My 150 Refresh. Rio Negro

[mrrobxc]

Evening,

I moved my heckels from the 180 into my 150 with 4 of the hemiodus gracilis and a chalceus microlepidotus. I also added 5 crenicichla Notopthalmus and 6 biotodoma cupido along with some marbled hatchets.

The 150 works well with them and the added wood has helped them feel more secure. 14 hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus and 2 ancistrus dolichopterus are on the way. The chalceus and the hemiodus will then be removed.

 

[tlindsey]

Evening,

I moved my heckels from the 180 into my 150 with 4 of the hemiodus gracilis and a chalceus microlepidotus. I also added 5 crenicichla Notopthalmus and 6 biotodoma cupido along with some marbled hatchets.

The 150 works well with them and the added wood has helped them feel more secure. 14 hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus and 2 ancistrus dolichopterus are on the way. The chalceus and the hemiodus will then be removed.

Another beautiful creation.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

This is how it's done!
Aquascapeing at it best.

 

[mrrobxc]

Thank you! I've been seeing a lot of solid biotopes lately including yours Stanzzzz7. Inspired me to do one as well. Been really falling heavy into SA from my crenicichla fascination. From finding good mates for my crenicichla, I stumbled into so many other SA cichlids i never paid attention to. Now I have crenicichla in all my tanks but Ivery radiated out into different complexes so I can maximize my mix of tankmates.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Thank you! I've been seeing a lot of solid biotopes lately including yours Stanzzzz7. Inspired me to do one as well. Been really falling heavy into SA from my crenicichla fascination. From finding good mates for my crenicichla, I stumbled into so many other SA cichlids i never paid attention to. Now I have crenicichla in all my tanks but Ivery radiated out into different complexes so I can maximize my mix of tankmates.

That's the beauty of s/a biotopes,they offer so much choice in cichlid and non cichlid tank mates that can be found together in the wild.
Mountains of opportunities for the purist.
I do have a soft spot for c/a cichlids but biotope non cichlid tank mates are limited or hard to find.
The same applies to my andinoacara rivulatus tank.Not that many non cichlid tank mates hailing from Western Ecuador are imported.
But I must say mrrobxc has nailed the nack of creating a truly authentic and visually pleasing display.
Keep up the updates.

 

[mrrobxc]

Thank you. Keep sharing your tanks as well!

 

[Woefulrelic]

The discus look like they will settle in now and then hopefully become outgoing, I think you are scaping around them well.

 

[mrrobxc]

The discus look like they will settle in now and then hopefully become outgoing, I think you are scaping around them well.

They have improved a lot over the weeks and are now attacking their food. Removing the satanoperca was a big improvement.

 

[mrrobxc]

That's the beauty of s/a biotopes,they offer so much choice in cichlid and non cichlid tank mates that can be found together in the wild.
Mountains of opportunities for the purist.
I do have a soft spot for c/a cichlids but biotope non cichlid tank mates are limited or hard to find.
The same applies to my andinoacara rivulatus tank.Not that many non cichlid tank mates hailing from Western Ecuador are imported.
But I must say mrrobxc has nailed the nack of creating a truly authentic and visually pleasing display.
Keep up the updates.

I really appreciate the comments. You are right, it is hard to source the wild type live bearers and characins from central america. The catfish es don't come around often either.

Jeff will get in astyanax fasciatus and various wild poecillia from time to time. I've even seen some Nicaraguan rhamdia on his list before. Wild live bearers are also available on aquabid from a guy in NJ and Goliad farms will carry good looking latipinna sailfin mollies as well.

Hopefully they will pop up again. Your wild rio otapa xiphophorus are amazing in your helleri tank.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Thanks
Yeah I must admit I do like the otapa swordtails. the best livebearers I have kept.
To be honest I prefer characins to livebearers but I feel like I've been looking for a shoal of astyanax all my life.I give up.
Same thing goes for rhamdia quelen or rhamdia Guatemalensis.
Still, its part of what makes the hobby so rewarding.
Finding that elusive species. Great!