Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: breaktime on November 19, 2013, 12:15:07 PM
-
I have decided to go with peacock cichlids, haps, corys, giant danios, and other fish suggest by the LFS. I am in need of help with decorating the tank. I am leaning towards using rocks, and possibly drift wood. Where would be a good place to find rocks, and what kind of rocks should I stay away from. Any suggetions will be greatly appreciated.
-
Good ol' Texas Holy rock is great for Africans. It will help to raise pH.
Wood looks great, but it will slightly lower pH.
I have both in my peacock tank.
-
Goto any Landscaping supply, they should have various rocks, all types and sizes. depending on what you want, you can always use field stone as well. Like Ken said, Texas Holey rock is very good for cichlids.
If you want to go on the cheap - goto Home Depot / Lowes / Menards and check out thier sand. You can usually find a 50lb bag of sand anywhere from $2.75 a bag.
Check out CL, there is always people selling decor on there.
Decor is all personal prefence...
Good Luck !
-
The Texas holey rock has lots of nooks and crannies for the fish to explore. It would do me some good to see other tanks for lets say inspiration ;)
-
If you want to go on the cheap - goto Home Depot / Lowes / Menards and check out thier sand. You can usually find a 50lb bag of sand anywhere from $2.75 a bag.
I am still un decided whether I want to go sand or gravel.
-
Good ol' Texas Holy rock is great for Africans. It will help to raise pH.
Wood looks great, but it will slightly lower pH.
I have both in my peacock tank.
Ken I just saw your tank on here with the 6 pieces of driftwood that looks like one piece ............ very nice.
-
Good ol' Texas Holy rock is great for Africans. It will help to raise pH.
Wood looks great, but it will slightly lower pH.
I have both in my peacock tank.
Ken I just saw your tank on here with the 6 pieces of driftwood that looks like one piece ............ very nice.
Thanks. I need to get some updated picture put up in that thread. I think I add some more holy rock since the last pictures were posted.
-
Good ol' Texas Holy rock is great for Africans. It will help to raise pH.
Wood looks great, but it will slightly lower pH.
I have both in my peacock tank.
Ken I just saw your tank on here with the 6 pieces of driftwood that looks like one piece ............ very nice.
Thanks. I need to get some updated picture put up in that thread. I think I add some more holy rock since the last pictures were posted.
Do It I'd like to see how it looks now. Whats holding the diftwood together?
-
Its all stacked up together.
The fish LOVE it. When the lights come on after being out for a while... you would think there are only a couple fish... they all hide in it at night.
-
Its all stacked up together.
The fish LOVE it. When the lights come on after being out for a while... you would think there are only a couple fish... they all hide in it at night.
you got a pic of your tank ken? post the link. :) would like to see it. My parents are in Texas for the winter. I told em to go kick around the hills and fill up the RV will texas holey rock for me. Can't wait. They have a few locals they know down there that is going to help em. I want to add some big ones but not for the price.
-
The progression of my tank can be seen here.
http://michigancichlid.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=2059.0
-
Its all stacked up together.
The fish LOVE it. When the lights come on after being out for a while... you would think there are only a couple fish... they all hide in it at night.
you got a pic of your tank ken? post the link. :) would like to see it. My parents are in Texas for the winter. I told em to go kick around the hills and fill up the RV will texas holey rock for me. Can't wait. They have a few locals they know down there that is going to help em. I want to add some big ones but not for the price.
I'd be interested in getting some for my empty 125 gal tank if possible. :)
-
Over the winter I am going to be setting up a 40" tall tank.
Right now, I plan on stacking it up with holy rock. But, if I change direction and "make my own"... I will have... 200lbs of holy rock for sale.
But this is not for a few months.
-
Over the winter I am going to be setting up a 40" tall tank.
Right now, I plan on stacking it up with holy rock. But, if I change direction and "make my own"... I will have... 200lbs of holy rock for sale.
But this is not for a few months.
I thought about making my own. Using dryloc and styrofoam, but wasnt sure if it would float. Could always glue the Styrofoam to a couple real rocks for anchor then dryloc it. What was the method you were going to try?
-
Beats me!!! ;D
I would still use real rock... but use something as filler to take up space so that I dont need as much... but yet still give a lot of hiding spaces.
Right now... thinking about cutting up a ton of PVC and gluing it all together... then piling the rock on top of it. Just not sure I could hide all the PVC like I would want.
