05.04.12: The plastic plant bug strikes again. Makeover time!

[dxdx]

I hear you, I wasn't trying to criticize the overall look. The tank does look very nice, and you obviously have reasons for doing it, traveling is difficult and if that's what you need right now it works.

I also get bored with my setups. I'm thinking of ditching my planted tank, the maintenance is a lot. If they ever made fake plants that looked real I would be all over them.

 

[JK47]

Thanks man! I actually was thinking of those. That would be a nice option. You ever kept those 'true' parrot cichlids? What's their temperament like?

I think the Urau would be a better fit. I would not suggest the Urau fernandezyepezi since they come from extremely acidic water and will only spawn in pretty much battery acid. The amph's are x10 more forgiving. I ket mine in pH 7.6. I have kept the true parrot (Hoplarchus psittacus) and found my female to be pretty aggressive, especially towards smaller fish. They are stunning but can be hit or miss IMO. Peathenster was keeping a very large breeding pair with geos in a 10' tank and had no issues. My female was brutal on my severum pair.

The other option to consider is Acarichthys heckelii "thread fin acara". They are very colorful, are technically an eartheater but have much more attitude than most other geo species.

 

[jcardona1]

I think the Urau would be a better fit. I would not suggest the Urau fernandezyepezi since they come from extremely acidic water and will only spawn in pretty much battery acid. The amph's are x10 more forgiving. I ket mine in pH 7.6. I have kept the true parrot (Hoplarchus psittacus) and found my female to be pretty aggressive, especially towards smaller fish. They are stunning but can be hit or miss IMO. Peathenster was keeping a very large breeding pair with geos in a 10' tank and had no issues. My female was brutal on my severum pair.

The other option to consider is Acarichthys heckelii "thread fin acara". They are very colorful, are technically an eartheater but have much more attitude than most other geo species.

Thanks for the tips I figured the hoplarchus might be on the aggressive side. Shame, they're such beautiful fish. I'll be on the lookout for some uarus. I see them occasionally at my LFS. Heckellii...I'm way ahead of ya! Been growing this guy out for a few months now. He's developing quite nicely

 

[JK47]

Thanks for the tips I figured the hoplarchus might be on the aggressive side. Shame, they're such beautiful fish. I'll be on the lookout for some uarus. I see them occasionally at my LFS. Heckellii...I'm way ahead of ya! Been growing this guy out for a few months now. He's developing quite nicely

Glad we're on the same page (even though I can't spell today).. That is one hell of a heckelii J! Even better shot. You keeping a group or just this guy?

Yeah the H. psittacus is a tough one to walk past. Such an awesome species. You can always try and remove it if fish start missing or get beat up. I figured that might not be a very attractive idea for you considering the traveling in your future.

 

[jcardona1]

Glad we're on the same page (even though I can't spell today).. That is one hell of a heckelii J! Even better shot. You keeping a group or just this guy?

Yeah the H. psittacus is a tough one to walk past. Such an awesome species. You can always try and remove it if fish start missing or get beat up. I figured that might not be a very attractive idea for you considering the traveling in your future.

Thanks! I have just this one for now. He was labeled as Altifrons at my LFS which I knew was wrong, but I didn't know what he was. They were small and ugly and no color so I took a chance on one. Soon after I realized it was Heckellii. Only thing, his head shape seems different to me. Other threadfins I've seen have a much longer, pointy snout. This guy is very round. Does it look different to you?

 

[JK47]

Thanks! I have just this one for now. He was labeled as Altifrons at my LFS which I knew was wrong, but I didn't know what he was. They were small and ugly and no color so I took a chance on one. Soon after I realized it was Heckellii. Only thing, his head shape seems different to me. Other threadfins I've seen have a much longer, pointy snout. This guy is very round. Does it look different to you?

It is different. There is thought to be two sub-species of A. heckelii. One with a pointed snout and one with a rounded snout (rounded being harder to find IME). I can only assume it's collection locale specific but to date no one has reclassified them indevidual species.

I prefer the ones with the rounded snout like you have there. They are far more attractive as adults IMO. I kept the same subspecies and if I were able to find a group of the rounded snout again, I would jump on it. Here is a pic of my old group you can see have the same snout.

 

[JK47]

^ not trying to derail your thread with my pics by the way, just wanted you to see what I was talking about with the snout you mentioned.

 

[busterbrown]

Dang looks awesome jose but yeah you need some more in there. I got rid of all my discus also. Just got sick of those things and they get to be a pain. Go with the loaches they are awesome. I stocked my tank up with 30 clowns, 4 skunk botias, 5 hillstreams and i got a school of rummy nose tetras and a few straglers. Odessa barbs, serpae and lemon tetras. Oh I got 4 bumble bee gobyies and those guys are rad. Go with a loach tank I love mine. Im going to add some more. I need to get some angelica loaches and dwarf loaches and some more clowns of course

 

[aquaman1123]

pinktailed chalceus are peaceful, but they will eat fish that fit into their mouths

 

[jcardona1]

^ not trying to derail your thread with my pics by the way, just wanted you to see what I was talking about with the snout you mentioned.

Not at all man! Thanks for the pics. I can definitely see the similarities and it's good to know that there's two types of them. Those were some nice looking adults!