My new African setup.

[Jim2982]

Hey everyone. I've been trying to post some pics of my tank, but they're too big. If you have myspace my address is www.myspace.com/jim2982, there's some pics on there. I'll try to downsize some of my pics later and post them on here. And a big thanks to Gary Hess for the Frontosas and to Michelle for the Brichardis. They all made it home safely and look absolutely wonderful. Thank y'all so much. I can't wait for all my other fish to grow out and start coloring up. So anyway, let me know what you think and I'll try to post some pics later today when I get home from work. C ya!

Jim

[fatfutures]

Here you go, Jim...

http://a426.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/119/l_976f8beba00f12ca63c39e98099905c1.jpg

http://a2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/126/l_52a076230de82d9eda42632311a860a1.jpg

http://a432.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/105/l_2cb7c93ed8c96f713a50b1d69f79f767.jpg


Posting pictures is pretty easy. Since you had already uploaded them to myspace... I just clicked on the picture icon http://www.dfwfishbox.com/images/editor/insertimage.gif above the message box. You will get a popup window. Go to where you've posted your pictures online, find the picture, open to it's largest format, right click on the picture and select Properties. That popup will give you the proper URL, copy url from properties window and paste it into the message popup.

This probably makes no sense what so ever! I can't seem to wake up this morning! If you don't "Get it" let me know and I'll try to wlak you through it.

[fatfutures]

oh! By the way... NICE TANK!

[ElijahTurtle]

Nice tank! Lots o Rocks!
BTW Toby looks alot like one of my wifes cats & spoiled rott'en to the core.

[Misty]

At the mention of cats, I had to go look and they're lovely! I have three fat and sassy ones myself.

Good job on the tank, it looks nice! I like the rocks matching the background. What kind of fish are in there, besides the ones already mentioned?

[Goathead]

Nice setup jim. Keep updating as they all grow out.:)

[kewlkatdady]

nice!

[bra8ndy8]

Nice setup!! Love the fishies....and show more pics later when they grow out!

[Jim2982]

Yeah, Bandit's a super lazy fat ass, lol. Kind of reminds me of...ME! haha And here's a list of all the fish in the tank. I hope I don't forget any, lol.

1 Gold Siamese Algae Eater
1 Chinese Algae Eater
6 Giant Danios
2 Red Zebras
3 Brichardis
6 Kigoma Frontosas
2 O.B. Zebras
1 Yellow Lab
1 Leleupi
1 Venustus
1 Livingstonii
2 Kenyiis
1 Rusty Cichlid
1 Cobalt Blue
1 Electric Blue Johanni
1 Demasoni
1 Julidochromis Regani I think
1 Yellow Peacock
1 Acei
1 Auratus

OK, I think that's all of them, lol. And yeah, I'm planning on upgrading the tank in a year or so. Hopefully I can find a 180 or 240 gallon or something. I also need a cleanup crew. I know Synodontis Catfish are the norm with Africans, but I heard that Skunk Loaches are good with them, too. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Jim2982]

OK, here's some more pics, and I'll definitely keep updating the pics as they grow! Thanks for all the nice comments! I love this site so far, everyone is so helpful and positive. I'm glad I found you!! ;) And without further adieu...

Enjoy!

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0944.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0949.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0974.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0973.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0971.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0978.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0966.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0964.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0954.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0958.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0958.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0950.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0976.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN0965.jpg

[rolloffhill]

I fixed the pics for ya.

[fatfutures]

AWWWWWW! There's my babies! ROFL

Tank looks great! I was worried the the brichardi might be too small...but, all you fishies are lil fellas!

[Jim2982]

Yep, I had an established aquarium so I decided to start with a fully stocked tank of juveniles all at once instead of adding a few here and there. I still need a cleanup crew to catch extra food that falls to the bottom and I want a D. Compressiceps. I think that's the Malawi Eye Biter, right? They just look so cool! lol.

[Misty]

What's that long brown striped guy on the left of the fourth pic? I have one, he's the one David said was a cave dweller, but I don't know him by name. I'd like to make sure he has what he needs.

Great looking tank!

[Jim2982]

The guy with the brown stripes is a Julidochromis. I think a Julidochromis Regani, but it was just sold to me as a "Striped Juli". I hope that helps! ;)

[Jim2982]

Here's a short video clip of my fish all swimming around. And yes, I'm extremely bored tonight. ;)

http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/?action=view&current=DSCN0982.flv

[ElijahTurtle]

Looks like a nice size Golden CAE sucking on the glass there...or am I mistaken?

