some MORE cichlid questions....

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Dear MFK thread,
Today I found out I have been cycling wrong for 11 years because some guy at walmart told me bad info when I was 10. Luckily my tank is still salvageable and will be right on schedule for my new fish. I just wish I wouldn't have repeated that bad info on a different thread. I guess that helped me though. Live and Learn.

Love,
cichlid_starter
 
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249222

that thread is still pretty confusing. yes water change, no water change. But one thing was very clear. A cycle with fish is not the way to go. I use feeders to boost the ammonia then remove them when the cycle is done. I usually cycle fast. But I also have never done a water change at the end of a cycle.

So oh mighty mike, in your infinite, straight forward and witty wisdom, what should I do? Or, WWMD. What would Mike do?
 
cichlid_starter;3188889; said:
Fish list in scientific terms as requested.

[FONT=arial,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Altolamprologus calvus[/SIZE][/FONT]

Julidochromis dickfeldi

Neolamprologus leleupi.

Lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus) kendalli

Neolamprologus pulcher

I would like to do about 4 of each kind of fish I get. That is if compatibility allows it. And I'm totally open to different stuff. I just want to keep the fish under about five inches so I can have more variety in there. How many fish do you thing would be appropriate for my setup?
Click to expand...

Loose the Neolamprologus Pulcher ...anything in the "daffodil" genus will just end up taking over the entire tank, they are colony builders and they kill all the other tankmates.

cichlid_starter;3202783; said:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249222

that thread is still pretty confusing. yes water change, no water change. But one thing was very clear. A cycle with fish is not the way to go. I use feeders to boost the ammonia then remove them when the cycle is done. I usually cycle fast. But I also have never done a water change at the end of a cycle.

So oh mighty mike, in your infinite, straight forward and witty wisdom, what should I do? Or, WWMD. What would Mike do?
Click to expand...

CYCLING 101: set up your tank, get you filters going, find a fish friend that lives 10-15 min away from you ...go over with a bucket, ask nicely, open all his filters and squeeze all the sponges into the bucket, run home and dump the "PRECIOUS" stuff in your brand new tank.

It is called seeding (you "seed" the new tank with bacteria from an established setup) and I usually put fish 2-3 days after doing that into the tank.
 
Marius;3202962; said:
Loose the Neolamprologus Pulcher ...anything in the "daffodil" genus will just end up taking over the entire tank, they are colony builders and they kill all the other tankmates.



CYCLING 101: set up your tank, get you filters going, find a fish friend that lives 10-15 min away from you ...go over with a bucket, ask nicely, open all his filters and squeeze all the sponges into the bucket, run home and dump the "PRECIOUS" stuff in your brand new tank.

It is called seeding (you "seed" the new tank with bacteria from an established setup) and I usually put fish 2-3 days after doing that into the tank.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. That's a lot of help. :)
 
cichlid_starter;3203381; said:
Thanks for the info. That's a lot of help. :)
Click to expand...


Do not forget about the 10-15min rule. Bacteria will live without oxygen for little over 20min, and that is valid also for when your filters accidentally turn off, or you do a water change and you're lazzying around for more than 20min keeping the filters off.

...results?!? ...a lot of dead fish from ammonia spike due to insta-cycle caused by the loss of nitrifying bacteria.

:nilly: Not to scare you or anything, just thought I'd mention that as well.
 
Update!

I finally got sand in the tank. Thanks Mike for the location you gave me to get it. It was exactly what you said it would be.

I re did my rock work with the same basic concept that it was before, just more cave like structures throughout the whole tank. I'll post some pics later today or tomorrow to show you guys the changes.

The first fish go in next week. I'm so ready for them.
 
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