C0lin Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 So this is my current aquarium with African Cichlids. I know it's freshwater, so don't hang me. I set it up about a year ago, and the rock on the bottom used to be all white. Since then, algae has stained it green, and I don't think it will get any better. The tank has an eastern facing window that has the curtain open about half of the time. I think being so close to a window causes a lot of the algae problems. Here's what I would like to do. I'm thinking about replacing the rock on the bottom with a black sand or gravel. I'm a little worried about the stress it would cause, and any negative impacts biologically on the tank. I'd also like to have some drift wood/lava rock/river rock and live plants. Would the cichlids or plecostamus eat the plants, and would I be able to go to a local quarry to get the rock? I'm thinking of some flat rock to build little holes for the fish to hide in. Something like this If I was to go down to a river and find some good wood, what could I do to make sure it's not going to harm anything? I'm sorry for all the questions, but I want my fish to be happy little buggers. Thanks in advance, and I love this place already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 ok...this is something I do know. First, yes you can go and get rock from a local landscaping or quarry. I used to get Red Lava Rock from a landscaping place, take masonary bits and drill out holes. You have to rinse them very well though. Make sure there is no dust comming off of them. Second, as for gravel, I used to use crushed coral for my gravel. It kept my PH perfect. Yes, your cichlids will eat the plants, like a treat. As for the wood from local streams.....I would leave that part out. Yes I am sure you can but you would have to make sure there are no toxins or anything else in them. It is rather hard to accomplish due to the fact that it soaks in. You can call me if you wish and I would be glad to help in any way. PM me if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I will post pic's of my cichlid tank in hopes to assist you in what I did and what you can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Once I went to the Red Lava Rock, all I got was egg laying and happy fish. If you drill your rocks with specific fish in mind (which is what I did) you will get better results. WARNING it is very messy drilling lava rocks. Might wanna do it outside. I would be glad to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 I'd really like to see it. I might not go with the live plants, since I don't want to be spending $5 per plant to see them go away in a few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 You might make me get back into cichlids again....I do miss them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I used to buy live plants like once a month. They would last in my tank for about a week or so then I would have to take out what is left. Just get it as a treat. I had quite a few more fish in the tank than what I see in yours though. I had a 80g with about 75 fish. Most small african's with a few south american's in the mix. Managuensees, Texas, Cuban, shovel nose cat, wolf, green terror, peacock bass, and several others. Funny part is the king of my tank, who wasn't the biggest fish, was my frontosa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I will try and locate the pix tonight and post tomorrow if that is ok with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Second WARNING, cichlids lead to salt water....IME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 I have a 50 gallon tank with 5 chichlids and one clown loach, and a huge pleco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 What I found is to keep the aggression down with most of my fish (mostly because I had a mix that any LFS would recommend against) I found that having a large amount of cichlids prevented territories from being made. I am sure most would argue that but it is true. If you have too many fish they can't pick territories. With exception to your larger ones. The fish you have that is purple with yellow orange on the top fin (I called him my Bronco fish) was the biggest PITA I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 The largest one I have is an Albino, and he chills inside the rock thing. He's double the size of the rest of them, but he plays nice, up until about 3 months ago, he had a BIG brother that kept him in his place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 yeah it goes like that. What I used to do is for every fish I lost I would pick up between 3 and 5 more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 I plan on getting more, but not for a while. I'd like to get it set up before I do any more damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 yeah I hear that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 Would re-scaping the thing cause too much turmoil for my fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 This might be better suited for a freshwater forum... BUT - Your plants die because you don't give them what they need. Light, CO2, nutrients. They die, and leave nutrients that feeds the algae. Vicious cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 I don't have any plants ATM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Do we have a freshwater forum here at all? What about if you have both, F and SW. If your going to change your tank around , I would add the additional fish Immediately to prevent territorial behavior setting in. With them exploring the new surroundings, they shouldn't go after the "new" arrivals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Are these rocks ok to use? The guy at the rock place said they were quartz rocks. I think they look good, but I just don't want to poison my guys with metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Run them thru the dishwasher. The heat should kill off anything and the water can't hurt. Not sure about them leeching anything........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 I'm running them now, but won't the soap leave a residue? Just kidding, I'm not that dumb. I'm just paranoid about the rock. I don't know why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 PM dsoz or MrS. They are science teachers maybe they know of some test you can run at home to check them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Well I've added a new base of rock on the bottom,covered it with black sand and added some new silk plants. I'm just waiting to hear from one of the science teachers about the flat rocks to add them and the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Shiny flecks could be mica. Do they come off like sheets of paper if you push at them with a sharp metal object like a pin? I really don't know a lot about rocks... I could not tell you what kind of rock they are just by looking at a picture. I am more a biology and chemistry guy, not a rock-head geologist. Science teachers can't know everything, even though we would like our students to think that we do. If in doubt, don't use them. Go to a local river and collect some nice river rock, which should be mostly basalt. It would be free. There are several nice places to collect on the Wilamette River. If you can't find one, come up to Oregon City and go to Clackamette Park. Having someone take a few rocks from there would not make a dent in the number of rocks that are there. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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