punman

I have a python-type setup for my upstairs tank but not long enough for the basement tank - so - I use a green garden hose.

I hook it up to the shower - run water into the tank for 10 seconds. Disconnect the hose from the shower and set it on the shower floor. With that much drop from upper tank to ground, even my 180 drains fast - no sucking or priming to get the flow going.

Some worry about the green hose but I have bred frontosas, cyprichromis, featherfins, and tropheus in that tank with the green fill hose.

I guess there are lots of factors such as type of filtration, quantity of fish, size of tank, amount of feedings.

I find that if I change 1/3 every week to 10 days I am in pretty good shape.

I have 30 in my 90 gallon. See link below.

http://albertaaquatica.com/index.php?showtopic=21089

They were in my 180 for awhile but I temporarily needed the space so they have been in the 90 for a month and are fine. I started with 30 in case I lose a few but so far have not lost any. Started with them just under 2 inches.

I may have juveniles for sale in a month or so.

That is good to know. I have Photoshop Elements 5 and have only used a couple of times due to the learning curve of just getting going with it.

Just thought I'd share a picture. I bought Kirizas by mail back in May (two inches and smaller) and they have all survived. Mid July they started spawning. Thanks to all who have answered questions about tropheus for me as this is my first attempt with them.

I run two AC 500 (110s now) on my 90. I use two AClear 300s on my 45 gallon. I'd say an AC500 and 300 at minimum on a 90.

Two AC 300s might work if you only have say 5-7 average size fish in there, but why bother with a 90 gallon for that few fish?

You could do two groups - I was considering that but was told that one group often dominates and you don't get breeding from that group - or worse hybrids.

Of course if you don't want fry it doesn't matter.

When miy tropheus were in my 180 I had Cyprichromis in there too.

Are those the 9325K bulbs?

I think they might be but have only read about them - not seen them.

On various forums I have heard good comments about this bulb. Has anyone seen it available in Calgary (or Alberta) and do they like it?

Thanks for the ideas. I tried the nail polish remover. It did not help. I may try the others when I have a chance. It is a 33 gallon fry tank so I am not going to worry too much about it anyways - not a show tank.

I took a 33 gallon tank out of the garage that had been in storage for a year and discovered a dry 2 inch square patch of shiny substance on the OUTSIDE of the glass on one pane. It is transparent but looks like oil in a rain puddle - rainbow effect.

I let a friend use the garage for car body repair and wonder if some coating spray hit the tank as it was in the vicinity.

I tried a pot scrubber with paint thinner - nothing.

Then I tried lacquer thinner - no better. Tried a razor blade too.

Any other solutions (no pun intended)? It is a cosmetic issue as it is on the exterior but I would like to remove it.

I've had a 90 gallon in my living room for four years and even had a 180 gallon there for two years. But then again, I cannot say that this is a guarantee for you.

Wow!

So how many tanks are actually running with fish in them at the moment?

All from Lake Tanganyika:

Tropheus sp. Black Kiriza

Cyprichromis Utinta

Cyathopharynx Sibwesa

You can have a few adult Blue Dolphins (C moorii) in a 90 with no problems if there are not loads of other fish in there.

Once frontosas are four inches they need a bigger tank.

Just got a Big Als ad in the mail with coupons for 20-25% off.

Anyone buy anything? I have not visited the store yet.

I just got an email from Spencer Jack, the importer from whom I got the tropheus. He says that Kiriza spawn at 12 to 15 months typically. As mine are from the lake one cannot predict their age with certainty but he figures that they would have been 6 – 8 months old when I got them. I would think that they would grow slower in the lake than in a controlled tank with lots of quality food available but I could be wrong on that one.

Three months ago I purchased 30 tropheus Kirizas that ranged from 1.25 inches to 2 inches. They are now 2.75 inches to 3.25 inches in length, due to, I believe, being in a 180 gallon tank, water changes every ten days, and a diet of only New Life Spectrum.

Just before going on vacation I noticed a female holding eggs. When I came back, she was still holding so I stripped her of three fry today!!! I was pretty excited as I thought the fish were too small/young to spawn.

A couple of questions. How old do you think my fish are? (Obviously over three months). But how long might it have taken to get from birth to the size at which I purchased them? Someone said that they need to be a year to spawn. If that were true it means nine months from birth to an average of 1.75 inches. That just seems too long of a time. My estimate is that they might be six months old but I have no idea.

My second question is wanting to know how long the female had been holding. I stripped her 15 days after seeing her holding but have no idea how long she was holding before I noticed. I post below a picture taken today – the day she was stripped. I would not normally strip fry this soon. I thought she may have been holding a week before I noticed her. I don't think that was case based on the development of the fry. The egg sacs are huge but luckily the fry are free- swimming. Sorry for the poor picture quality.

Also, are three fry for starters pretty typical? What is average for older females?

It has been seven weeks since I got my 30 Tropheus Kirizas. (Spencer Jack - Winnipeg). They were 1.25 to two inches and are now just under two inches to almost three inches. I have not lost any so far and all seem happy. I have them in my 180 gallon tank with eight cyprichromis males. I just thought I would share a couple of pictures. Two males have staked out rock piles and they "shimmy" with a few of their friends. I am wondering about switching to a mid blue background instead of the black. What do you think?

Congratulations on your setup.

I went with the #4 Koralia for $58. Easy to use. I like the magnets. Low power use. Big water flow, and for me I like the fact that it is not noisy.

I recommend it.

Thanks for the tips. We started at Big Als and then hit AquaGiant 170 Street. It was still open and had the bulbs I wanted. Then a stop at Holes Greenhouse in ST. Albert which I had not seen before and as gardening is my other weakness it took all of our time before the family dinner. It was 430 by time we did that so that was our day. Next time we need to just do a fish day -except I doubt my wife will want to do it!

Yes - 5 W will be three times less than 15 W

Pick an appliance. Figure out how many hours a month that appliance is on. Multiply by the wattage - like 15 Watts. Divide that by 1000 and multiply by your cost per kilowatt hr (should be on your bill). That will give you the monthly cost.

Been trying to get my petricolas to spawn for a year. I have eight split between two tanks. I tried the pot method with marbles off and on for a week or two here and there. Have not tried that method for a couple of months. I have had these fish for three years. The other day, in my 45 gallon tank, where I have 5 petricolas, I saw three of them writhing madly under the edge of a rock where the sand had been removed. Meanwhile about three cichlids were getting their noses in there too. This went on for about three minutes but I could not see any eggs. Then it all calmed down. What was I seeing?

Thanks - I did not know there were two AquaGiants. I need to go there for a replacement bulb.