Thoughts on Substrate& decor for an Amphilophus Setup?

[cacichilds]

Currently tank has black sand mixed with some white shells, and a black painted bkg, and driftwood. It makes for good photographs but I'm looking to create more of a natural environment for the two.

I was considering switching to PFS and adding more large river stones and maybe some fake plants since I'm looking to see my real ones get shredded

Also do some thing promote pairing vs others? i.e. a plate, slate/bluestone slabs for eggs to be laid upon?

Thanks all.

 

[1bigdovii]

For more natural look PFS is great I personally use quickcrete pfs in almost all my tanks. Use driftwood and get some large stones form a garden center. If you want flat spawning surfaces slate would work fine, but not necessary they will spawn on any rock. You may also want to consider some artificial plants a craft store like michaels will provide some good selections and good price.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[cacichilds]

Thanks, I'm the designer for a landscape/pool company so I've got bags of PFS and rocks galore =P

 

[Skittle]

Use pfs sand and scatter around some river stones here and there


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Modest_Man]

If you want natural it's going to be large rocks, no plants.

Like this-

http://lagunadeapoyo.blogspot.com/2010/11/fish.html

 

[woofy]

Slate or terra cotta pots are always good. Although the pots wont do much for the natural look its the only "cave" like decor ive seen big amphilophus to fit in for spawning. Slate also looks good on rocks. River stones from craft store are super cheap. And yes get rid of sea shells also cant go wrong with driftwood.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[cacichilds]

I'd love to have massive space for a real viable biotope. We are buying the house next door and the space is nearly double our, so I'll have sufficent space to make a build and elimate standard tank restrictions. We live on a lake now and the wife and I refuse to leave the lakefront so we're just going to buy the next house over. I can put some natives in as well, we have all kinds of turtles, bluegils, channel and bullhead cats, and yellow perch who I hear are pretty nasty actually. Either way I'm looking forward to starting off in a 110 then going from there.

 

[Aquanero]

I would use PFS and large rocks. The amphs like to dig and rearrange to their liking so no matter what you put in they will arrange it the way they want it.