So i have a fish..

[kingjason]

Damn, thanks for the link. The filter sponges for my system are half of what I have to pay at Petco.

Look at the food. You can get 5 pounds for what 8 ounces costs at Petco.

[Cannon88]

Cannon88, you can buy my setup. It is in the Classifieds.

Not a bad deal, I just have no room for one right now.

[Stunter Bob]

cool. using the old water makes sense. i'm amazed you moved that much water.

you can move fish to a tank with brand new water but that water needs to have been decholorified first then bio-cycled. the biological cycle on a brand new tank of that size would take a week before it's all ready. it takes a while for the good bacteria to stabilize.

if you are looking to upgrade the filter, this is the best kind of filtration setup i've ever used and the most maintainance free:


it's sump style so im not sure if it will work with your tank.

You have no idea how heavy this thing was, so thankful i live on the first floor!

What brand filter is that there?

[mschmoyer]

Better just leave that one fish in there for a month. Good chance he'll just be a sacrifice to the non-cycled tank gods. As far as the fish eating fish problem...ciclids are aggressive freshwater fish and can only live with other aggressive fish (pretty much just cichlids)...but besides that...big fish eat little fish...you have to put other 13" fish in that tank for them OR you can add a lot of hiding places. Throw river rocks in there and stack them up. I'd just sell that fish off or trade him in and buy 30-40 cichlid babies and watch them grow.

You need a canister filter at least...most pet stores have some. Two heaters is better than one so you can probably just buy another one and be good to go there.

Have fun cleaning the bottom of that deep tank...those guys like to nip at your arm and it'll make you jump every time. They'll grab a hair or two and pull.

My 150g cichlid tank:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvkkSVVrl-A

Edit: That video was taken about 5 months ago...all of those fish are full grown now and I still need more to fill it out...

[jdgregory84]

Fuck it's brains out.

[Stunter Bob]

Better just leave that one fish in there for a month. Good chance he'll just be a sacrifice to the non-cycled tank gods. As far as the fish eating fish problem...ciclids are aggressive freshwater fish and can only live with other aggressive fish (pretty much just cichlids)...but besides that...big fish eat little fish...you have to put other 13" fish in that tank for them OR you can add a lot of hiding places. Throw river rocks in there and stack them up. I'd just sell that fish off or trade him in and buy 30-40 cichlid babies and watch them grow.

You need a canister filter at least...most pet stores have some. Two heaters is better than one so you can probably just buy another one and be good to go there.

Have fun cleaning the bottom of that deep tank...those guys like to nip at your arm and it'll make you jump every time. They'll grab a hair or two and pull.

My 150g cichlid tank:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvkkSVVrl-A

Edit: That video was taken about 5 months ago...all of those fish are full grown now and I still need more to fill it out...

Dont tell me hes going to die!!!

And btw your tank is awesome!

[kingjason]

He will be fine if the tank, water and filters came from the same place. If you bought the tank, put in new filters and water then yes he probably wont make it. Marineland sells some instant bio stuff but it would be a little late if it was new water.

I just re read the top. Did you use the stuff that takes the chlorine out of the water when you filled it up?

[momo]

damn i found my post from DFWS back in 2005 with my old pics but all the pics were hosted on comcast and those are gone. i'll have to find them on my computer later.

i bought a 75 gallon tank from txstang1 and stocked it with free convict cichlid babies from phillystang behind with at my parents house. the tank is still up and running. i still have the same fish from 6 years ago except a different pleco.

i just have to go there every 2 weeks or so and add water. i replace the cheap blue filter element every month or so. honestly i've only done an annual water change of about 10-15% since i've had the tank.

You have no idea how heavy this thing was, so thankful i live on the first floor!

What brand filter is that there?

not sure what brand that one is. mine is made by Amiracle

[Stunter Bob]

He will be fine if the tank, water and filters came from the same place. If you bought the tank, put in new filters and water then yes he probably wont make it. Marineland sells some instant bio stuff but it would be a little late if it was new water.

I just re read the top. Did you use the stuff that takes the chlorine out of the water when you filled it up?

Yea i used the same filters so i didnt get rid of all of the bacteria that is needed to cycle the tank. He seems to be just fine, he is very active in there and shows no signs of sickness.
Tonight Im going to buy a new background and some rocks and maybe some feeder goldfish for him to chase around.

[Stunter Bob]

Been doing some reading and found out that sand right from our river would be perfect for substrate in my tank along with the natural sand stone rocks and lava rock found here.

FREEEBIE!!!

[fordracing19]

Is that tank 48" length?

[Stunter Bob]

Sure is.

[mstng86]

Look at the food. You can get 5 pounds for what 8 ounces costs at Petco.

I ordered everything I needed (water treatment, filter sponges, and food) for $33. I think the sponges and treatment were like $35 by themselves at Petco.

Not a bad deal, I just have no room for one right now.

Come on!! YOu know you want it.

[kingjason]

I ordered everything I needed (water treatment, filter sponges, and food) for $33. I think the sponges and treatment were like $35 by themselves at Petco.



Come on!! YOu know you want it.

Once you order a few times from them the deals get even better.

[Game On]

I am no expert, but I have been keeping cichlids for about 3 years. It is a very addicting hobby.
as far as filtration is concerned the rule i go by is 10 times the gallons per hour.
i Have a 55 gallon tank with two hang on 300 gph filters!
as for heaters. My tank is little and I get by with just one.I would suggest you go big as you can afford. You will be better off running a large heater or two at a low setting.
cichlids also like alkaline water between 7.2 and 9.0. Holey Rock will assist in keeping the ph balance. http://www.holeyrockoftexas.com/
David has the best prices in the metroplex. Usually $1.00 apound. every other local fish store is closer to $3.00 a pound.
Lake and river rock www.whiz-q.com.
They have a catalog for fresh water rock that are alkaline nuetral.