Frontosa tank setup questions

[jadedreams]

Hey everyone, got lucky to find 3 frontosa that are 6-7" in my area that I'm going to pick up this weekend. Was great timing because I have a 6 foot 150 gallon that just finished cycling and is currently empty, so I'm very happy.

These will be my first fronts, so had a couple questions for you guys. Done lots of reading and learned that they do best with subdued lighting and no sharp edges, and have higher ph req. Currently the tank is pretty bare with black fine gravel and a large artificial tree trunk in one corner.

First I was wondering if should add crushed coral to the current substrate (have extra left over from my mbuna tank)? I assume smooth river rocks would be good along the bottom, also have a large piece of smooth quartz - would it work too? I'll do the vinegar test to double check it too.

As for stock levels, I'd like to get 2-3 more fronts after these 3 settle, also a few leleupi and a couple synodontis cats. That sound ok to you guys? Have 2 xp4's running on this tank for filtration.

Oh and if anyone has some tank shots with their front setups that would be great, I've love to see how others have their tanks setup. And any other suggestions are much appreciated, thanks!

 

[jadedreams]

Here's a picture of one my future babies.. whatcha think?

 

[C L O W N K N I F E]

Nice fronts! That one on the right has a LONG dorsal fin

For substrate, I would go with pool filter sand or silica (sandblasting) sand

 

[jadedreams]

Thanks - so you think they'd do better with a lighter substrate, I've been debating light/dark? Just for fun, here are before / after shots of their future home. Bought tank & stand at a garage sell a couple months ago for $200 - a reseal, some paint and a newly built canopy later is the result.

 

[C L O W N K N I F E]

Yes, I prefer lighter substrate...more natural looking

 

[m1ste2tea]

sounds like you have the setup figured out for the most part. Frontosa will actually lighten/darken up in response to the brighness of the substrate and overall background. Frontosa variants that have a lot of blue are best suited in a dark substrate tank, while the usual burundi-type are best with neutral/lighter substrate. I use white sand with my burundi frontosa, and very low lighting.

So wait till you get your frontosas in the tank for a few days then you will see how they react.

 

[jadedreams]

Ok, thanks - yeah I'm picking them up on Sunday. Going to find some river rocks before then, I do have a 4' light fixture that I was thinking about using, it already has a lower output bulb that casts a bit of blue tint. If I used it that would leave the middle highlighted and both ends a bit darker.. I'll post some more pics when I get things rearranged, oh and should I lose the background that came with the tank and just do a plain dark blue or black one? Was thinking bout that too, sorry for all the questions - I'm excited about this pickup, been wanting fronts for a while!

 

[cant009]

Tank looks good and so do the Fronts! Sexy fins btw. Good luck with them hope they produce many many babies

 

[C L O W N K N I F E]

Ok, thanks - yeah I'm picking them up on Sunday. Going to find some river rocks before then, I do have a 4' light fixture that I was thinking about using, it already has a lower output bulb that casts a bit of blue tint. If I used it that would leave the middle highlighted and both ends a bit darker.. I'll post some more pics when I get things rearranged, oh and should I lose the background that came with the tank and just do a plain dark blue or black one? Was thinking bout that too, sorry for all the questions - I'm excited about this pickup, been wanting fronts for a while!

Ya, I'd get a different background...maybe get one like this,

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+6635+18279+21123&pcatid=21123

Or just paint the back of the tank black

 

[jadedreams]

Got my fronts last night, here's a couple pics, sorry they're crappy phone pics.. I did change the substrate out to a lighter before, added some rocks, and am still planning to change out the background. The 2 larger ones are about 8" and the smaller one 6", got 'em for $20 each so I'm stoked. They seem to be happy and cruising in their new home, they were only in a 3' tank before so they have more room to stretch out now, lol. Now I just need to find a couple more!