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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 15, 2008 21:01:15 GMT -5
this weekend I am adding the rocks to form caves - read recently blues like tannic water - too bad, mine is crystal clear! question though - have also read like like slow moving water - I have an hob and an airstone in there - am not too worried about the hob - any advice on the airstone? seems to keep this tank really clear
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Post by eve on Oct 15, 2008 22:24:24 GMT -5
i have a pair of rams now in my 29 with an HOB filter and a submersible rena filter the hob is pretty strong my water is not tany, but on the lower side of pH, like around 7.2-7.4, which is good bunch of plants and 2 sunken ships for them
and another male in 55, which has 2 very strong moving submersible filters and a bubblewand as well don't see any issues with fast flowing water
so when setting up your tank, make sure you also get lots of live plants for it
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 10:38:21 GMT -5
I have heard both sides of the story regarding live plants - am very happy to hear yours are doing well w/ the Ph where it is - read ideal for them was 5! why do you suggest live plants vs artificial? thanks for your help - makes me happy I'm off to a good start!
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Post by eve on Oct 16, 2008 12:04:02 GMT -5
why liveplants, that's a really good question i have had both and i can only say, NEVER EVER AGAIN artificial why? because you can clean them basically weekly and if you don't do it, they just start looking really really nasty because of all the algae they start to collect liveplants just simply look nicer, and give a tank a real feel to it might be preference, true but i'm liveplants all the way and you're welcome
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Post by Carl on Oct 16, 2008 12:44:21 GMT -5
I too prefer live plants or at least some live plants with not only Rams, but Amazon River Basin fish which includes Discus as well. Part of this is simply preference, however plants also lower nitrates naturally, and lower anaerobic bacterial activity via their roots. Also I have noted that planted tanks tended to maintain a more balanced low pH that these fish prefer. I also prefer the use of products and/or driftwood that add natural tannins to the water. Bio Lif is an excellent product for this that also has the side benefit of lowering anaerobic bacteria. I also have seen vastly better results in my Amazon River Aquariums when UV Sterilizers are part of the filtration system, this is not to say that they are essential, however in this case I HAVE documented lower disease incidence, better color, less "mysterious death", improved Redox, etc. when these tanks were compared with those with the same filtration and fish that were without UVs. See this article for more about Amazon River Water: Aquarium GH, KH, pH; Amazon River WaterCarl
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 13:37:01 GMT -5
am boiling rocks right now - have sandstone and granite, both of which were approved by my friend who has traveled all over the world as as a geologist, water specialist and geographical enviromental specialist - he inspected the rocks I chose and deep sixed a few because of carbonates - is very familiar w/ the amazon river basin - recommended driftwood as well to keep the Ph down rather than adding buffers - kids are on there way to the store to by some mango or indonesian driftwood for me right now - I am so excited to be starting this new adventure! my only concern is water displacement - rocks and wood will displace a lot of water! also ? on diet - what do they like best - I know the're omnivours - these will be young fish, mabe an inch or a little more - and what kind of live plants? I am putting artificial in there to start - may main objective right now is to provide an environment in which they can find ther own hidey holes and not harm each other - I have no idea what sex I an getting (not to sound kinky here) LOL - so I have 2 20 gallon tanks set up to keep them seperate once I can determine who's who - any and all advice from ALL you cichlid experts will be gladly appreciated! am planning on getting the rams Wednesday - the tanks have been cycling now for over 3 weeks and all parameters are great - these are my once used platy tanks - I have not done anything to them such a 100% water change - have just maintained filtration, cleanliness and water paramenters and have a few fish in each to keep levels up - thanks all!
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Post by Carl on Oct 16, 2008 15:28:07 GMT -5
Starting with fake plants and then adding live plants may be an easy, less stressful, less expensive way to go rather than jumping into plants "full speed ahead" As for plants, Java Moss, Jave Ferns, Anacharis, among others are quite easy to grow, see this article: Aquarium Plants; Basics, Substrate, Ferts, CO2, Lighting, Dips and other FactorsAs per our phone conversations, I think your "wood" purchase is excellent for your aquarium parameters. As per diet, I have had little trouble with either my German or Bolivian Rams eating everything offered. This includes Spirulina Flake, High Protein Fish Flakes and granules, FD or Frozen Brine Shrimp and Worms, etc. Even though Rams can be difficult, I have kept many over the years (still have them) with liitle problems as long as water conditions were stable (inlcuding tannins and minerals), I had good filtration (which has generally included UV Sterilization), and a well set up tank as per hiding places, rocks, plants (real or fake). Carl
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 15:47:48 GMT -5
there's going to be so much cover I wonder if I'll be able to ever see them!
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Post by 8 in the Corner on Oct 16, 2008 17:41:52 GMT -5
there's going to be so much cover I wonder if I'll be able to ever see them! I have a trio of apistogramma borellii in a well planted 10g that I only see at feeding time. They have spawned once for me in the last year, but I have some calico bushynose pleco fry growing out in there with them right now, so nothing is happening as far as breeding.
All the apistos/rams will eat just about anything that is offered. Good quality flakes are what I serve up. I buy bulk online and then mix up my own with worm, spirulina, growth and color flakes in various %'s. I treat all my fish with frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms once or twice a week.... when I can afford it.
They are secretive spawners and like to lay their eggs on broad leafed plants. Mine used a Java fern leaf. Once the fry are free swimming, they tend to forget about them and can make meals of them later.
I have a hob filter that doesn't make too much current, so there is no problem with that. They are pretty tolerant of the water here at my house, comes out of the tap at about 7.6 pH. John
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Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 16, 2008 18:11:01 GMT -5
john...my only concern here is ph. you were told 5.....i would definately recomend ph of 6-7. otherwise sounds like you are doing everything perfectly. way to go bud. been a long time coming and i am very elated it is happening. great lil fish = great lil personalities.
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Post by brenda on Oct 16, 2008 19:59:21 GMT -5
How exciting John!!! Goodluck on this new venture...Make sure you post pics when you get your fish!!!
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 20:11:24 GMT -5
am hoping to post pics tonight - I totally redid my tanks today - played hooky from work! set up an SA for my rams, an African for my yellows and a community tank for my misc. friends - just took 3 pics, one of each - daughter is downloading now - fingers crossed - like a little kid w/ his 1st bike!
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 20:35:11 GMT -5
here they are.... community tank african tank ram tank whatcha all think? took pics myself w/ a camera I know nothing about and downloaded them myself wiyhout not knowing what I was doing!
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 21:49:28 GMT -5
seems to be a problem w/ people being able to respond to my thread - ah, fixed it!
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Post by demfish on Oct 16, 2008 22:00:43 GMT -5
Yippee lol think you got it!! The tanks look great!! Like the last one the best ;D
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Post by demfish on Oct 16, 2008 22:01:29 GMT -5
Great job by the way!!
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 22:02:40 GMT -5
too bad it came out so blurry - like I said, I never used that camera before or downloaded anything before, so for me to get that far is something in itself!
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Post by demfish on Oct 16, 2008 22:04:56 GMT -5
So when do you get your new fish?
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 16, 2008 22:09:37 GMT -5
next Wednesday for the blue rams if all parameters remain stable - the wood in the tank is mopani from Africa - it was so beautiful I had a heckuva time trying to decide hoe wo pit it in the tank - one side was deep dark brown - oh well, if it becomes boring I can always flip it over
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Post by Carl on Oct 16, 2008 22:36:50 GMT -5
WOW! Nice pics John! ;D All three tanks look good and I especially like the "wood" in your future Ram tank. Are all three tanks near each other? Great Job, hear is a "virtual handshake" Carl
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