Cichlids
- Thread starter Fishman1995
- Start date
Okay this will be that thread Ryanoh, and how in the earth will i know what i want to stock when time comes if i dont iliminate things now? Il be waiting another year before i even stock my tank, because i refuse to get 1 thing, then come home and ask you guys what will work next, i want it ALL worked out when i go for the first time to get my first 3 Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish.
So MK, i kinda need to know what wont work now so i can be compiling some idea's, because i know im getting the dwarf rainbowfish, depending on the price my LFS tells me on the Debauwi catfish possibly some of those and other than that im still working around seeing what i ant so can you please offer advice thanx.
So MK, i kinda need to know what wont work now so i can be compiling some idea's, because i know im getting the dwarf rainbowfish, depending on the price my LFS tells me on the Debauwi catfish possibly some of those and other than that im still working around seeing what i ant so can you please offer advice thanx.
I should have put my last reply in quotes - I was just reminding you that you f"Marked off and dwarf cichlid" because as you say, they are not you style. So in the course of 24 hours your style has changed?? And historically when you go to your LFS, you will buy what is available and you can afford that day and try to sort of out when you get home. That is another thing I have noticed - you never seem to consider the cost of some of the fish. You don't need to own the tank to buy the test kit or siphon. You can get some things together ahead of time. There is such a thing as a budget and writing down not only what you need & want but their approximate cost, which you can come pretty close to by shopping on the computer.
And you have said you are going to do a "fish in" cycle which will take some time. You can't put all the fish in at once, so you will have plenty of time to figure things out. I certainly wouldn't be putting $5 apiece fish into a new tank. And if those fish have to be ordered, they aren't going to order them one or two at a time either. I also saw you asking a question about live plants and am I mistaken or did you say your mothers said "no live plants"??
The site has not been working. I don't know where my last reply went. I do not understand what you are saying in your last reply. "no said no planting substrate"?? what does that mean? And also the Rainbow cichlid that is not like the rainbow cichlid on this website. I didn't even know we had a rainbow cichlid on the website - I am confused!
I meant to say no she said i couldnt do a planting substrate so i thought that meant no live plants. If you look under cichlids south american there is a rainbow cichlid there but isnt the species im talking about. i did much research last 2 nights and found out that i can keep rainbows with other cichlids of its type such as Kribs, Flags, Apisto's ect.
Also today i bought some Aponogeton bulbs and planted them in my 5.5 gallon. We shall see how they do
I also went by a Walmart i hadnt been in awhile and there fish quality sucked btw, and i seen some Synodotis Longitevus's and there SO cute lol. Does anyone have experince with them, also stumbled across some Porthole Catfish on the web and thought they were cool, anyone know about them. Thanks for advice in advance.
Also today i bought some Aponogeton bulbs and planted them in my 5.5 gallon. We shall see how they do
I also went by a Walmart i hadnt been in awhile and there fish quality sucked btw, and i seen some Synodotis Longitevus's and there SO cute lol. Does anyone have experince with them, also stumbled across some Porthole Catfish on the web and thought they were cool, anyone know about them. Thanks for advice in advance.
Just three days ago you said dwarf cichlids were not your style, whatever that means. I also don't understand what a "planting substrate" is. Your ideas on stocking change so quickly that it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks - you will be off on another plan. Your mom is going to have to pay for part of the tank, and you won't get that until the end of the summer and you still don't have a test kit or maintenance equipment, so how will you afford fish? Have you ever made a list of what you need and what each item costs? Tank, filter, heater, substrate, decor, siphon, test kit, etc and then the prices of the fish you think you want? Even if your LFS orders them for you, you will still pay extra and shipping fish isn't cheap (in my book anyway) Petco wants $30 for orders under $59.99 for an example. And you are going to do a "fish in" cycle with those expensive fish?
I have to agree here. You do jump straight onto the stocking wagon with little-to-no planning whatsoever. Basic equipment such as that listed by Thyra should be the starting point, NOT stocking. Stocking is the last thing you should be thinking about.
