. From what I know, there are a few different groups (Mbunas, Haplochromines, and Aulunocara/peacocks) many can cross breed so either sticking with all males or one species/collection point/hybrid will help in any eggs being known and be able to market them. There are a few cool oddballs from Malawi (though you can mix some oddballs from Tanganyika as well) Synodontis Njasse, and Mastecembelus sp. Rosette are from the lake. Petricolas and multipunctatus can be used as well. Haps like deeper blue open areas around rockwork, while mbuna and peacocks like deep rockwork and can feed on algae and biofilm. Daves Rare Fish in San Antonio is a great and knowledgeable supplier. Check out his website under Malawi and see what strikes your fancy, he is great about recommendations as well.

[chadw1920]

WIN_20140706_115756.jpgtank update with pic. 65g with Ehiem 2217 Hydor 300 inline heater T 8 fluorescent lighting with a 25 watt daylight single bulb glass tops stock is 4 yellow lab 4 acei 4 Kennyi 4 demasoni 3 brichardi 1 syndonytous cat

[Austy16414]

Thanks for the update, looks great. Keep an eye out on the Brichardi you have pictured in the thumbnail, as it may cause problems as it grows. That aside, you shouldn't have any problems!

[chadw1920]

Yes I was told that when I got them and I debated on it but I have been liking those fish for a long time so I couldn't pass it up and it gave me a reason to start another tank later if I need to. Thanks for the remarks and ill keep up dating as they grow.

65g African cichlid
55g community
5g shrimp