Freshwater club

[mcox33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8787932#post8787932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brock Fluharty
I have a FW tank with a few cichlids (one that is big, and mean) and some various other fish. It has ugly blue gravel, and fake plants in it. What would everyone recommend for a substrate if I wanna turn it into a planted tank? I was thinking sand, and then having a nice piece of driftwood to one side with moss on it, and then various other plants on the other side. It's a 30 gallon. it has 2 blue cichlids, 2 albinos, and 1 orange one that's like 6 inches long, and MEAN.

Get ECO-PLANT

that stuff does wonders. Of course your plants will grow like weeds.

Our LFS actually has a 20 high complete setup that already has about a bag and a half of eco-plant that comes with it. Very nice setup with a good price I just don't have anywhere to set it up.

 

[firefish2020]

Eco-Complete but they make a brand for cichlids, maybe it makes them not want to eat as many plants, I don't know.

 

[grendl]

Most cichlids will eat plants & dig em up.

Eco Complete is a great product & locally in the valley, Jo-Mars had an amazing price on it as well. I would guess maybe 3-4 bags for a 30 for a good deep bed. Wilma sells sinking driftwood for good prices at her website, you can buy planted pieces as well. Google wilma rogers snails to find her page.

 

[WVfishguy]

I wrote an article on plants and african cichlids quite a while ago. Just google "African cichlids and plants by Terry Ranson" and you'll find it.

 

[grendl]

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/ranson_african cichlids and plants.html

Is a link to said article.

I never looked deeply into cichlids Terry, can ALL cichlids be kept with plants, or just the african strains? While I have read of certain types being kept with plants, it seemed that prevailing lore was that they would shred any flora in the tank.

 

[Brock Fluharty]

I hate those cichlids...they killed my angelfish...of course, that's my fault more than theirs.

 

[Altpers0na-old]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8792724#post8792724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by grendl
. Google wilma rogers snails to find her page.

googling it didnt turn up anything for me

 

[grendl]

Sorry you couldnt find it... it's because I was feeding you misinformation!!!!

http://www.jayscustomcomputers.com/wilma/

It was Wilma Duncan, my bad! The website looks pretty old, but she is still active. I BELIEVE she lives in Dawson, Wv, which is somewhere past Beckley, but before Lewisburg.

 

[spinnerbayt]

Hey guys, any new info on this? Is there still a hope of this getting off the ground?

 

[WVfishguy]

Tough on my part - I'm in the middle of trying to grow my business. Plus, I'm pessimistic about local commitment. We had a strong start before, but apathy eventually took over.

 

[igotsalt]

I still have my very 1st fresh tank ...it is a 20h on a wrought iron stand with another 20h under it! Purchased 1978...couple of years ago! The cichlids are my favorite. I have raised jack dempseys, convicts, severums, jewel fish, and others. I never got into the community tanks until lately. I currentlty have a 90g w/bloody parrots, 6 large silver dollars, 8 columbia tetras, bleeding hearts and assorted catfish and loaches. My all time favorite tank was a 55g that I torn down Oct 2005 to go saltwater. It was a busy, enjoyable tank. When people came to my house that was their favorite tank. At that time I had 4-29g, 2-55g, 2-20H, and 3-10's . It had several different types of south american cichlids. I had always had s.african before. I liked the idea that they didn't grow too big too quickly. The fish have such a big range of colors. I filled the tank with several lbs of large, flat pieces of slate. The slate comes in many different colors and textures and makes the tank look very natural. I used: brown swirled in tan, gray, black, and reddish/clay color. I planted it heavily with realistic looking vine type plants. I broke the tank up into smaller areas by shoving the slate in at odd angles which gave each pair their own territory! It does not take them long to break off into pairs. These guys really breed quick and often! The colors of off spring was truly beautiful. The only draw back to the tank was cleaning it. You had to pull ALL rock work and plants out to clean the gravel. Then is was exciting to watch them relocate into a nitch in the newly arranged tank.

I currently have a 10.5 yr old tilipia (approx. 10.5" long)....he is so mean. I have a brick on his lid to keep him in. He has jumped out twice and filleted huge pieces from his body. Very hardy and tough fish. He will show you his teeth if you make faces at him! He has outgrown his tank again. I need a 40g breeder if anyone is willing to trade or I'll buy it straight out. If you ever get this club going I would like to be apart of it!