How's my rockwork look?

[ozymandias]

I recently 'finished' my rock work on a 75 gallon, soon-to-be mbuna tank, and I would like a little commentary on how it looks. Any advice?

More rock? less rock? bigger caves? etc?

Thanks!

Here is a link to the flickr set. I will try and upload a few more full tank photos tonight.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35838728@N05/sets/72157614579774326/

THANKS!

[voss345]

i like it i would just stick on a background to give the setup some more depth

[CichlidsRool]

I recently 'finished' my rock work on a 75 gallon, soon-to-be mbuna tank, and I would like a little commentary on how it looks. Any advice?

More rock? less rock? bigger caves? etc?

Thanks!

Here is a link to the flickr set. I will try and upload a few more full tank photos tonight.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35838728@N05/sets/72157614579774326/

THANKS!

i say it looks nice but then your the one whose going to look at it everyday,what are you going to put in that tank...

[ozymandias]

i say it looks nice but then your the one whose going to look at it everyday,what are you going to put in that tank...

I am currently thinking 6 Yellow Labs (2M/4F, ideally), 4-6 Yellow Tail Acei (sex depending on what I can find locally), and a colony of Demosani, 12-20,(depending on what I can get, again).

I love the look, I am just hoping that it is 'good enough' to support a nice, colorful, active tank.

[greenearthlawns]

i say it looks nice but then your the one whose going to look at it everyday,what are you going to put in that tank...


I love the rocks you got... can you say jealous! where did you get them, sorry I thought you had a blue rock but it's not a rock... lol

[ozymandias]

I live in Iowa, and I drove to the local gravel pit and bought all the rock.

I spent 30 minutes or so climbing all over the piles they had, and hand picked the nice flat rocks I liked, and that was that.

I bought 240lbs of rock, and used most of it in the tank, the rest *might* be getting lined up in front of the tank to add a little depth.

The rocks cost less than $2 for all of them.

[greenearthlawns]

Now your making me even MORE jealous!! :( JK thats awesome!

[bl00]

I definitely second the background advice.

[dpk2313]

Maybe switch out the demasoni for something else there best kept in a species tank they can be really aggressive epically in groups

[ozymandias]

Strange. I was under the impression that demasoni are primarily conspecifically aggressive, and that large groups reduce that aggression -- spreads it out. I picked the Acei and Yellow Labs specifically due to the contrasting colors, which is nice, since that means they are not going to be the target of aggression, as much.

[FUEGO]

To make all your rock work and fish colors stand out, I would fasten a black background made out of black felt material. On the cheap you say, felt $5, velcro fasteners $4, viewing pleasure..............priceless!

[ozymandias]

The felt idea is pretty good. I might swing by walmart later.

I stacked the left over rock in front of the tank, on the lip of the desk, and I *really* like the effect. It's mainly some limestone/fossilized coral, and the low ridge adds a lot of depth to the tank.

I will try and get some picts later after the camera recharges.

I might be getting a PC fixture and putting some actinic bulbs on it to replace the shoplight fixture/plant bulb/ge 'cooler' bulb on it now.

On another note, I managed to get a working wifi webcam on the cheap, so I might be having a live feed posted at some point.

[ozymandias]

Fuego,

I took your advice, and it looks pretty awesome. I plan on taking some picts later.

[FUEGO]

Glad it worked out for you. Look forward to seeing those camera shots of your tank, enjoy!

[ozymandias]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35838728@N05/sets/72157614707461571/

Here is the finished, unstocked tank.

[greenearthlawns]

IT looks really great!! natural looking but at the same time you can tell you put alot into it~ looks like artwork...

[cichlidgirl]

Strange. I was under the impression that demasoni are primarily conspecifically aggressive, and that large groups reduce that aggression -- spreads it out. I picked the Acei and Yellow Labs specifically due to the contrasting colors, which is nice, since that means they are not going to be the target of aggression, as much.


Both the yellow lab and acei are also one of the most peaceful species of mbuna you can get so be sure to keep them with some mild mbuna, many mbuna are extremely aggressive and will kill or shred other species and even their own species. i had both species and they were so calm compared to the zebra species others i kept. I eventually had to move them out of the mbuna tank for their own good. I liked the acei swimming and occupying the top of the tank...