I do like the natural look, but people are right. It is your tank, and it should be what you want. Cuz....... You have to look at it everyday. Might as well truley enjoy what you see!
You Be The Judge?
- Thread starter JONP
- Start date
While the natural look is usually the best and your setup is good, owning one of those castles makes me a little biased towards it. Best way to solve it, get another tank and enjoy best of both worlds.
JONP;1276099; said:
Thats because before they didn't really have territory. Before it was like at an LFS where MOST (not all) fish get along in a big empty tank, thats what you had going on, now you have a habitat for them (not quite a biotope, but more natural then a castle)
Now you can really enjoy your fish, and see more of their natural instincts.
hi! NOW i like your setup! 
i'd get finer sand though because your fishes love to dig into them.
how to sink driftwood? BOIL THEM. boil them for awhile. They will also release a brownish tint so make sure you soak it in water for a long time.
driftwood disrupts the pH of your water and malawis don't like that.... so make sure the tannins are out and it sinks.
i'd get finer sand though because your fishes love to dig into them.
how to sink driftwood? BOIL THEM. boil them for awhile. They will also release a brownish tint so make sure you soak it in water for a long time.
driftwood disrupts the pH of your water and malawis don't like that.... so make sure the tannins are out and it sinks.
hmm i have those same castles, but yanked them out because i just didnt think they looked right (they are now in a box in the basement)--but i liked yours! i guess the new thing in cichlids is the natural look--which i DO love, but sometimes i do like to see themed tanks too!
i switched my tanks over to sand, and if you chose to do that i think you'd see alot of cool behaviors from your fish--i see my africans sifting it and playing in it.. i think youd like it..
The sand Idea sounds really cool, especially if I will see a difference in behavior. The reason I didn't use sand originally was due to the underground filter. I doesn't seem as though the sand will stay on top of it?
I have (2) other pieces of wood that I'm trying to boil and soak now. Hopefully it will be ready by next week.
Thanks,
I have (2) other pieces of wood that I'm trying to boil and soak now. Hopefully it will be ready by next week.
Thanks,
in my experience (which isnt much, believe me) i have felt that undergravel filters just trap a bunch of crap underneath them--and since cichlids like to dig, they arent the best choice for them.. if you went with sand, its alot easier to clean imo--you just sift your fingers through--run a python over the sand.. or use a powerhead to blow the crap towards the intakes... i think sand is alot easier to clean than big gravel--which just traps poop....
