Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ron on December 17, 2013, 10:19:58 PM
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So back in early fall I'd been informed by my work that I'd be going to Germany for ~3 months starting in January. I sold off most of my fish to make things easier while I'm gone. Now I've been informed that the trip is canceled.
On the bright side, I won't be missing the Winter MCA Auction like I'd feared. Going to the auctions is always a great time!
But I've got a whole bunch of empty tanks now in my fishroom and am just not sure what to do. I've got 3 ideas...
- Gradually fill them back up with african cichlids
- Go big - I'm talking like 1-2 8' plus display tanks
- Try a different direction (reef tank / tropicals / angels / etc
I kind of miss having realistic-looking tanks in lieu of having gone barebones with substrate only on many to make breeding/netting fish easier. So no matter what that's something I'll be moving towards again.
If I go back to africans, over the years the fun was keeping new cichlids, but I feel like I've tried most of them (especially malawian species).
If I go big, the idea would be to put in 1 or 2 through-the-wall tank displays and call it good. 1-2 big tanks might make tank maintenance easier.
Going to something new would just bring back the pleasure of having something different, but I'm a little worried about spending money to try something different, only to find I don't like it.
Any suggestions on what path to take?
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Combine 2&3.... go big & go Central. ;)
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do what makes you happy man. Get into some of the harder to get fish maybe? Or become Discus Ron.
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Maybe a sw reef tank or sw aggressor tank. If you already have some big tanks try looking into some triggers or some other aggressive salties. It might be a new challenge to keep things interesting.
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If you want a real challenge, Fancy Goldfish. Seriously......
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Wow... I dont know what I would do if I started over completely.
The opportunities!!!
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Salt water is easy. If you never done it, its not any harder than fresh water, except learning how to control salinity. I love the idea of triggers. My favorite is the picasso trigger. If you go saltwater, lmk. When I switched over, I gave my buddy all my corals. He buys top of the line. Has amazing corals for sale and do ship. Maybe do 2 8foot tanks. One fresh, one salt. Have a super planted tank with discus would be sweet. Just idea.
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Go all out on a planted tank biotope tank.
You could do Rainbows, Angels, Discus, Gourami, so many choices.
Pick a fish you really like but have never kept and build it a paradise.
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Saltwater is great. If you have good tap water to start... it is all about the salinity.
But, just be prepared to spend a lot more for everything.
I have no desire to ever go back to saltwater again simply because of the cost.
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Go all out on a planted tank biotope tank.
You could do Rainbows, Angels, Discus, Gourami, so many choices.
Pick a fish you really like but have never kept and build it a paradise.
I have to agree, check out this pic of a planted Discus tank:
You could add Rams and Neons to the fish list...
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Saltwater is great. If you have good tap water to start... it is all about the salinity.
But, just be prepared to spend a lot more for everything.
I have no desire to ever go back to saltwater again simply because of the cost.
^ This. A standard 40g setup will run $800-1000 easily if you buy new or fairly new equipment, plus the salinity costs.
You can do a mini reef eg in a 20 long for way less money, especially if you 1) get good live rock, 2) stock lightly, 3) go slow, 4) do small but consistent water changes (10%/week or every two weeks), and 5) use some tricks to help you out, e.g. a chaeto fuge (where macro algae grows under a bright light and water circulates through slowly; the algae growth helps strip out nitrates).
My 15g mini reef is just a basic 24x12x12 tank ($10 used), dual T5 light fixture ($40 used), aqueon pro 200W heater ($25 at Petco sale), Aqueon 500 circulation pump (free with a previous tank), 30lbs live rock ($2/lb from other hobbyists), 15lbs crushed coral ($10 at Petco), HOB air-driven breeder box w/ LED light and chaeto (used as fuge - swapped with Blair for it), and then my corals/fish ($100-150 total). So around $250. Here's two pics (regular light and actinic light).
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q630/linuxrulesusa/saltwater/20131213_194236_zps5dd49bfc.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/linuxrulesusa/media/saltwater/20131213_194236_zps5dd49bfc.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q630/linuxrulesusa/saltwater/20131213_194230_zps353ead14.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/linuxrulesusa/media/saltwater/20131213_194230_zps353ead14.jpg.html)
I also agree with Ogre44 on the planted tank idea. I really like smaller SA cichlids and/or oddballs because I can do plants without them getting ripped up, and since a lot of my environment is drab tan walls (I work IT) or my basement at home, I like the splash of green in my planted tank(s). I'm not doing CO2 or anything crazy, just the T8 fixture I built at the MCA workshop with a single 'plant and aquarium' Aqueon brand bulb.
