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Tank examples: mixed 75Gallon
mixed 75Gallon
by tim ferguson from brisbane / AUS
In the hobby since 2 years.
Description
- Category: African
- Tank size: 49x18x19 inches = 75 gallons
- Tank size: 125x46x50 cm = 287.5 liters
75Gallon Freshwater Aquarium;
FISH; (34)
AFRICAN CICHLIDS: (19)
BOTTOM FEEDERS: (13)
OTHER FISH: (2)
PLANTS, LOGS & ROCKS: (14 varieties)
AFRICAN CICHLIDS: (19)
2x Labidochromis caeruleus "Electric Yellow" (Male)
2x Sciaenochromis fryeri (Chizumulu Is.) "Electric Blue"
1x Pseudotropheus Acei
1x Pseudotropheus Acei Hybrid (Zebra cross)
1x Protomelas Taeniolatus "Red Empress"
1x Red Peacock
1x Aulonocara (Rubescens) Peacock
1x Aulonocara baenschi "Benga Peacock"
1x Labidochromis sp. Hongi
1x Metriaclima lombardoi
1x Pseudotropheus sp. Elongatus Chewere
1x Nimbochromis venustus
1x Hemichromis bimaculatus "Red Jewel"
1x Archocentrus nigrofasciatus "Convict" "zebra cichlid"
1x Cynotilapia Afra Cobue
1x Iodotropheus sprengerae "Rusty Cichlid"
1x Metriaclima sp. "elongatus mpanga"
BOTTOM FEEDERS: (13)
6x Chromobotia/Botia macracanthus "Clown Loach"
1x Gyrinocheilos aymonieri "CAE"
5x Ancistrus temminckii, Ancistrus sp. "Bristlenose Pleco" (2x Adult male & 3x Adult female. (Breeding in the tank also, though survival rate of fry is minimal))
1x Mastacemelus Armatus "Spiny Eel, Tyre Track Eel"
Several Ghost Shrimp
OTHER FISH: (2)
2x Crossocheilus siamensis "SAE"
Blackworms live and breed throughout substrate.
PLANTS, LOGS & ROCKS: (14 varieties)
10x large, medium & small pieces of Lava rock.
2KG small and medium flat/round smooth river rocks.
9x Logs covered in Anubias (nana, Isabelle & Hybrid), Java Moss and Java Fern.
(1x Extra large, 4x large, 3x medium, 1x small, (small log is an arch with full Isabelle growth over top))
Anubias barteri var. (nana, Isabelle & Hybrid)
Spathiphyllum sp. wallisi Regel
Microsorium pteropus (Java Fern)
Taxiphyllum barbieri "Java Moss"
Vallisneria americana Michx "American eelgrass" (thin)
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Spathiphyllum sp. "Borneo Sword"
Echinodorus var. 'Ozelot'
Algae
PLANT INFO:
Plants grow at a good rate, (Anubias flowers often and increases size quicker than normal, Java Moss continuessly has to be seperated to where what is left is a few strong strands, Java Fern sprouts daughters at an exceeding rate on all leaves, daughter Java Fern also grows very quickly.)
Cryptocoryne wendtii spreads wide and grows beautifuly.
Borneo Sword is very strong, Green and growing large.
Cichlids are not an issue with this selection of plants, the only things my aquatic plants struggle against is;
Clown Loaches, SAE's and water parameters.
FILTERS: (7)
1x 380 l/h jet flow vitapet filters on front left corner, (using spray arm).
1x 380 l/h jet flow vitapet filters on front right corner, (modified with small trickle).
1x 1100 l/h jet flow Aquafx filter, back left corner (air induced & 1x extra sponge chamber).
1x 1200 l/h jet flow AquaOne filter, back right corner, (connected to large over hanging trickle system).
1x Large over hanging trickler system, (with bio noodles, carbon, ammonia remover, sponges).
1x small corner filter in back left corner connected to Vitapet series 6000 twin outlet airpump with check vaulve.
1x small corner filter in back right corner connected to Vitapet series 6000 twin outlet airpump with check vaulve.
WATER:
Water change, weekly (only from mid level of tank, not substrate, about %15).
PH; Average 7.4 can raise up to 8.0.
Temperature average of between 26-28 degrees celcius.
Active Carbon.
Ammonia remover.
Bio Noodles.
Water Ager (chlorine nuetralizer).
Aquarium Life Liquid (advanced GEO-Liquid formula).
OXYGEN:
1x 1100 l/h jet flow Aquafx filter, back left corner (air induced) (mentioned above).
1x small corner filter in back left/right corner connected to Vitapet series 6000 twin outlet airpump with check vaulve (mentioned above).
1x medium cylinder shape airstone, (connected to Aquaworld airpump 75 l/h twin outlet with check vaulve).
1x medium flat round airstone, (connected to Aquaworld airpump 75 l/h twin outlet with check vaulve).
SUBSTRATE:
White Cichlid Crush (approx 55kg)
HEATING:
1x approx 17inch submergable heater (have not read watt?).
Temperature between 26-28 degrees celcius.
LIGHTING:
3x lights on hood,
(only running 2, 1x 30watt aquaglo, 1x 20watt aquaone.)