You need to buy all the equipment BEFORE you buy the fish and that's something you've rarely, if ever done. You're basically buying fish (well, ideas of fish) already and you don't even have a tank.
So how about a new idea - you ask for advice on the equipment you'll need. Please fishman, do it properly this time, otherwise next time no one's going to respond!
Just as a side-note, watch those aponogetons in the 5, they can get pretty huge with time. Lovely plants though.
You need to buy all the equipment BEFORE you buy the fish and that's something you've rarely, if ever done. You're basically buying fish (well, ideas of fish) already and you don't even have a tank.
So how about a new idea - you ask for advice on the equipment you'll need. Please fishman, do it properly this time, otherwise next time no one's going to respond!
Just as a side-note, watch those aponogetons in the 5, they can get pretty huge with time. Lovely plants though.
this is saved in my notepad thingy on my computer Thyra
25gal tank/Stand-$159.99
Quiet flow filter- 39.99
4 gravel 5lb- $15.96
API TestKit- $29.99
Manual Gravel Vac-$9.99
_______________________
$255.92
Also Thyra, if you would, go to petsmart.com, and search Planting Substrate. You will then see what that is, consider it a soil for your aquarium containing nutrients plants need.
I intend to have all of my supplys listed above before i get any fish. Then on top of that im debating on new decorations which may include driftwood. I will have $130.00 of the $255.92 and mama normally blows over $100 on me alone at christmas so im not worried about having enough money.
And i agree fully with MK and Thyra, i change stocking plans like a chameleon changes color, speaking on that note, did you know the Rainbow cichlid i want changes colors based on his/her mood's. Pretty cool
So right now, i really need just one lil advice from you guys, this is sorta what i want for my tank, its a youtube video, the tank is 4 more gallons bigger than what i will be getting.
YouTube - 29 gal dwarf cichlid tank
Id like to have 1 Rainbow Cichlid, 1 Kribensis, and 1 Flag Cichlid at least but id like to include more plus my school of 6 Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish.
Leme know what you guys think please.
25gal tank/Stand-$159.99
Quiet flow filter- 39.99
4 gravel 5lb- $15.96
API TestKit- $29.99
Manual Gravel Vac-$9.99
_______________________
$255.92
Also Thyra, if you would, go to petsmart.com, and search Planting Substrate. You will then see what that is, consider it a soil for your aquarium containing nutrients plants need.
I intend to have all of my supplys listed above before i get any fish. Then on top of that im debating on new decorations which may include driftwood. I will have $130.00 of the $255.92 and mama normally blows over $100 on me alone at christmas so im not worried about having enough money.
And i agree fully with MK and Thyra, i change stocking plans like a chameleon changes color, speaking on that note, did you know the Rainbow cichlid i want changes colors based on his/her mood's. Pretty cool
So right now, i really need just one lil advice from you guys, this is sorta what i want for my tank, its a youtube video, the tank is 4 more gallons bigger than what i will be getting.
YouTube - 29 gal dwarf cichlid tank
Id like to have 1 Rainbow Cichlid, 1 Kribensis, and 1 Flag Cichlid at least but id like to include more plus my school of 6 Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish.
Leme know what you guys think please.
Just two quick observations:
Are you talking about flourite or something similar for your planting substrate? Why don't you just post a link instead of asking us to go search for something? Why do you think you must have this to grow live plants. I might be wrong, but haven't you had live plants before?
Also, 5 pounds of gravel isn't going to be enough to fill up a 25 gallon tank, and 15 dollars for that much is ridiculous. Just get pea gravel or something like that from Lowes of Home Depot. It'll save you a lot of money.
Are you talking about flourite or something similar for your planting substrate? Why don't you just post a link instead of asking us to go search for something? Why do you think you must have this to grow live plants. I might be wrong, but haven't you had live plants before?
Also, 5 pounds of gravel isn't going to be enough to fill up a 25 gallon tank, and 15 dollars for that much is ridiculous. Just get pea gravel or something like that from Lowes of Home Depot. It'll save you a lot of money.