Like this one:
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q630/linuxrulesusa/tank%20pics%202013/20131213_194433_zpsd9b2ed34.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/linuxrulesusa/media/tank%20pics%202013/20131213_194433_zpsd9b2ed34.jpg.html)
Maybe a sw reef tank or sw aggressor tank. If you already have some big tanks try looking into some triggers or some other aggressive salties. It might be a new challenge to keep things interesting.
Some fun ideas for an aggressor tank that is FW could include something like a tiger datnoid. Some of the bigger options would require a far larger tank but a datnoid could do fine in a 40 long/55 gallon for a good while then a 75-125 as an adult. Or you can go with smaller 'predators' like an African leaf fish (55g is plenty) or even the smaller African butterfly fish (20 long is more than enough).
Honestly you could do a mix of all these things, figure out what you like, then upgrade to a bigger tank for that one idea down the road. For example I have a three tier rack in my basement that has axolotls on the bottom, a pair of CA cichlids in the middle, and my reef tank on the top...then my 55g oddball/catfish tank nearby has a Senegal bichir, a datnoid growing out, African leaf fish, and assorted catfish. I still haven't decided which of them I like the best so I have a mix. :)
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I have been down this road before but sort of HAD to shrink my multiple tanks down to a couple of big ones. Like you I had kept and bred all of the Africans I could handle for over 25 years. I can honestly say having an 8 ft. tank has been a game changer for me. My 300 gallon currently has full grown American cichlids: Bocourti, Synspillum, Managuense, Midas and some nice sized catfish. With a smaller tank these types of fish would obviously massacre each other but with the space it really opens the door to a less stressed way of life for the bigger cichlids. I'm really enjoying the personality and intelligence of these fish more that a tank full of Mbuna as well.
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I have been down this road before but sort of HAD to shrink my multiple tanks down to a couple of big ones. Like you I had kept and bred all of the Africans I could handle for over 25 years. I can honestly say having an 8 ft. tank has been a game changer for me. My 300 gallon currently has full grown American cichlids: Bocourti, Synspillum, Managuense, Midas and some nice sized catfish. With a smaller tank these types of fish would obviously massacre each other but with the space it really opens the door to a less stressed way of life for the bigger cichlids. I'm really enjoying the personality and intelligence of these fish more that a tank full of Mbuna as well.
I want to see this tank!
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I have an extra HOB refugium and a HOB coralife protein skimmer w powerhead. One of the brackets needs to be acrylic welded back on. Open for trade Ron or will take $50 takes em. Just throwing it out there if you are interested.
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I say do all 3 then you won't have any regrets ;D
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I say do all 3 then you won't have any regrets ;D
If not for money, space, and time. ;D
Thanks for all the great suggestions - going to spend some time giving them all some thought.
The freshwater planted tanks aren't for me unfortunately. I've tried them a few times and found I'm best at growing various algae mainly.
I've looked into discus a few times. I've got hard well water and found tank raised discus would live in it, but they wouldn't be happy enough to breed.
I don't have big tanks already - would be looking for something on the verge of, if not, custom built for the sizes I'm thinking. Biggest I've own currently is a 180, but I haven't filled it up yet. 150 is the next in line. For being in the hobby for so long and having a respectable volume of tanks, I've just never made the jump to getting anything that needs more than 2 people to carry it.
@Rob - I thought about what you've shared in the past as I was making the initial post and was hoping you weigh in with an update. Good to hear you're still loving the huge tank.
@Dan - Definitely a nice reef setup there - thanks for sharing pics. :)
@Blair - I was almost going to thwart the big CA suggestion right off the bat knowing you'd post it. :P
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Since you are considering some large tanks and you have hard water. What about Petros? Mix in some Trophs and other Tanganyika.
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If you don't want to do a planted tank, what about a coldwater native tank with lots of driftwood, bluegill or sunfish, smallmouth bass, etc. ?
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If you don't want to do a planted tank, what about a coldwater native tank with lots of driftwood, bluegill or sunfish, smallmouth bass, etc. ?
something I have wanted to do for a long time.
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It could be dark and atmospheric with a big tangle of driftwood filling one corner, and a large sandy area with either a smaller mass of wood or some rocks.
Lots of moss on the wood, maybe a couple of lilies wit leaves up to the surface.
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Interested in seeing which way you go.
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Since you are considering some large tanks and you have hard water. What about Petros? Mix in some Trophs and other Tanganyika.
I've done trophs for a bit. The petros just don't strike my fancy. I do appreciate the suggestions.
If you don't want to do a planted tank, what about a coldwater native tank with lots of driftwood, bluegill or sunfish, smallmouth bass, etc. ?
I've actually already done that a couple times in the past. The larger native species grow fast, eat a lot, and it's interesting how personable they can become. A tank volume in the triple digits is necessary for them IME.