This is the official photo journal for my 29g Haplochromis Sp. 44 "Red Tail" tank that has been set up in my college apartment.
Intro/Background: This is the first time I have a place of my own after a year in the dorms and a year in a frat house, and obviously I needed to have a real tank that I can be proud of. So, I set out my junior year with the goal of setting a cost efficient show tank where I can breed a cichlid species that I haven't tried yet. Due to the tank size restrictions, my only options were dwarf cichlids and species on the smaller end. Because I was trying to keep the costs down, I ruled out a planted tank, which basically ruled out all Amazonian fish. The water in Ann Arbor, MI comes out around 7.5pH and I didn't want to deal with constantly lowering the pH so that only left me with Central American and African cichlids. Having kept Tanganyikan shell dwellers before, I figured I'd try out a Malawi or Victoria cichlid. My tank species considerations were: N. Brichardi, N. Dafodill, L. Mbamba, but after scouring the forums/aquabid/craigslist and breeders across the country, I finally found a breeder who was willing to bring his fish to me (since I don't have a car in college). This was great because it cut out the cost of shipping and after setting up the tank, I was close to breaking the budget I set out with of $300.
Goal: To frequently document the status of the tank over the course of my junior year at the University of Michigan. I've also resigned my lease for senior year, so hopefully I can keep it going into 2015. I also hope to continually breed this species and offer the fry to other hobbyists.
Current (10/31/13) tank parameters:
pH: 7.0-7.5
GH: >180ppm
KH: 40ppm
Tank inhabitants: 4x goldfish, 4x Haplochromis Sp. 44 "Red Tails" (1M:3F)
I hope you all enjoy, and check out my past tank journals in my signature!
All pictures taken with iPhone 5.
Tank with first inhabitants (goldfish to aid in cycling with Seachem Stability)
Tank day of introduction of Haplochromis Sp. 44
Presumed dominant female (could be subdominant male - can someone verify?)
Subdominant female
Dominant male
Subdominant female #2
Group photos
Budget Sheet & Chart of costs
Intro/Background: This is the first time I have a place of my own after a year in the dorms and a year in a frat house, and obviously I needed to have a real tank that I can be proud of. So, I set out my junior year with the goal of setting a cost efficient show tank where I can breed a cichlid species that I haven't tried yet. Due to the tank size restrictions, my only options were dwarf cichlids and species on the smaller end. Because I was trying to keep the costs down, I ruled out a planted tank, which basically ruled out all Amazonian fish. The water in Ann Arbor, MI comes out around 7.5pH and I didn't want to deal with constantly lowering the pH so that only left me with Central American and African cichlids. Having kept Tanganyikan shell dwellers before, I figured I'd try out a Malawi or Victoria cichlid. My tank species considerations were: N. Brichardi, N. Dafodill, L. Mbamba, but after scouring the forums/aquabid/craigslist and breeders across the country, I finally found a breeder who was willing to bring his fish to me (since I don't have a car in college). This was great because it cut out the cost of shipping and after setting up the tank, I was close to breaking the budget I set out with of $300.
Goal: To frequently document the status of the tank over the course of my junior year at the University of Michigan. I've also resigned my lease for senior year, so hopefully I can keep it going into 2015. I also hope to continually breed this species and offer the fry to other hobbyists.
Current (10/31/13) tank parameters:
pH: 7.0-7.5
GH: >180ppm
KH: 40ppm
Tank inhabitants: 4x goldfish, 4x Haplochromis Sp. 44 "Red Tails" (1M:3F)
I hope you all enjoy, and check out my past tank journals in my signature!
All pictures taken with iPhone 5.
Tank with first inhabitants (goldfish to aid in cycling with Seachem Stability)
Tank day of introduction of Haplochromis Sp. 44
Presumed dominant female (could be subdominant male - can someone verify?)
Subdominant female
Dominant male
Subdominant female #2
Group photos
Budget Sheet & Chart of costs