12 hour cycle
FEED:
(Wardley, HBH, Omega One, White Crane, AquaWorld & Natural.)
Live Blackworms
Live Earthworms
Live Ghost Shrimp
Live Brine Shrimp (when in stock)
Live Baby Brine Shrimp (own hatchery)
Live Insects (springtails and whatever gets under the canopy)
Live Assorted Feeder Fish
Frozen Brine Shrimp
Frozen Cichlid Meal
Small and large floating cichlid pellets
Small and medium sinking cichlid pellets
White Crane Super G Sinking pellets with 5% Spirulina
Cichlid flake
Omega One flakes
Shrimp pellets
Algae wafers
Wardley Sprout Aquarium Plant Food.
FEEDING PLAN:
Feeding is at three times a day, once twice day for the Betta's in the seperator and sparingly through-out the days.
Morning feed between 0730-0900 consists of; Omega One flakes, White Crane Super G, Small HBH sinking cichlid pellets, large Wardley floating cichlid pellets, Shrimp pellets, Algae wafer.
Afternoon feed between 1200-1400 consists of; Live Blackworms, White Crane Super G, Omega One flakes.
Evening feed between 1800-1930 consists of; Omega One flakes and/or Frozen Brine Shrimp, White Crane Super G, Small HBH sinking cichlid pellets, large Wardley floating cichlid pellets, Shrimp pellets, Algae wafer.
Other feeds are introduced sparingly through-out the days. All Fish also dig up Blackworms, find Shrimp and/or Fedder Fish hiding around and consume them through-out the days.
Wardley Sprout Aquarium Plant Food is introduced once a week for encouragement in plant growth.
Bottom feeders are extreemly hard to feed unless it is hand fed due to cichlids being greedy despite how much they are fed.
OTHERS:
1x Small half log. (fake)
1x Small sunken ship. (fake)
1x Large Anchor. (fake)
3x Small sea shells.
1x Small PVC corner pipe (covered completely in Java Moss).
REMOVED FISH: (9)
1x Australian ShortFin Eel (got too large, grew almost the length of tank)
2x Geophagus brasiliensis (got too large and continuessly uprooted plants)
1x Pseudotropheus Acei (Between two Acei's, there was too much aggression, eventually one was attacked to death)
1x Labidochromis caeruleus "Electric Yellow" (Male) (At start of setup, became very stressed, then ill and unfortunatly died in quarintine)
1x Midnight Blue Peacock (got too large, took charge of the tank and ripped through plants)
1x Silver Pearch (Blue & Green spekled coloration through-out it's body) (Continuessly uprooted and ate all plants, including a huge handful of Java Moss)
1x Melanochromis Auratus (Female) (after research, decided best to keep it in quarintine, despite was going well in my main tank)
1x Albino Chinese Algae Eater (grew too large and showed too much aggression to the cichlids)
REMOVED PLANTS: (8 varieties)
Lace Fern (not growing very well)
Ambulia (several varieties) (not growing very well)
Aliminum (not true aquatic, just rotted)
Wistera (not growing very well)
Chain Sword (eaten, never replaced)
Water Rose (Clown Loach's kept eating and uprooting)
Banana Lilie (could not sprout lillies due to water hardness)
Garnotia stricta Brongn "blue lawngrass" (not growing very well)
Amazon Sword (Clown Loach's kept eating and uprooting)
Elodia (not happy with)
MAITENANCE:
Maintenance is carried out ONLY once a week, no other interaction is done with the tank what so ever in regards to maitenancing apart from when water change is carried out.
Weekly days water change, water change is at about 15%-20%. Water is syphoned but from mid level of tank. Every once in a while syphoning of a couple small selected areas on the substrate is done, but mostly mid level.
The reason for this is because my aquarium is heavily planted, the plants are big, plenty and the root systems spread out covering through the entire substrate. Not only that, too their is an exceeding amount of blackworms living through-out the substrate.
Filter maintenance is minimal. Every water change, rinse all sponges, carbon and ammonia remover in syphoned aquarium water, and change filter wool (leaving some for assisting bacteria growth).
Every four weeks, carbon and ammonia remover is replaced, rinse bio noodles and lightly clean the front and sides of the aquarium with a large floating magnetic glass cleaner.
Every eight weeks, bio noodles is replaced.
Accompanied with the weekly water change, with the addition of the new water, Water Ager (chlorine nuetralizer) and Aquarium Life Liquid (advanced GEO-Liquid formula) are also introduced.
Wardley Sprout Aquarium Plant Food is used the next day after a water change.
On top of the aquarium hood, inside above water level, (on rim of hood opening), there is a decent sized mossy algae growth that i have let be, (water reaches it from splashes, it is constantly fed and drips back into the tank). I feel that it all plays a role in my aquariums eco-system, too there is some hair algae and red bush algae growth in a few places, (SAE's were introduced to control the Red Bush, and is currently being controlled, the Red bush is the only one that concerns me). There are also tiny red springtails living above the water line, (these have reduced in numbers exceedinly over the months, most likely being consumed by the fish).