[Jim2982]

You're correct. He's about 6" or so. I got him and a little brown one at the same time and they were both the same size, but the Gold one is now about 3 times as big as the brown one.

[somefishguy]

Warning about CAE, they are strong enough to pin down fish and suck the life out of them. One reason I stop using them.

When you start looking for peacocks, let me know.

[Jim2982]

Well if you have any peacocks around 2" or smaller, then I'm letting you know. ;) I have one yellow peacock, but I wouldn't mind a red, blue, purple, orange, or any other colored one. And I've had that CAE for a little over a year, housed with tetras, silver dollars, blood parrots, kribs, and loaches, and it's never bothered anything. The krib actually chased it around. I guess his temperament could change now that he's the biggest fish in the aquarium, but hopefully it won't.

[somefishguy]

Most of my peacocks are closer to 3" and bigger. Albino flametails, regular flametails, blue dorsal fins flavescents. Also have albino tawain reefs but they too are 3" or little bigger.

Sorry nothing small.

[kewlkatdady]

a couple of fish that I saw in the tank but not on the list is a Neolamprologus sexfasciatus and a Neolamprologus leleupi.

Nice tank...but they will outgrow this tank in a year or so... be prepared.

[bra8ndy8]

This IS MY OPINION....but the Auratus is a BAD fish to have!! When he gets fully mature....stocked tank or not....you could end up with a lot of dead fish! I had one kill 5 overnight! Everything else looks beautiful.....but I don't understand the Danios??

[Jim2982]

I fully expect to be upgrading my tank size within the next year, but thanks for reminding me. ;) I know they'll outgrow it.

I had the Leleupi in the list but I did forget the Sexfasciatus. Glad you caught it, I can't keep up with them all! lol

And I had the Giant Danios in the previous community setup as dither fish and the guy at the LFS said I could leave them in with the Africans to draw them out more. I don't think I needed to, though. All the Africans are constantly swimming around, there's lots of movement, so I guess the danios weren't necessary, but I'll be damned if I'm ever gonna catch them now, lol. Without taking all the rocks out anyway, so they're staying for now.

Oh and thanks for the warning about the Auratus. I'll have to watch her extra close. Darn women, not to be trusted. ;)

[bra8ndy8]

LOL Yeah I know how you feel about the Danios....I have to Comets (goldfish) in my 300 that I used as starter fish....and I swore they would have been fish food when I put my African's. And welll......now they are about 6 inches long....and they are staying!! LOL

[Jim2982]

Here's a couple more pics. Leporinus and Synodontis newly added.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN1020.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa171/Jim2982/Africans%20as%20juveniles/DSCN1029.jpg

I think it's a Synodontis Notatus, but if anyone knows otherwise please let me know.

[EAST_TX_RN]

Loved the photos,especially of the Kenyiis and Johanni! I like the way you stacked your rocks too!

[Nazrac]

hey looks like you have a gold sexfaciatus. Good fish will defend himself up against the biggest and isnt that mean when not attacked i have a larger one in my 180 which i am about to tear down. If you got him as a kenyi you are very fortunate as they sell very high for a small fish. I got one at half price by accident at 20 the owner thought it was something else and told me 20 when the cichlid guy came in the next day he was irate. My gain.:hehe:

[FishGurl721]

awesome tank! looks fantastic!! are those rocks real?

[FishGurl721]

100!! whoooo 100 hundred posts for me..lol :tease::cool: :p:bow::dance::happydance:

[biggin]

Just a shameless post for 100?

100!! whoooo 100 hundred posts for me..lol :tease::cool: :p:bow::dance::happydance:

[FishGurl721]

i know..im sorry i'll go stand in my corner..:rolleyes1: :baghead:

[biggin]

Gotta give you hard time. Skipp did the same thing at 1000.

i know..im sorry i'll go stand in my corner..:rolleyes1: :baghead:

[Nazrac]

every time you get a tank you get the urge to buy bigger i know it keeps happing to me now i am moving to a 265g:eek:

[Nazrac]

:cool:woohoo 10 post but dont check how many i have at dfwmas:cs:

[Jim2982]

Yeah all the rocks are real. I already had the lava rocks, they came with the tank when I bought it. I picked up all the limestone from a rock quarry and gave em a good washing. And I got the Sexfasciatus at Rift 2 Reef. It was labeled correctly, and cost $9.99 I think. Maybe $11.99. Can't remember for sure.

