Well this type of forum was founded on big fish in big tanks and decor hinders maintenance so it’s not surprising it’s like this. I will say that both styles of tanks have their own beauty in their own ways.
Creating natural, functional cichlid display tanks
- Thread starter Stanzzzz7
- Start date
Well, I guess that's my point. Of course decor hinders maintenance; so does keeping big fish! Tanks would be much easier to keep clean without decor to get in the way, or without big fish making a mess. They'd be even easier without any fish at all.
No doubt there are folks who like the look of a pristine box of water, where the only "decor" is the large number of big fish bumping into each other all day long. I sometimes think that they are going for a Zen Stone Garden thing using fish instead of stones; no matter which angle you look at it from, you can't see all the fish at once because some are always behind others...
I was just complimenting
Stanzzzz7
for bucking the trend, and creating something completely different from the standard MFK "non-scape". Of course they are a bit more work to create, and maybe to maintain. If it were easy...everybody would be doing it.
To each their own. At the end of the day they are all fish in a glass box.
My personal veiw is, if the fish is to big for decor then the tank is not big enough for the fish.
I know opinions differ, I've argued my point countless times before.
As much as I love fish, large and small. Its the ones I believe I can accommodate reasonably that I choose for my set ups. Reasonable to me means territorial boundaries, refuge, stimulation, room to exercise and a place to spawn. I also like to create something that at least partially resembles a home from home.
At the end of the day I do what feels right for me. Everyone is different in their approach, education, commitment and empathy for their aquatic pets. This is how I keep mine.
My personal veiw is, if the fish is to big for decor then the tank is not big enough for the fish.
I know opinions differ, I've argued my point countless times before.
As much as I love fish, large and small. Its the ones I believe I can accommodate reasonably that I choose for my set ups. Reasonable to me means territorial boundaries, refuge, stimulation, room to exercise and a place to spawn. I also like to create something that at least partially resembles a home from home.
At the end of the day I do what feels right for me. Everyone is different in their approach, education, commitment and empathy for their aquatic pets. This is how I keep mine.
Thank you, I appreciate it.Terrific thread! I'm so thankful that it was brought back up to the top, as I've never run across it before. It's always wonderful to get some great new ideas; it's also nice to receive justification for some things I've done for a long time, but always had to hear my wife complaining that I was cheap (true, but irrelevant...).
MFK tends to be a little overrun with the type of spotless, sterile, hospital-ward-looking tanks that just leave me cold. The designs in this thread are a breath of fresh air.
This is very interesting thread, and I agree that fish act more naturally when the tank is decorated with natural looking materials, be it real or fake ones. Some plecos eat wood though, for them real bogwood is food. For Eartheaters sand is a way to execute their natural habit, sifting. It is mesmerizing to watch fish take sand in their mouth and (boof) spit it out.
I find that white gravel (even if it looks unnatural) works great with CA and African cichlids.
380G
Xingu River. . . Minus the wood .
Love this thread!
I thought I was anally retentive back when this thread was 1st begun back in 2018.
Now in 2024, I will only keep cichlids (and other fish that are found in the same river system.
Some might think that puts severe limits of diversity, but that hardy feels confining where from where I sit
.
Although I have only found 3 species of cichlids (so far) in this river system, other fish species more than make up for it.
Everything from loach like gobies, and Chaetostoma Plecos, to shrimp, to any number of dithering tetras and live bearers keep the water column busy.
Now in 2024, I will only keep cichlids (and other fish that are found in the same river system.
Some might think that puts severe limits of diversity, but that hardy feels confining where from where I sit
.Although I have only found 3 species of cichlids (so far) in this river system, other fish species more than make up for it.
Everything from loach like gobies, and Chaetostoma Plecos, to shrimp, to any number of dithering tetras and live bearers keep the water column busy.
