New to the forum, looking for general info/feedback/opinions

[fishfanatic80]

You said your feeding brine shrimp to descent sized cichlids, I'd advice you go with something more nutritious like mysis shrimp instead. A good pellet for a staple and pe mysis as a treat your fish will love you for it. How you design your tank is all your own personal taste but I prefer sticking to either all rocks or all driftwood. I try to replicate their environment best I can so I only use live plants and real wood and stones.

 

[Mbielek]

You said your feeding brine shrimp to descent sized cichlids, I'd advice you go with something more nutritious like mysis shrimp instead. A good pellet for a staple and pe mysis as a treat your fish will love you for it

A friend mentioned mysis shrimp as well, and I will most likely get some soon. Trying to get rid of some frozen foods that I have including the brine shrimp, worms and a fresh water mix which is almost too much of a powder (don't like the way it circulates in the tank, looks messy). I do feed Omega pellets 1-2 times a day. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[fishfanatic80]

Unless your rearing fry brine shrimp is a poor food for fish because it basically contains almost nothing but a shell, the nutrition in it is slim to none. That's why most breeders try to get the young off brine asap and switch to a flake. Omega one is pretty good a lot of people here use new life spectrum and I have as well it's a great pellet.

 

[Mbielek]

Unless your rearing fry brine shrimp is a poor food for fish because it basically contains almost nothing but a shell, the nutrition in it is slim to none. That's why most breeders try to get the young off brine asap and switch to a flake. Omega one is pretty good a lot of people here use new life spectrum and I have as well it's a great pellet.

Will definitely move away from brine shrimp, simply never knew that about no nutrition in them. Will spectrum pellets produce more colors in the fish rather than regular omega?

 

[Yohanon]

If you want an interesting pleco that wont out grow your tank, try a bristlenose (AKA bushynose) pleco. They max out at about 6" and are great algea eaters.

 

[Mbielek]

If you want an interesting pleco that wont out grow your tank, try a bristlenose (AKA bushynose) pleco. They max out at about 6" and are great algea eaters.

Sounds like a plan! Thank you.

 

[Angelphish]

Do you ever plan to upgrade? All of those fish should be fine, except for the Bala. Balas get about 12-14", and should be kept in groups. You'll need a 150+ gallon tank (depending on dimensions, length and width preferred) to house a small school of them properly.

If you plan to keep the Bala shark, watch for tanks on Craigslist, as that's where you'll find the best deals.