Fishful Thinking

Thanks for that great information. I am where you were three years ago and just starting out. I am sure your advice will save me a lot of grief and wonder what people did before the internet. I have decide to keep SA Cichlids only and hope this works out for me. I kept tropical fish about 40 years ago but things were sure different then. Both equipment and information have come an amazing distance so I am on the learning curve all over again

Glad to help. SA cichlids are amazing fish. Good luck!

thats what you call sharing of experience...thanks!!!

No problem. Experience and any learning I have done has usually been the result of some pretty dumb mistakes on my part, lol.

I have some microswords right now, but some are elevated in a corner. I think I can keep up with the pruning of a 20 gallon, so hopefully the taller plants will not get too out of control.

Very nice illistration on water changes. Is that the python that I have heard about?

No, it's a cheaper version of it. It uses the same basic principles but without the clear tubing.

Yeah, I ended up picking up 250 mL containers. I looks like I'll be good for the summer! I really like this tank because it's only a foot deep so pruning and arranging is simple compared to when I had the 90 planted.

Well, the tank is purchased, planted and waiting for some shrimp!

I went with a 20 long and grabbed the 24 inch sunblasters from All Seasons Garden Center. That place is really a great stop for people looking into different ways of setting up a planted tank. Also a very cool groove in the store.

The plants were from Nature's Corner Store--top quality as usual.

I'll post some pics when I get everything sorted out. Thanks to everyone for the help.

I'm also from Leduc, freshwater too. When I get more money I'll go salt!

How much KNO3 (N), KH2PO4 (P), K2SO4 (K), and Trace Elements should I buy to last me for a year? I am thinking of heading to All Season Garden Center tomorrow.

I actually kept around my 20 lb CO2 tank that I had before. I'm thinking I'll just buy some new tubing and I will be good to go!

So 2.4 watts would be enough for the plants I am looking at? That would be the wattage with the T5HO 24 inch double light. Is there any reason I should be worried that the lux rating for the T5HO drops off quite rapidly at 12 inches down and 5 inches forward? I was reading the comparisons on the pets and pond lighting section

Would a Hydor Koralia Nano Water Pump (260 GPH) be too much water circulation for a 20 gallon tank?

Is it possible to have shrimp in a tank with fish and have enough babies survive in order to sustain the shrimp population? I don't need a farm or anything, but if I went for the galaxies/celestial pearls, a BN and maybe some otos, would the baby shrimp just get wiped out continually and I would have to keep buying shrimp as the population ages?

Ok, so the cabomba is off the list. Other than vals, what would be some good options for taller, background plants?

I was looking at some coral life 24 inch fixtures, 2x65 watts. Maybe the 20" 96 watt light would be a better fit?

I was thinking of rigging up a powerhead to diffuse the CO2 like I did in my old planted tank. As for the wood, I have a bunch of driftwood kicking around to anchor the anubias. Sorry for the ignorance, but is it really hard to effectively anchor riccia which is why it is a pain?

Thanks for all of the help.

Nice pics! Middle one is my favourite hands down. Vegas in the morning is beautiful. It's like whatever happened the night before is a distant memory.

I am thinking of going back to my roots (lol, kind of a pun in the planted part of the forum) and converting a 20 or 25 gallon tank over to a planted tank. If I buy everything I want to, the figures would be as follows:

- 5-6 watts per gallon

- pressurized CO2

- sand substrate (could be flourite)

- EI method

- either aquaclear or small canister filtration

- inhabitants: red cherry shrimp for sure, maybe galaxy rasboras, cardinals, or furcatas

- plants: cabomba, riccia, Lilaeopsis mauritiana, Hemianthus callitrichoides, Eleocharis parvula, annubius nana

So I am mainly wondering if this is too many WPG, do these plants would work in this setup (or are there others that I should think of) and which, if any, fish would work with the shrimp? Also, is there anything else I should be thinking of?

Thanks!

Looks like a real glass banger! :thumbs:

Nice fish! :thumbs:

Wonderful collection once again!

Thanks. The reganis show the blue edges, but not to the same extent. I think with better lighting it would show up more.

They look great! Nice captures.

Thanks! It's funny, I've been trying to get that kind of shot with my other fish for a while and with these shell dwellers I got a shot within the first 5 minutes of taking pics.

Great shot, Patrick!

I posted some pics of my tank in my new thread. Shell dwellers and julies!

25 gallon tank thread

Well, I ordered in six `Lamprologus` ocellatus (Gold) and six Julidochromis regani (Kipili). I just sit and watch the tank, especially the shell dwellers. What an interesting species to keep. These are in the process of either being grown out for my 360 gallon or maybe just to keep as is.

Here is the start of a new journal thread!

Tank: 25 gallon tall

Filtration: Aquaclear 70

Substrate: black sand

Decor: one silk plant, one plastic plant, slate caves and shells

Some pics of the inhabitants. Apologies for the quality but I did these really quickly. I'll get a full tank shot later.

Sand brings out more natural behaviors, it's cheaper and it is easier to clean since the detritus stays on top and can be easily vacuumed out. Just add some trumpet snails and you're good to go.

Well, I've decided to order in 6 julidichromis regani "kipili" and 6 `Lamprologus` ocellatus (Gold). It will be fun growing them out over the summer. I decided to only go with one shell dweller to free up more of the footprint space in the tank, and the possibility that the six of them might have enough room to survive together. Thanks for all of the help, everyone.

Looks great, Ryan! Lovely setup. Is there any chance that as they get bigger the fronts will eat the julies, calvus and compressiceps?

Thanks for the help, Neil.

Here is a more updated list:

- 44 tropheus (even split between chimba and kiriza)

- 12 petricolas

- 8 multipunctatus

- 2 BN

- 2 julies (pair)

- ___ brevis

- ___ meleagris

Alright, shell-dweller fans, how many of the last two species could this footprint handle?

You may have to convince Mrs. FishfulThinking that you will probably need a spair tank or two incase things get out of hand.

Which may just lead to our divorce! :rofl:

It sounds like a great set up, but as Jason stated you may want to stick to a single pair for some species, or deal with attempting to try & catch & remove problem fish (or dead ones) down the road.

Couple of questions, Neil. Would the shell-dwellers be on that list of fish to just aim for a single pair with? Which option would you recommend for single pairs of species--developing the pairing outside the tank and moving the pair into the 360, allowing a pair to develop in the 360 and moving the others out after or putting two fish in the tank and if they do not pair up at least they won't kill each other (hopefully).

Hey Greg, I just got my fronts today, after you see them, you may very well want a Frontosa tank.

Congrats, Ryan. I look forward to seeing some pics up soon!

Other question:

Also, if I got in on the Spencer order and picked up 6 juli. regani, 5 brevis and 6 meleagris, could I place any of these in with my 90 chimba juvies tank while I wait for the 360 to be built? I have a 20 gallon and a 10 gallon as well.

Thanks for all of the help, everyone. The more I think about this tank the more I am looking forward to it!