EowynJane

I have a 55 gallon tank that is empty except for a bristlenose pleco, it’s fully cycled and planted. I was thinking of turning it into a community tank but I can’t decide what to put in it! Anyone have any ideas? If you had a nearly empty tank what would you put in it?

I'm down to one DP now as one was very old when I first posted this. I never did have a problem with the two males in there... they both spent most of their time hiding. I feed bloodworms usually twice a day and I almost never see the one that is in there now... and I still have a ton of shrimp.

Thanks. I saw her out again today and there is a lot less algae in her mouth and it is in the teeth area so I'm thinking it's probably stuck there. I do have a fair amount of cover in the cichlid tank but I'm worried because of this torn up fin, I saw a bit of a scuffle between the BN and one of my smaller yellow labs. She's smaller than the other BN I got at the same time, I'm assuming from not getting as much food. Is there any way to feed her that would ensure she gets more? I feed sinking pleco pellets to her before I turn off the light but the cichlids love them too. I'm still thinking of moving her....

Thanks... I've had anubias in there before and I think it was both the fish and the algae that did it in. I had it secured to a piece of driftwood with a rubber band, maybe I'll try this again. I also have lots of java fern so I guess I'm in luck there! Any suggestions for controlling the algae? It's black and hairy. The tank gets a lot of natural light and it's getting out of control.

I'm having some issues with the BN in my cichlid tank, I'm pretty sure they are picking on her as she has some ragged fins. So the questions are this.... 1. Is it possible to keep 2 BN's in a 20 gallon tank? The only other fish there is a very shy dwarf puffer that I never see and a ton of shrimp. If I added a new hiding spot would it be possible they could live together? They are both female. 2. Is it possible for algae to grow on a BN's lips? I'm not sure maybe it was stuck in her teeth but it really looked like the algae that is getting out of control in my cichlid tank. I'm trying to keep an eye out for her to see if it's still there today but she's pretty shy.

Has anyone ever successfully planted a cichlid tank? How did you do it and what plants did you use? I have a 55g with yellow labs and yellow tail acei that I've tried planting a few times only to find everything either ripped up or eaten. Am I fighting a losing battle?

Thanks for the tips

Really? I was at Big Al's not too long ago and didn't see them. Ug.. my dogs drink so much water I wouldn't be able to keep enough in it!

LoL you know I do! Unfortunately I really have no where to put another tank even if its small.

Thanks for the insight on the gouramis, I appreciate it. I've been keeping DP's for the past 8 years or so. I was thinking I'd like to do something different with the tank. Also I can't find any puffers.

Since no one seems to want my male dwarf puffer I am looking for ideas on what I could keep with him. Personality wise he is very shy... I almost never see him and (don't shoot me) he got along with the other male dp I had in the tank (now deceased). Keeping 2 males was an accident but I think they got along well because there were no females and the only other fish in the tank was a BN pleco. The tank is a 20 gallon planted, with just the DP, BN and a bunch of cherry shrimp. I was thinking of dwarf gouramis but I really don't know anything about their personality. It doesn't bother me if whatever I put in there eats the shrimp, they were meant to be live food for the DP's and my tanks are over flowing with them.

Just wondering if I was to give away my lone male dwarf puffer if anyone would want him. I got him about 6 months ago and he's lived in a 20 gallon being fed frozen bloodworms and whatever shrimp and snails he can catch. The reason I'm asking is because the other puffer in the tank died a few weeks ago, not from illness, I had him for years so he was pretty old. I've been keeping puffers for about 8 years and I'm trying to decide if I want to do something else with the tank.

LoL - "Do we like this plant yet...?"

Thanks I have some java fern in another tank, I'll try some of that. I had anubias in there once and it didn't take off, I'm not sure if it got to beat up or what.

Has anyone found any plants that a cichlid wouldn't eat? I have a tank with yellow labs and yellow tail acei and I've probably planted it 4 or 5 times. Everything is either eaten or dug up and beaten to death. Has anyone had any luck planting these tanks?