Richer

I don't see why you can't do it... I'm running a 5g tank with a diy co2 setup. I've got the co2 going through a wooden air stone. The current in the tank pushes the bubbles around. I'm getting roughly 20ppm of co2.

Why do you want your CO2 concentration so high? I think 18ppm would be more than enough for most applications... my old plant tank usually had a concentration hovering around 15ppm, and I was able to grow everything with relative ease. -Rich

Thanks. I always figured it was a hybrid of some sort... it did come from an "assorted" tank at PJs after all. However, its one of the older fish in the house, and I don't plan on breeding, or selling any of the fry, so its not going to go anywhere I like clown loaches, but I think my tank would be a bit small for a group after they've grown up a bit. I think I will stick with Neil's suggestion and start looking around for a group of aceis. Anyone know where I can get a group of these? Thanks for the help and suggestsions. -Rich

Possibly a hybrid. My parents were the ones who started the tank (a 20g with 4 mbunas no less). I was the one who moved everything to the 65g. -Rich

You're not the only one -Rich

It took about 10 minutes sitting motionless with camera in hand, but I managed one shot. Thats the boss of the tank. Forgive the brown algae. I've neglected the tank for a little while due to school and work. -Rich

I'll try to snap a few pictures of them... as far as I can tell though, none of them are crazed killers... they just chased each other around occasionally. I was already planning on reaquascaping the entire tank when I introduce the new fish, so that will hopefully reduce any initially aggression. -Rich

Java fern, java moss and anubias sp. are the first to come to my mind. All are relatively easy to keep, and don't require a lot of light. The rhizome is the thicker part of the plant where all the leaves grow out of. You don't want to bury that under your substrate, or they'll rot and that would bethe end of your plant. However, since you're attaching it to driftwood, it shouldn't be a problem. What I used to do was tie my plants onto driftwood with cotten thread. By the time the thread rotted away, the plant would be rooted onto the driftwood. If all else fails, fishing line works too -Rich

I looked around on the net, and it looks like I have a mbunas... so aceis should work alright I think. All my fish are around 5-6 inches, except for the two relative newcomers, one is around 3, the other around 2. Thanks for the info. -Rich

Neil - How large of a group would you suggest? -Rich

I honestly have no idea what their names are... all I know is that they're from lake malawi. -Rich

A little background. I've got a 65g tank with 6 assorted malawi cichilds... nothing fancy. The tank has been around for about 3 years, and 4 of them have been around since then, two came around as a result of breeding and not being eaten. I've lost 3 due to aggression. There are tons of nooks and crannies in the aquascape. I have a problem with my cichlids... ever since I got this tank up and running, I hardly ever see my fish out and about. Whenever someone comes within 10' of the tank, all the fish take off and vanish into the rockwork. If it wasn't for the surface aggitation on the tank, you'd just think I had an empty tank sitting in the corner of my living room . It has been suggested that I get some fast/tough dither fish (ie. tiger barbs, danios, etc.) to try to bring these guys out. However, I've also got another group of people who've suggested stocking more cichlids in my tank. If I can, I'd rather keep it a cichlid only tank, but if stocking dither fish is the way to go, then I'll go that way. I know the theory behind both suggestions, but I'd like to know what you think and why. If I do get dither fish, what would you suggest and how many of them? If I get more cichlids instead, how many more would you suggest? Thanks for reading! -Rich

I've heard that using two polarized lenses can help determine whether the glass is tempered or not. Read it from here. I've never done it before, but I haven't heard of anyone disagreeing with it yet... -Rich

Thanks for all the offers, I managed to get a holding tub from someone who lives close by. -Rich

My 30g reef tank sprung a slow leak. If someone could lend me a 30+g tank for a few days while I patch my tank up, I'd be forever grateful! -Rich