Okay, I know the substrate you are talking about - rather expensive. Lets see if I got this right. By the time school starts this fall you should have the tank. At Christmas time you will be able to buy the things you have listed which total about $100 but you haven't listed a heater or any decor. It is easy to spend $50 on decor and a heater. That means if you do the same job the following summer, you can gradually buy some fish, but probably not the current list. The group you are talking about - at the moment - total about $100 especially if any have to be shipped and as you know you can't have them shipped all at once if you are doing a fish in cycle.
I know nothing about those fish and their compatibility, but after reading the size of the dwarf neon rainbows, they sound like a mouthful for your current other choices.
I know nothing about those fish and their compatibility, but after reading the size of the dwarf neon rainbows, they sound like a mouthful for your current other choices.
I believe he's talking about Eco-Complete. That will run you about $20 per bag. I bought about 10 (maybe 12) bags but managed to get them 1/2 off with free shipping...I think.
I agree with the pea gravel, which is what I was also going to suggest. Super cheap at about $5 for a huge bag. Or, go for pool filter sand, also cheap. I set my first tank up with pea gravel (29 gal) and my first planted tank (14 gal) was done with PFS.
As for the test kit check out the Petsmart website and see what the sell for and see about doing a price match at the store, if that's where you intend to make your purchase.
Look for a used tank/stand to cut the costs. Check on freecycle for free tanks. I've bought a used 30 gal with stand for $50 and a used 55 gal with stand for $50. I've picked up a two free 29 gal tanks, a 55, and a few 10 gal tanks.
I agree with the pea gravel, which is what I was also going to suggest. Super cheap at about $5 for a huge bag. Or, go for pool filter sand, also cheap. I set my first tank up with pea gravel (29 gal) and my first planted tank (14 gal) was done with PFS.
As for the test kit check out the Petsmart website and see what the sell for and see about doing a price match at the store, if that's where you intend to make your purchase.
Look for a used tank/stand to cut the costs. Check on freecycle for free tanks. I've bought a used 30 gal with stand for $50 and a used 55 gal with stand for $50. I've picked up a two free 29 gal tanks, a 55, and a few 10 gal tanks.
My list says"4 gravel 5lb" which means 4 5 lb bags of gravel. Yes i had live plants before, but they all died, even when planted in gravel, course the tank gravel had never been fertilized so.
The Dwarf neon rainbows grow to 2 inchs, none of the cichlids i listed get over 5, hows that a mouthful? Why do you keep askin me to go buy a used tank when my mother has offered to buy the new one. Why do you continue to think that my mother wont by the fish or the decor. I have a heater BTW. Who do you think bought the fish for all my tanks previously cause it surely wasnt me lol, i had no source of income. My mother will buy what i need that i cant pay for. I can get any fish i want no matter the price, she want care. All i need to know is what works as far as raising plants and compatibility and if a fish will fit or not.
The Dwarf neon rainbows grow to 2 inchs, none of the cichlids i listed get over 5, hows that a mouthful? Why do you keep askin me to go buy a used tank when my mother has offered to buy the new one. Why do you continue to think that my mother wont by the fish or the decor. I have a heater BTW. Who do you think bought the fish for all my tanks previously cause it surely wasnt me lol, i had no source of income. My mother will buy what i need that i cant pay for. I can get any fish i want no matter the price, she want care. All i need to know is what works as far as raising plants and compatibility and if a fish will fit or not.
Well, that is a big change! Last summer you said you had to "save your allowance" and you got a certain amount a week - I didn't keep track of how much a week you said you received. Anyway I assumed you were using your allowance to buy your fish. So now all we have to do is wait until you get the tank and equipment to get it set up. If your Mom is paying for it, she will also decided what you need.
Ah, I do see that 4 now. If that's the price for four bags that's not so much, but even still you'd get t cheaper at a hardware store. I'm not sure what to say about your plants dying. I've never fertilized anything, and I haven't added CO2 in months, and the only times my plants have died is when I did something dumb. Do you have enough light to grow plants?