General Help on a new tank - Fish & New Pics Added !

[kidslikefish]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Help with Filtration Please

Lets see if this works.... Not too good with the camera as you can tell ......

Beginning of the setup and you can see the area I'm working with. Ledge is only about 15 inches deep and tank is 10. There's a filter hanging on the left that I was testing to see what it would look like if I end up going that route (not the filter I will use). Couch is up against the wall that is the ledge.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3532.jpg

All the Aragonite in.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3533.jpg

Gravel in the midde, shell and rocks added: I've been boiling a piece of driftwood for about 3 hours that's going in the middle.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3535.jpg

Closeup of the Left:

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3536.jpg

Closeup of the Right:

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3537.jpg

[armthehomeless]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Help with Filtration Please

Since you already have the two Penguins on your 46, use 'em on the 20XL and put the Fluval on the 46 as h0nkzz mentioned. If you don't like it, you can always change it up... and this won't cost anything.

[CichlidFan]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

Depending on what you intend to add to the tank in the way of fish, if you keep the number of fish under 20, and the ones you do add to the tank are small, like brevis or multi's....I would got with a sponge filter in one corner, and a small hob (like you have in the pic) and that's all.

Good setup to by the way.....

CF

[h0nkzz]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

wow kidslikefish that's fast !

[armthehomeless]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

Looks nice.

[fishlady]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

i would go with sponge filters on both ends and forget the hob all together....it looks like it doesn't allow your light to sit on there right???
you could also go with a nano power head for circulation and the cords and air pumps could be hidden alot better than the hob ....but that's just my 2 cents worth too....

[kidslikefish]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

Fishlady, you are correct, unless I change lights (which I won't), the light will have to sit on top of the filters.  I actually think that gives the tank better light as I was trying different options.  I can also open the plantation shutters that are behind the tank to get some additional light. There's a shade tree out that window, so the tank won't get too hot, but it will get some nice light, especially in the afternoon (that window looks out to the West).

[Zulaab]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

kidslikefish,

I have kept Neolamprologus Ocellatus for about a year now and I like what I see in your tank.   Here are a few things I would change.
1.  Move the rocks you have allowing for more sand to be available to your shellies.  
2.  The Shells take them down from the rocks.  They will not be happy they are put up on stuff.  They want to be able to burrow the shell in the sand.  one of the best joys of watching shellies is their need to dig all the time.

If you want to have two area where the fish can co-exist you will need to break the line of sight between the area's
Personally I would take all the gravel and make the area a little smaller, move the rocks and stones to outline the sand and gravel.  You will really appreciate the digging capability of your shell dwellers that much more.  Since you are leaving so little digging area the shellies will be a little cramped and fighting will occur.  This can and potentially will become deadly and I would hate to see that.

If you get colony shellies then they are going take over the whole tank.  If you get harem shellies you will get two groups that you are looking for.
Neolamprologus Ocellatus is a harem breeder.  I hope this helps :)

[eklikewhoa]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

I would add another matching HOB to the other side that way the light would be elevated on both ends as well as superior filtration.

[fishlady]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

that might work.....just be aware that by letting in the light from the windows you are surely to get an algae bloom going in the tank..... :wink:

[eklikewhoa]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

.......temp fluctuations might be a problem as well.

[kidslikefish]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

Thanks for all the comments lately.  

Zulaab, I am going to re-scape some based on your comments.  Also, after boiling my driftwood for about 5 hours, I put it in late last night (hopefully boiling that long will keep it from bringing my PH down too much and offsetting the benefit of the Aragonite).  It helps a lot to split up the two sides and I think the sight-line from one side to the other will be blocked now.  I do think the ends are too crowded, so I'll do a little re-scapping this evening and see what I can come up with. Only thing missing are the Anubias Nana that I'm going to anchor to the driftwood, but I got those today off Aquabid and they should be here on Thursday.  And I want to add a few smaller shells to both ends also.

I should get my filter situation fixed in a couple of days, need to move some filters around among tanks and then I can get a pic of this tank with two filters on it and the light fixture on top of that to see what the final layout looks like.   As far as the window behind the tank, I won't leave those blinds open all the time, just from time-to-time when I'm in the room I'll open them so I don't think it will impact my algae or temp.  May need to eventually get a few Nerites if the algae becomes an issue.

I have not decided on the exact fish yet.  Thanks so much to armthehomeless on the link to Dave's in SA, I looked over that last night and may go that way when I'm ready for the fish.

I'm thinking:  Lamprologus stappersi 'Pearly Ocellatus' and Lamprologus cf. ocellatus 'Blue Stripe'.  No real reason for those other than I like the look of them and a couple have been recommended here.   Any thoughts on these choices and them getting along ?    How many should I start with ??   I was thinking 4-5 of each ?   I was also thinking about taking the wood out when I first put the fish in and putting a divider in the middle of the tank as the fish get used to their new home.  Then each could make homes on their side of the playing field without conflicts from the others.  Do you think that would help, or is it an unnecessary step ?

[Zulaab]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

kidslikefish -- I have 5 of them in a 20L and when I upgrade to my 4ft tank myself here in a few months (maybe less) I am going to buy at least another 5 or 6 more.   I would say pick up 8 of them --- you are really going to love how they work your tank :)  You will be so happy when you see the digging and them playing around..
I am also glad to hear that you are adding other fish to the tank, because they come out of their shells if they see others swim around..   without anyone else in the tank they get kinda spooked easily and rarely come out.   I added some Julidochromis marlieri and they have made the fish come out in force :)

[armthehomeless]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

I'm thinking:  Lamprologus stappersi 'Pearly Ocellatus' and Lamprologus cf. ocellatus 'Blue Stripe'.  No real reason for those other than I like the look of them and a couple have been recommended here.   Any thoughts on these choices and them getting along ?    How many should I start with ??   I was thinking 4-5 of each ?

They will be able to coexist. These guys may interbreed, though. Generally I buy 6 of each species as juvies. Not much of a reason for this other than it helps disperse any aggression in the group and would still be okay if one dies.

[kidslikefish]

Re: General Help on a new tank - Pics Added !!

Here's some pics of the redone landscaping.....

Whole tank (still don't have the filters moved):

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3538.jpg

Left side:

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3540.jpg

Right side:

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3541.jpg

Middle, showing wood and rocks trying to break up the two ends:

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/bqpw11/HPIM3539.jpg

I Should have plants by the weekend, water over the weekend (when I have time to move filters) and inhabitants in a couple of weeks.