The maintanence process takes anywhere up to two hours depending on other maintanence, usualy about an hour.
All the fish, i mean ALL, swim around me and get in my way, swimming in my hands, etc almost constantly wich makes the process take longer. The bottom feeders, (mainly Clown Loach) are the biggest distraction when it comes to water change. I have sucked up a few Shrimp, Brigs and a Clown Loach, The fish are extreemly comfortable with me.
SETUP (brief);
Everything is natural except (1x Small half log (fake), 1x Large Anchor (fake), 1x Small sunken ship (fake), 1x Small PVC corner pipe (covered completely in Java Moss), heater and filters.)
Cichlid Crush substrate is thick through-out the aquarium. Heater is in back right corner behind 1200 l/h jet flow AquaOne filter, (connected to large over hanging trickle system), next to small corner filter connected to Vitapet series 6000 twin outlet airpump with check vaulve.
In the back left sits 1100 l/h jet flow Aquafx filter, (air induced & 1x extra sponge chamber) next to small corner filter connected to Vitapet series 6000 twin outlet airpump with check vaulve.
Front left corner sits 380 l/h jet flow vitapet filters on front left corner, (using spray arm).
Front right corner sits 380 l/h jet flow vitapet filters on front right corner, (modified with small trickle), Trickle goes round to the back of the tank through hose.
Large over hanging trickle filter system consists of (Sponge, Active Carbon, Ammonia remover, Bio Noodles.)
Back right corner near filters and heater is all Lava rocks in a vertical rocky approx 40cm long wall formation with 1x medium log (with Anubias Nana) resting up virtically also, (fairly wide spread).
Small rocky formation at front of tank with several small and medium flat/round smooth river rocks.
Large Log with Anubias Isabelle sits from front left corner to start of Lava rock formation (just a bit further than mid tank).
All other logs with Anubias Nana and Isabelle throuth-out various places, (couple over lapping), 1x medium log (with Anubias Nana) resting up virtically on Lava rocks. The arched log is the most visibible, half covering a small sunken ship.
The sunken ship has alot of Java Fern, Java Moss and Anubias Nana and Isabelle growth reaching over it.
Behind the large log is the anchor and half log ornament.
Java Moss Completely covering a small PVC corner pipe, Wedged between Lava rock, running up air lines, growing on logs.
Java Fern has grown new plants of majority leaves.
An Anubias Nana has been tied down to 1200 l/h jet flow AquaOne filter, (connected to large over hanging trickle system), at top of filter.
Not much space is avalible on the substrate, Logs, rocks and plants are placed closely/on top of one another and too grow over one another in a very good appearing manner!!
The flat round airstone, (connected to Aquaworld airpump 75 l/h twin outlet with check vaulve) sits behind the large log.
The cylinder shape airstone, (connected to Aquaworld airpump 75 l/h twin outlet with check vaulve) is wedged down between Lava rock.
Small half tree log ornament sits along side left side of aquarium, A male Bristlenose has claimed this as his territory.
The fish have been restricted on their avalibility in home constructions, (due to planting situation).
All fish have a place of comfort, though they do tend to change from time to time.
The aggression is fairly minimal between all fish, however, the two Electric Yellows cannot stand one another.
OTHER TANKS; (2)
1:
1x small freshwater tank for plant re-growth and breeding area.
5x Brig ((breeding) only one female.)
heaps of baby brigs.
Small submergable heater.
Ph: 6.5-7.0
Temp: 26-28 degrees celcius.
(no substrate as of yet)
Small branch/Log covered in Java Moss, Java Fern and Anubias Nana.
1x 180 l/h submerged jet flow filter with sprat arm.
Active Carbon.
Ammonia remover.
Bio Noodles.
Water Ager (chlorine nuetralizer).
Aquarium Life Liquid (advanced GEO-Liquid formula).
2:
1x homemade brine shrimp hatchery, (very successful and produces plenty)
2Litre Coke bottle.
Small submergable heater.
1x Small air stone (connected to 50l/h airpump with air regulator and check vaulve).
Temp; 26-28 degrees celcius.
LINKS;
http://au.youtube.com/3timf81
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/tanks/displaytank.php?style=1&tank=20452 ... (tank of the month)
http://photobucket.com/TimFergusonsAquarium
Decoration
- Gravel: cichlid crush, 55kg
- Plants: anubias, java fern, java moss, borneo sword, Spathiphyllum (small, medium and large. some flowered and reaching above water line.), Dwarf Green Rush, Vallisneria, Cryptocoryne wendtii
lava rock, river rock, small pvc pipe covered completeli in java moss, small ship(fake), small half log(fake)
Technics
- Light: 50watt (1x aquaglo 30watt 1x aquaone 20watt)
- Light-Duration: 12 hour cycle, half hour before lights are turned off they are reduced to 1x aquaglo 30watt
- Filtration: several modified systems until i can afford a suitable large system
allow certain algae growth in and out the tank
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Thanks for all the info. its great.
How much of your success with plants is do do with the type of cichlids you keep.
Will i have any chance with plants if im holding fronts. and tropheuses?
any advice?
planter Anubias and Vallisneria last night, parts of them both are floating on the water already.