RDFISHGUY

A 500 watt heater is an excellent choice if you have a lot of water movement , otherwise I'd go with 2 -250's for a more even temperature.

People strain themselves all the time and fish are no different. He probably just pulled something , though clamped fins can be a symptom of disease so keep a close eye on him and make sure things don't get any worse.Watch out for bullies as a fish that is bullied keeps his fins tucked against his body like a boxer taking body shots.

Great choice. My tanks are now on Stealths and I liked the name so much I bought a stealth grey truck.

I found my diatom filter to be a pricy gimmick that plugged up to fast. I gave it to my uncle though and he seems to like it. To each his own I guess.

Val, the last time I saw my pleco without a mark on him was the day I put him in the tank. They are total crap factories and with Africans they don't lead a very high quality life . It seems the bigger they get the bigger the target they are.

I have nothing against the FX5, in fact I have 2 of them on my 228 G tank, but I think its always a mistake to replace 2 filters with one. The reason being is that if 1 is all you have ,and that 1 craps out, you are often left with a major dilemna and even a loss of some, or all of your fish. All of my tanks have at least 2 filters. My 150 has 2 AC/500 and an XP3 filter so I am familiar with both types of filter. The FX5 is a very quiet filter for the volume of water that it pushes. Even with 2 of them on my 228 gal you can barely hear them.My honest opinion is that you won't get better filtration from 1 FX5 than you will from 2 XP3 and and at a price tag of around $300 it'll take a long time to get your money back in energy savings . That's all I gotta say about that.

The trouble I had with the male / female hap tank was that only 2 or 3 of the most dominant males would show good color. The other 4 would show poor color plus all the ugly girls and now you only have 2 or 3 fish that are even worth looking at. In an all male tank the overall color is a lot better, agression is way down, & you don't have the hassles or rewards from breeding . The novelty of breeding fish will soon be forgotten when you look at a tank full of beautiful males .

Thanks for the comments... and it is a lithobates. These fish are ,for the most part ,still juvies and like a good wine will just get better with age.Most of the fish pictured don't have females to jazz them up either .

Send a PM next time you head west of Rocky. I've got an 2004 Kodiak with ITP mudlites that's barely seen any mud at all this year.

Wicked-awesome! Thanks ,Neil... Check out the new avatar.LOL

Here's a few but I could use some practice

Personally, I like the parkinsoni rainbow. A fish I'd never seen before. Might have to get me one of those.

I have a picture in one of my albums but I don't know how to post pics,sorry! I have a picture in one of my albums but I don't know how to post pics,sorry!

Cool fish! I like the bigger haps. I just loaded my tank with some big boys.Nothing quite so rare though...aristochromis christyi,champsochromis caeruleus,polystigma,livingstoni and some other smaller haps, that will be moved to my 150g when these guys get bigger.Keep us posted.

The pics don't do him justice Neil.I think he'll be one of the best fish in your tank, eventually.That was my best trip to Gold's yet. Now I just have to be patient. The worst part of it is I don't get to see them until the last weekend of the month.

No worries Darcy, I've been a little busy myself. I'm going camping for the long weekend on Thurs so either before or after the weekend it doesn't matter to me.Thanks, Ryan

I got him on Sat. Along with 2 phenos 2 male maleri 10 yellow labs and 6 loaches. Just need the 6 moori from Darcy and the tank will be stocked.

http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b272/RDF...nt=IMG_0135.jpg

http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b272/RDF...nt=IMG_0144.jpg 2.5"

http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b272/RDF...nt=69cc37bd.jpg

I just picked up a couple of these guys on a hunch that they may get the spots. From info found on cichlid forum they should be the same thing as plac. phenochilus Tanzania as it states in the article that those collected on the Malawi side don"t get the silver spots . Lupingu is likely the collection point and is located on the Tanzanian side of the lake. Albert told me that these were just a blue fish but I'm almost certain they are the Tanzanians that I was looking for . I guess time will tell. If you passed on these guys at Gold's a while back he had one pair left on Sat.(left side of the store top row near the back). If anyone has info to refute this claim feel free to let me know. Thanks, Ryan

no more pix here

Good score ,Tom

protomelas spilonatus Mbenji Isle , Tyrannochromis macrostoma, Lithobates Zimbabwe Rock, Champsochromis caeruleus , phenochilus Tanzania.

I love the tank and the fish selection. Adding more fish will likely be a mistake . As they mature you will probably find you have to do some thinning out. Also haps should not be kept with mbuna ,generally speaking. Besides it gives you an excuse to set up another tank for mbuna. Lets see some pics of the fish.