Michigan Cichlid Association

Pics and Video => Tanks and Room setups => Topic started by: Ron on July 31, 2012, 12:49:03 PM

Title: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Ron on July 31, 2012, 12:49:03 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/RonACRF/IMG_1756.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/RonACRF/IMG_1758.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/RonACRF/IMG_1760.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/RonACRF/IMG_1759.jpg)

And a couple with the flash:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/RonACRF/IMG_1753.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/RonACRF/IMG_1751.jpg)
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Super Turtleman on July 31, 2012, 11:09:48 PM
What size tank (dimensions) and what size are the fish? The tank looks really long. Nice!   8)
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Ron on August 01, 2012, 08:50:04 AM
The dominant male is about 6" and the rest a bit smaller, say 3.5"-5.5". Right now I've got 9, but I'll probably get rid of an additional male or two since I've got at least 4 left still and a couple I'm not sure about. I haven't vented any, but at this point I'm only convinced that 3 are females.

The tank is ~72"x18"x18". The lighting is a single 4' 50/50 T12, which leaves the corners darker and IMO, makes the tank look longer/bigger because you don't see an abrupt ending.
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Regalblue on August 01, 2012, 03:19:23 PM
Nice Fronts Ron
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Ron on August 01, 2012, 04:42:21 PM
Thanks. Ironically I've got more than just fronts in there, but none of the others beside the bristlenose seem to show up in the photos. Apparently the trio of larger clown loaches and trio of S. eupterus were hiding out while I was taking photos.

Overall it's a nice combination and my choice for the only tank I have outside of the "fishroom".
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: GrizzlysDad on August 07, 2012, 09:04:07 PM
Sweet tank Ron.
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Ron on August 08, 2012, 07:24:42 AM
Sweet tank Ron.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Michael Zebrowski on August 08, 2012, 07:14:45 PM
Very nice set-up; thought of adding black gravel and rocks to showcase my Front's blue colors, but your tank with white gravel might change my mind.

Mike
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Ron on August 08, 2012, 10:21:51 PM
Thanks Mike. I've always gone white gravel with darker rockwork for all my tanks because I think it looks most natural. IME the best way to highlight blue fish is with an actinic light component, but I prefer it mixed with something else so everything in the tank isn't blue. Thus my 50/50 bulb. I tried a second bulb T12 briefly, but 2 was just too much light for the fronts (and synos, etc).
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: SSP on September 28, 2012, 03:40:34 AM
Dig the Ecosystem you've got established in there, I can see the Algae growing on the rocks w/o enlarging the pics, do your Fronts consume it at all? They look very happy in there, Nice bars on the whole group
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Ron on September 30, 2012, 06:11:13 PM
Dig the Ecosystem you've got established in there, I can see the Algae growing on the rocks w/o enlarging the pics, do your Fronts consume it at all? They look very happy in there, Nice bars on the whole group
Thanks. The front's don't eat the algae, but I have some bristlenose plecos that feed off of it. I think algae gives home aquariums a more realistic look. It probably uses some of the available nitrates too when growing, but nothing significant enough to allow for a lengthier duration between water changes.
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: SKISWETPETS on September 30, 2012, 09:54:43 PM
The tank looks great... Really nice lookin fish..
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Frontboy7 on November 01, 2012, 08:07:41 PM
Grand set up Ron....and thanks for passing the knowledge regarding the lighting. 
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: PaulineMi on November 02, 2012, 06:47:19 AM
Your set up and fish look great.  Very nice.
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: GVsailor on November 02, 2012, 08:02:11 AM
Awesome setup!

Do you do anything to encourage the algae to grow?  I have tried in my tanks and it always gets eaten. 
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Steve on November 02, 2012, 08:50:58 AM
Real nice set up Ron. And your right the 4ft light in the center does make the tank look even bigger than 6ft 8)
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: Ron on November 10, 2012, 09:46:51 PM
Thanks everyone. I actually took some new pictures the other week and have a tank upgrade project pending for them. I'll hopefully have more to add in the next few weeks sometime.
Do you do anything to encourage the algae to grow?  I have tried in my tanks and it always gets eaten.
I actually have two BNPs in there and still have to scrap the glass. I don't do anything specific, but I suspect some indirect sunlight and my lax water change schedule helps. (It's the one tank outside the fishroom and requires draining/filling with 5 gallon buckets - about 30-35% every 2-3 weeks is the honest reality of how often it gets done).

It also probably just depends on what kind of algae you're got in your own tank(s). What's in the pictures is a bush/brush style algae that nothing aside from some Protomelas sp. "Taiwan Reef"s has ever eaten and a really hard, green, coraline-like algae that's difficult to clean from the glass (and apparently hard for the BNPs in there to eat as well). I only scrape the front glass and one side.
Title: Re: Cyphotilapia frontosa - "7-stripe"
Post by: mightieskeeper on November 29, 2012, 08:50:51 AM
Very nice seven strippers Ron.  The 50/50 lighting with only being 4' is awesome.  I do the same thing on my 55 gallon with a 2' light.