New Members Tank

[tgroen]

haha thanks buddy i try. ive been reading forums on mfk for probably 2 years just to learn stuff about the fish i own but i figure once i started sinkin real money into fish and their set ups id rather just ask my own questions instead of tryin to figure out what my problems are from other peoples threads. i know its still gonna take time and patience to get my fish to do exactly what is best for them, (like eatin only pellets ) but im puttin the effort in to make sure they do. i got the gatf eatin talapia now so at least its a start.

 

[tgroen]

the mudskipper is pretty active actually. the spot i got it from had all kinds for sale but of course i had to get the biggest one hes not too aggressive with my other brackish fish but ive never seen my 11" dragon goby go nuts like when the mudskipper first started eatin from the gobys "feeding hole". the mudskipper eats anything from crickets to pellets to bloodworms and brine shrimp.

 

[Chicxulub]

haha thanks buddy i try. ive been reading forums on mfk for probably 2 years just to learn stuff about the fish i own but i figure once i started sinkin real money into fish and their set ups id rather just ask my own questions instead of tryin to figure out what my problems are from other peoples threads. i know its still gonna take time and patience to get my fish to do exactly what is best for them, (like eatin only pellets ) but im puttin the effort in to make sure they do. i got the gatf eatin talapia now so at least its a start.

Getting him to eat tilapia is a wonderful start. Cichlids make up a huge part of an ATF's diet in the wild anyway.

 

[Slippery K]

a tile bottom? how is that for keepin it clean? and how big is ur armatus? i cant wait till my red tails r bigger even tho i doubt theyll have the same monstrous teeth as an armatus. i just want them to get nice and white instead of silvery clear. i might even end up sellin them if an armatus comes up for sale. cuz i know theyd probably fight. or do u think since theres 2 tats it would be ok cuz it would spread out the aggression? and yea just sunk my spending money into finishing my tank a decent camera will be comin up in a while.

The tile bottom is great. This tank was my first attempt at tile, so I didn't do it 100% correct, but it works and now I know what to do next time. When I upgrade I plan on doing another tile bottom as well. Maintainence is a breeze too with it. I personaly like it more than sand or gravel substrate. Its also cheaper to fill larger tanks with tile vs most other options (for a 120 tank I spent about $20 on tile). The tile I have is kind of a mocha/coffee natural sand colour but is also textured so it has visable bumps and grooves like a sand bed would.

I would highly recommend porcalin tile for anyone looking for a cheap cost, easy maintainable and eye pleaseing tank bottom. My armatus is around 7.5" give or take, I havnt actualy tried to measur him in a while. As for the teeth I think the whiteness might develop with age or amount of calcium the fish is getting, mine has white fangs, but the smaller teeth are still pretty transparent.

 

[tgroen]

I think i might do tile if i ever get a chance to empty my tank. Cuz even sand is tough to clean. I was thinkin nobottom at all but i dont like the look. The only thing is my tank has reinforced sides on the bottom that stick up a half inch. Do u use any grout with the tile or just have pure tile?

 

[Slippery K]

I think i might do tile if i ever get a chance to empty my tank. Cuz even sand is tough to clean. I was thinkin nobottom at all but i dont like the look. The only thing is my tank has reinforced sides on the bottom that stick up a half inch. Do u use any grout with the tile or just have pure tile?

With this tank, I did it wrong lol. But for the next upgraded tank I know exactly what to do when the time comes. My tank was already established when I layed the tile in, so I couldnt glue them in place with aquarium safe glue. Everything looks great and functions fine, you cant tell it isnt properly secured down by looking at it. The only issue I have is every month or so I have to pop up a corner of the tiles so I can stick my syphon hose under them to suck out and gunk that does happen to sneak in there (which is very very little).

So in reality you can add tile at any time like I did, just make sure you cut it to the proper size INSIDE your tank, and you must be willing to clean under the tile unless you glue them in place before adding water and fish. When I upgrade next its tile and background first! lol I always forget

 

[tgroen]

ok well i think if i ever drain my tank ill do the glued tile thing. as well as paint the sides/back instead of using a background. cuz even tho i used some kind of goop on the background it is still reflective on some parts. im also lookin for a real nice chunk of driftwood cuz i know the false mangrove root i have in there is hard and if the tigerfish goes ballistic he could hurt himself on it. im just waitin till i find one i really like. any other suggestions on decor in a tank like mine?

 

[tgroen]

ahh the one payara has gotten quite a beating over the last few days. its whenever i try to feed them that the dominant one gets super aggressive. hes got a nice slice in his side from the other payara. i think hes got his territory now and wants it for himself. i dont have a holding tank big enough to house it so i think i need to sell it before somethin real bad happens to it. id give it to my girlfriend to heal up in her tank but it would eat most of her fish for sure. he has healed up from the tigerfish attack but this new one i dont like. its not infected but u can tell he did lose some blood from it. i just added salt and raised the temp a bit. think selling it is what i need to do?

 

[Chicxulub]

ahh the one payara has gotten quite a beating over the last few days. its whenever i try to feed them that the dominant one gets super aggressive. hes got a nice slice in his side from the other payara. i think hes got his territory now and wants it for himself. i dont have a holding tank big enough to house it so i think i need to sell it before somethin real bad happens to it. id give it to my girlfriend to heal up in her tank but it would eat most of her fish for sure. he has healed up from the tigerfish attack but this new one i dont like. its not infected but u can tell he did lose some blood from it. i just added salt and raised the temp a bit. think selling it is what i need to do?

If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. With large, aggressive fish who possess fearsome weapons, you have to make concessions at times to make things work. If anything, if it was me, I'd keep the less aggressive one.

 

[tgroen]

really eh? im just thinkin the more aggressive one has been already bit by the tigerfish and the bigger one doesnt bug the tigerfish id keep it. as well as a nicer colouration. the tigerfish doesnt like to hide at all where the payara keeps the big stump as his lair. forcing the other payara out into the open with the tigerfish. ill take a video if it helps but id have to do it tomorrow. just to see what you think. i figure ud know better then me on this sort of thing. its especially when i feed them tho