Photo Journal: 29gal Tanganyika... [Archive]

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dsubaru

01-23-2009, 2:20 AM

I'm starting this thread to show off my new Tanganyika tank. I hope you enjoy..

History: I recently decided to take down a 28gal bowfront Saltwater reef that I had running for about a year. I was going to set that tank up as freshwater but my wife decided that it would be ok for me to buy a brand new tank and stand if I sold off the other. It took about 2 weeks to sell off all the corals and equipment and then the new project began.

I'm really into cichlids and have kept several types in the last few years. I so I decided to give Tanganyikans a second try. below are the tank details thus far.

Tank: standard 29 gallon All Glass Aquarium
Stand: PetSmart Rustic stand/cabinet
Filtration: Emperor 280 HOB filter
Lighting: Aqualight T-5 Freshwater (36w 1 6700k 1 Colormax)
Heater: Jager Eheim TS rated for up to 30 gallons.
---------------
Substrate: crushed coral
Rocks: 30lbs of "rainbow" rock and some red and black slate
Plants: 1x Anubias Nala and 1x Anubias Coffeefolia
---------------
Stocking TBD
?? 1x Neolamprologus Pulcher (Daffodil
?? Julidochromis Ornatus (or similiar)
?? 1 Calvus or Comp
?? rainbows or danios (dithers)

Here are some pictures of what I have going so far. It took me a few attempts to arrange the rocks into useful but also attractive looking pieces of work.

Attempt 1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/TanganyikanTank3.jpg

Attempt 2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/MoreRock1.jpg

Current configuration
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/MoreRock7.jpg

Picture with new light
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/NewLight.jpg

Closeup no flash.. much brighter huh...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/NewLightnoflash.jpg

dsubaru

01-23-2009, 2:23 AM

I confirmed today that the cycle has just about completed... This weekend I plan on finally adding some fish..

Let me know what you think so far... THX

ECarbonel

01-23-2009, 3:10 AM

looking good my friend!!! keep up the good work

BigTim15

01-23-2009, 3:04 PM

Yea it looks very nice with that light

sp33dstix

01-23-2009, 3:33 PM

Woo pictures!
Calvus ftw... Love those fish.

blatch

01-23-2009, 4:27 PM

yer i love calvus they are so awesome. i only got 3 white ones but am looking to get some more. nice set-up btw very symetrical

dsubaru

01-23-2009, 4:39 PM

thx for the compliments..

BTW is having a tank look "symetrical" a good thing or bad thing?

Muske

01-23-2009, 10:17 PM

Tank looks good, the plants will do better if not planted in the sand. Try to attach to the rocks. They receive nutrients from the water column.

junglej

01-23-2009, 10:50 PM

Nice looking tank! I like the rock. i would leave out the danios though as they will probably just stress out your cichlids. Otherwise i like your choices in stock.Although a mature mated pair of calvus or comps would be pretty sweet alone too.

junglej

01-23-2009, 10:52 PM

beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you like it the way it is, keep it. The fish do not care one way or the other. I have tanks that look a bit sym. and others that dont and i can only say i like the way all of them look.

dsubaru

01-24-2009, 12:16 AM

sp33dstix

01-24-2009, 12:22 AM

thx for the compliments..

BTW is having a tank look "symetrical" a good thing or bad thing?
Personal preference IMO. Set it up how ever you like.

mike dunagan

01-24-2009, 10:45 AM

algae is best removed with a scraper, if there is a fish that could help some, I would recommend a bristlenose pleco.

sutherland

01-24-2009, 10:52 AM

algae is best removed with a scraper, if there is a fish that could help some, I would recommend a bristlenose pleco.

Bristlenose would be good, a Tanganyika catfish would be better suited. But yes, nothing beats a scraper (or a mag-float).

sutherland

01-24-2009, 11:04 AM

Muske,

Tomorrow I'm headed to the store to get some fish anyways so I'll look for a couple small pieces of lace rock. Will the roots cover the rock and eventually move into the substrate?

I was going to use root tabs to add nutrients would you suggest using a Seachem product like flourish or excel?

I guess 3rd question could be for anyone.. What would you suggest for algae cleaning. in a small Tanganyikan tank.

I do understand that most of the fish I'll be keeping are omnivores so maybe I dont need algae eating fish...

Outside of Prime and Ammonia Alert (nice cheap product, and good generalized indicator), I don't have any extensive experience with Seachem. I am, however, a huge fan of Ocean Nutrition and ALL of their products.

http://www.oceannutrition.com/product_fresh.php?lang=en&file=fresh_plant.php&head=

Muske

01-25-2009, 12:52 PM

I don't use any ferts., my tap water already contains a lot of phors. If I were going to, I would use Excel. It is supposed to not contribute to nusisance algae. The BN plecos are good for keeping the decorations fairly clean of algae. Lace rock is great for your plants. You will probally need to tie them down w/a rubberband or piece of thread til they get established on the rocks. If the roots can reach the sub. they will grow into it, but the do not need the substrate for survival.

dsubaru

01-26-2009, 11:57 AM

Let the stocking begin.... 3 Juliochromis, 1 Neolamprologus Pulcher aka Daffodil, 3 dwarf rainbows... Everyone is getting along so far. however I lost one rainbow due to it getting stuck between some rocks and they nipped its fins off. It became food for my SA/CA tank.

bagged!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/NeolamprologuspulcherDaffodilbagged.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/JuliochromisBagged.jpg

free!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/Juliochromis1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/NeolamprologuspulcherDaffodilcloseu.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/DWRCustoms04/NeolamprologuspulcherDaffodilclo-1.jpg

Ransom

01-26-2009, 3:57 PM

there some great fish there,