Debs 450g Cichlid Tank

[DLBerlin]

Tank is a 450g acrylic Reef Ready tank, 8'x3'x30" tall, built into a wall in the livingroom with a fish room behind it. 40g sump with wet/dry, 2 Ocean Clear Cannisters, and a large UV filter. Started out as a Reef tank, then in June of 2010 turned it into a planted tank, and just changed it over for cichlids a couple weeks ago.
All my fish came from non_compliance and were added at the same time:

1    Malawi Blue dolphin
1    Red fin Borleyi
1    hybrid protomelas
1    Placidochromis sp. "Phenochilus Tanzania"
1    Hap Ahli
1    nimbochromis livingstonii
1    protomelas sp. spilonotus tanzania
2    Tramitichromis intermedius
1    cherry zebra
1    OB cherry zebra
2    red empress Protomelas taeniolatus pair
11    benga sunshine peacocks breeding group
7    Breeding group of zebra obliquedens
9    breeding group Melanochromis Exasperatus
5    Fossorochromis rostratus
5    pseudotropheus socolofi

I have a mix of sand and peastone substrate with fieldstones and driftwood.
I set up my continuous drip waterchange today so that is taken care of, just have to siphon occasionally now. The water quality is good, zero ammonia and Nitrite, and holding at around 5-10 nitrate. pH is stable at around 8.3
My water(well) is really hard so I use straight tap water.



I am feeding a mix of NLS Cichlid pellets, NLS Jumbo pellets, Tetra Cichlid Crisps, Wardley Spirulina disks, and Romaine lettuce with an occasional dozen platy fry (raise them myself)

I will probably add some more fish but I am unsure what or how.
More pics here www.dlberlin.com from before I topped off the rocks
Deb

[Regalblue]

VERY nice - keep the pictures coming

[Rob S]

Hats off!!! That is beautiful!

[JeffroM]

Sweet tank.

[GrizzlysDad]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

[DLBerlin]

Thanks Guys!
I had to do the change over on a very limited budget-basically what I sold my plants, fish, and co2 setup for. That paid for all the fish and the substrate. The driftwood I had, and the rock all came from the backyard. I am really happy with how it turned out.
I hope to be able to add some fish in another month or so. No idea what to add that will get along with these guys and add some color.
How are established cichlids with adding new fish? I know they need to be at least a couple inches or they will be eaten. I would kinda like some more red, possibly yellow for color. I dont care about interbreeding, the fry will be food for the tank anyhow. There is already some fry in there.

[GrizzlysDad]

Thanks Guys!
I had to do the change over on a very limited budget-basically what I sold my plants, fish, and co2 setup for. That paid for all the fish and the substrate. The driftwood I had, and the rock all came from the backyard. I am really happy with how it turned out.
I hope to be able to add some fish in another month or so. No idea what to add that will get along with these guys and add some color.
How are established cichlids with adding new fish? I know they need to be at least a couple inches or they will be eaten. I would kinda like some more red, possibly yellow for color. I dont care about interbreeding, the fry will be food for the tank anyhow. There is already some fry in there.

In my experience I have found it best to add at least 6 new fish to an established tank and also to rearrange the decor when possible...make everyone start from scratch on establishing their territories.
In a tank that size you could add large quantities. Also, mixed sizes are fine as long as they can't be eaten by the others.
For yellow, Labidochromis caeruleus (Electric Yellows) are a sure bet....or some nice Benga or Maleri Sunshine Peacocks.
For red, many of the Lake Victoria cichlids have a lot of red...or you could go with Red Empress or one of the "Red" Peacock strains.

[gmaschke]

Simply Awesome!!!!!

[DLBerlin]

I have a breeding group of Benga Sunshine Peacocks in there, as well as a m/f pair of Red Empress. I was thinking of maybe some Venustus and Electric Yellows. The fish would have to be cheap to add that many. I'm thinking I may have to buy small from a breeder and grow them out first. Hate to do that. Is it ok to mix different Peacocks?

[Frenchie]

Sweet looking tank.

[DLBerlin]

Thanks Frenchie

fish pics- I am terrible at these, mostly end up with a pretty colored blur!
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/asst.jpg
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/asst2.jpg
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/asst3.jpg
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/asst4.jpg
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/asst5.jpg
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/livingstonii.jpg
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/redempress.jpg
http://www.dlberlin.com/public/cichlids/spilonotustanzania.jpg

[Regalblue]

Mixing Peacock= as long as you cull/dispose of the fry. It's ok

[DLBerlin]

Cool, I couldnt catch them in there anyhow.

[Ron]

WOW! Talk about an amazing tank to watch every day!

Mixing Peacock= as long as you cull/dispose of the fry. It's ok

+ Probably never try to discern which females are which species if you try to sell them someday. Sure some of them look different, but it's really best left to an experienced eye and even then some of them still can't be resolved with 100% guaranteed accuracy.

[SKISWETPETS]

BEAUTIFULLLLL TANK!!!