[FishGurl721]

wow! I heard somewhere that tanks wouldnt be able to take that much weight

it looks awesome though! im jealous :)

[Jim2982]

Yeah I was pretty worried about that, but this guy named Josh at Fish N Chirps told me he had a 180 gallon with rocks stacked up all along the entire length all the way to the top and not to worry about it. So, there it is! lol I'm glad you like it.

[Nazrac]

you would be suprised how much weight you can get in one. I have probably 300+ lbs in my 180.

[kewlkatdady]

When I set up my 125...
I put 391 lbs of holy rock, plus 90lbs of crushed coral...


I didn't feel great about it and pulled out almost 180 lbs and added about 80lbs of show pieces.

So now I have 190-200lbs of HR and still the 90 lbs of CC.

[kewlkatdady]

but I will add...

Oceanic has the best built tanks and I think the thickest glass...so they can hold more weight.

If I'm wrong someone will correct me...I'm almost sure of it.:rolleyes1:

[tsunderl]

The Oceanic 135 I just bought was built in 1995 and is still going strong. And you're right about the thickness of the glass. The glass on this tank is definately thicker than the 140 I had. I'd say they are the Timex's of the aquariums... Take a lickin' and this fish keep on tickin! (Ok... I'll keep my day job.) http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/extra3/wipeglasses.gif

[rolloffhill]

I'll agree with that, my glass is at least 3/4" thick...

And it took a pretty good bounce in my trailer on the way home....:eek:

[Nazrac]

true story i well my brother dropped a piece of holy rock about the size of a basketball or maybe a little larger on my oceanic 180. It was full of water and it smacked the bottom. It also had 3 other pieces in it that were even bigger already. No crack or anything.

[bra8ndy8]

I'd say they are the Timex's of the aquariums... Take a lickin' and this fish keep on tickin! (Ok... I'll keep my day job.) http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/extra3/wipeglasses.gif


:exactly:

[Lillysdaddy2]

this sucks to sya but you going to lose alot of them....... way to mixed aulonocara mixed with haplochromis and a hint shit those 2 will eat all your pseudotropheus especially if you have one female in there that goes into a spawn. shit every male in there will go ape sh!t. i guess im saying too many species mixed

[kewlkatdady]

I disagree...

I have 40-45 and only have 3 that are paris....a group of 11, and everything else is mixed.

Thats the way I alway done it...

[Jim2982]

Yeah everything I read said to mix as many different species as possible. That's supposed to QUELL aggression.

[mongo]

Jim, I think when they start talkin about "mixing" they are talking abut mixing lakes...continents things like that. The Tangs might loose out to the Malawans at feeding time, and the mbuna will probably wind up getting the lions share of the food. And mixing mbuna with other fish can be bad because the mbuna need a diet high in plant matter. Mbuna can get "bloat" if fed a diet high in protien without mixing a lot of plant material into the feeding routine. Another potentila problem could arise when they start reaching spawning age, the mbuna can be holy terrors. Especialy the auratus...even females of that species can be suicidaly aggressive. Most african cichlids can with stand the aggression from other africans cichlids, but not if they are being out competed for food and stressed out to the max all the time. Having said that, I have successfuly mixed not only the three african lakes but different continents before and still do. I have Geophagus species in most of my tanks as part of the clean up crew. They keep the sand bed churned up and from getting compacted. Most of the larger species can and will compete with even mbuna even when the mbuna are spawning. So I would say keep that beautiful mix of fish together as long as possible. Just keep an eye on the aggresion levels as they mature. And keep in mind that the mbuna will need a food higher in plant material than the rest of your stock.

And as for the whole big rock controversy...I have some in my tanks that run into the 50 pound range. Notice the rocks in these pics...
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/mongorex/tanks/04-3.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/mongorex/tanks/keegensb-day0035.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/mongorex/tanks/04-2.jpg

I like the fact that the fish cant dig out from under them. I just put them in the tank first and then pour the sand in around the rocks. If you wind up having remove the rocks, just clear a space in the sand and put the rock back on the glass. Some of the larger pieces actualy have egg crate under them to spread the weight out even more. It also helps if you will try and place rocks with a some what flat side on the bottom. This will help spread the weight out from the rocks stacked on top.

By the way, great looking tank and some awsome looking fish.