-
that would be interesting ken, BTW my name is Rickie. I seen this online. Maybe It would work.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_ceramic_caves.php
-
My aquarium set up is coming a couple days prior to xmas. I need to have my decor ducks in a row. I need to figure something out now. I will keep my eyes open and check out some landscaping places that are open. There is a place in Ohio where I bought large rocks for landscaping that I could go to.
-
My aquarium set up is coming a couple days prior to xmas. I need to have my decor ducks in a row. I need to figure something out now. I will keep my eyes open and check out some landscaping places that are open. There is a place in Ohio where I bought large rocks for landscaping that I could go to.
bought these from home depot. This is the setup I have in my 90 gallon. Just used what they call stepping stone and a couple cool looking bricks.
-
Here's my tank. I used rocks from a landscaping place and a mixture of cichlid stones.
-
I really believe in cichlid stones. They provide caves, and do displace a huge amount of water like regular rocks.
-
I really believe in cichlid stones. They provide caves, and do displace a huge amount of water like regular rocks.
I really want to provide as many secluded areas as I can, while trying to make it look natural. How big is your tank? 125?
-
That one is a 125 but I've done similar aquascapes in my 55 as well. I just recently changed to a sand substrate and the fish seem happier for it. I add a few taller plastic plants to help break up sightlines in the tank that will help if there is an aggressive fella in there. He don't chase what he can't see. The fish seem to like sifting and moving around sand, depending on what types you keep. Mine like it though. If your keeping peacocks some get more vibrant color on lighter substrate and backgrounds while others will get brighter against a darker substrate and background. In the end just go with what tackles your fancy though.
-
Oh what the heck... I'll put my picture in here too. ;D
-
Oh what the heck... I'll put my picture in here too. ;D
Yes the more the merrier ;D
-
Drift Wood and holy rock looks great together. 8) I can't wait to get my hands on some rock.
-
I was at my LFS and he had a shipment of texas holey rock but nothing tall enough. I want a piece that is at least 2/3 the height of my tank and other piece smaller as a secondary focal point.
-
I found that stacking many small and medium pieces to get the exact shape you want is much easier and cheaper.
And it usually offers more hiding places
-
I found that stacking many small and medium pieces to get the exact shape you want is much easier and cheaper.
And it usually offers more hiding places
DO you caulk the pieces together or just leave them loose?
-
Just leave them loose and use the bigger pieces as the base
Clear the gravel or sand out from underneath the lowest rocks so nothing can shift p
-
I think I'm going to cut a piece of cardboard the foot print of the tank and play around with the rock and see what I like. Now all I have to do is get ahold of some texas rock and play.
-
I just bought my First piece of Texas Holey Rock, a 40 lb piece.
Now what else can I put in with it ??? Decisions.....decisions.....
-
Easy... more holy rock!
-
Easy... more holy rock!
What I like about you ken straight to the point ;D
-
Where is a good place to get fake plants at a good price? How we'll does silk plants hold up in a cichlid tank or should I just use plastic?
-
I say go with plastic but by short ones medium ones tall ones and different shades of green also
(DAMN SPEECH TO TEXT )
-
I've tried silk once. They look nice out of the package, but start to fray. I was concerned the string may be eaten, so took it out.
-
I use plastic in all my tanks. Ordered most from Petco online when they offer $15 or $20 off total order, plus free shipping on orders over $49.
-
I use plastic in all my tanks. Ordered most from Petco online when they offer $15 or $20 off total order, plus free shipping on orders over $49.
I'm hoping with the Christmas approaching Petco will offer the 15 or 20 off the order deal. I talked to someone, and they said they went to a craft store and bought plastic flowers and glues them to stone.
-
I use silk in mine, looks more natural/realistic. They will start to fray a bit but it takes some time for that. I've had silk in my Mbuna tank for just over a year now and they are just starting to show a tiny bit of fray but nothing major yet.
-
I use silk in mine, looks more natural/realistic. They will start to fray a bit but it takes some time for that. I've had silk in my Mbuna tank for just over a year now and they are just starting to show a tiny bit of fray but nothing major yet.
Good to know Steve thanks
-
Silk lasts years in the tank, used them in many tanks over the years. Silk is cheaper and you get larger plant choices.
-
Silk lasts years in the tank, used them in many tanks over the years. Silk is cheaper and you get larger plant choices.
How would you clean silk plants? Or do you
-
I use to take them out of tank and clean them with hand brush gently.