ATF Community. Your input.

[DAZZA]

Hi All

With advise from Tigerfangs i've come up with a set up and stock for my new tank (not sure when i'l have it).
I have kept An Atf before but sold it due to it getting too skittish. It was in a 150, 5x2x2'.

Tank 96"Lx36"Wx24"H acrylic with blacked out sides and back. Filteration by 1 or 2 Eheim 2080's, lighting 1 150 watt 5,200 Kelvin MHQ lamp ( to give me a riple effect over the sand ), centrally mounted with 2 additional tubes 36" 30watt's each. One aqua-glo and a moon-glo to avoid startling the tiger when he MHQ light comes on/off.
Stock
1 ATF, H.Vittatus, 1 Endy polypterus, 1 Ornate polypterus, 1 Delhazi polypterus, 1 Synodontis Decorus, 1 Synodontis Angelicus.
What da ya think ?
Can anyone suggest an African cichlid that would tolerate a ph of around 7 that's colourful and shoalable.
Ta.

 

[tigerfangs]

That sounds like a very nice ATF set up. Good choice of tankmates so far, but keep an eye on the Ornate Bichir. I had to sell mine because it was biting their tails at night. The cats will compliment and be a good clean up crew.
Cichlids are normally pretty tough and can plenty of variation in ph as long as they are slowly acclimated to it. I would be more concerned about choosing ones that will get large enough not to become prey as the ATF gets bigger. I keep a Livingstoni, Sulphur Head Hap, Red Empress, Johnstoni, and am chancing an Electic Blue Ahli. I haven't had any problems and my ph is normally 7.6-7.8.

 

[piranha45]

don't worry about ph with african cichlids. You can stick whatever africans you want in the tank, just keep in mind the other fish might choose to eat them as they mature, but that's alright because most african cichlids are cheap

You might consider frontosa, those run heftier prices, but their bodyshape is less appetizing and I think they would do well in the tank.

 

[DAZZA]

Cheers guys

I had thought of frontosas although everything i've read stated a ph of over 8. A shoal of around 7 would look great. I also like cyrtocara moori, the blue dolphin. Need to read up more on cichlids.
Ta.