Hey,
Have been hovering around the MFK forums now for some time, and want to thank you all, as I have learnt so much... I want to add some details about my first fish tank setup and experience.
A bit about my fish keeping story so far...
So in Jan this year, I got my self a second hand 260 litre Juwels aquarium, it has a few scratches on glass and was not the nicest wood colour, so first thing I done, was sand, and add a coat of white primer, then 3 x coats of black gloss paint, turned out lovely. I did nothing with the scratches, which really annoys me now, as there is one pretty deep scratch on the curved viewing panel. My tank had a gravel sub-strain and lots of local rocks which I tested to make sure they were safe for aquarium, and had lots of caves for fish to hide. I also painted the back and one side of the glass gloss black.
Cycling.. (I choose to do a fish in cycle, as Ammonia is not easiest thing to get were I'm located).
my PH out of tap is 7.2.
I cycled the tank for 6 weeks, by first adding water and lots of Java Ferns, leaving it running for a week with my 1400 LPH Air Pond Solutions canister filter, running and got my temps up to around 26 degrees Celsius (78 FH), after a week I got 6 Zebra Danio's, and done a 25% water change (WC) every second day, keeping an eye on my parameters. after around 3 days I saw a spike in Ammonia, then after another 3, I started to see some Nitrites showing, then in around 10 days, I started to see Nitrates.
This was my first every tank that I cycled, and after around 22 days, my tank seemed to be fully cycled, my Ammonia was 0, Nitrites were 0, and Nitrates were showing around 5, I kept this running for a further 2 weeks keeping up with my WC of 25% every second day.
Africa Cichlid (AC) Time
Were I live we dont have any good pet shops which have AC, so I had to order them online of a guy near me, the only problem was, he didnt know individual species, only that they were pseudotropheus juveniles, and he promised there were in good health, and starting to show colour, so I took a change and ordered 8.
I received,
3 x orange looking ones. (looked like zebras)
3 x pure silver, with a slight black stripe
3 x pure white with red eyes.
1 x free, ha.
Received the fish, all about 1 inch, and all in good health, I removed my Danios, and gave to a friend, and just floated the bag for around, 15 mins, and emptied into a bucked with net to catch fish and placed them all in my tank. I didnt do any other acclimation, as have read this is the least stressful way.
After around 1 week all the fish seemed happy, and parameters were all good, so I ordered another bath of 8,
1 x more orange looking ones.
1 x pure silver, with a slight black stripe
3 x pure white with red eyes.
4 x peacock looking ones,
Again all healthy, so after another week, I ordered another 8.
2 x more orange looking ones.
3 x pure silver, with a slight black stripe
3 x peacock looking ones,
This was to be my total stock list.
All was good for the first few months, then I started to lose a fish every week or so, was checking my parameters all the time and everything seemed normal. after around 8 had died, I ordered another 8 to replace, again all seemed good, but kept having these dead fish every now and again, which I couldnt understand.
My fish were all around 2 - 3 inches long at this stage, and all showing lovely colours.
Nightmare
Then last week, I turned on my light, to find around 8 fish lying dead, and all other fish hiding with torn fins. I quickly removed dead fish, and done a water change this time adding some salt, so see if it would help calm things. I added around 280 grams of pure sea salt, first adding to boiling water to melt then slowly added to fish tank over the space of a few hours.
I then observed for a while and checked all my parameters and all seemed normal..
I could not see any fish acting aggressively as they were all hiding the whole time, so didnt know what or who was the issue.
The next morning I woke up to all my fish except one dead... a Male Kenyi Cichlid and the largest of all a Red Zebra, he was around 3 1/2 inches and pretty thick.. I observed for the day and the Kenyi Cichlid was relentless, he just chased him from every cave all the time, I tried seperating him to save him, however he died in my 10 gallon tank the next morning. this was over a week ago, and my kenyi has had the tank all to himself and is loving it. he just swims around all day. He is getting brighter Yellow by the day.
Has anyone else had any experience like this with Kenyi Cihclids. I thought having them all grow up together would help calm them down, not the case with this guys, I can only guess that he wiped out a whole tank by himself.
Anyway just wanted to add my experience in case it helps some one else. Male Kenyi need to be watched closely, especially if they get over 2 inches.
If I done anything wrong, or any behaviour I could have looked out for please let me know.
I have ordered a new fish today, and will be arriving on Tuesday, he is going to have the tank to himself... Ill write another post as need you guys advice on this one...
Thanks for reading
Vinnie
Have been hovering around the MFK forums now for some time, and want to thank you all, as I have learnt so much... I want to add some details about my first fish tank setup and experience.
A bit about my fish keeping story so far...
So in Jan this year, I got my self a second hand 260 litre Juwels aquarium, it has a few scratches on glass and was not the nicest wood colour, so first thing I done, was sand, and add a coat of white primer, then 3 x coats of black gloss paint, turned out lovely. I did nothing with the scratches, which really annoys me now, as there is one pretty deep scratch on the curved viewing panel. My tank had a gravel sub-strain and lots of local rocks which I tested to make sure they were safe for aquarium, and had lots of caves for fish to hide. I also painted the back and one side of the glass gloss black.
Cycling.. (I choose to do a fish in cycle, as Ammonia is not easiest thing to get were I'm located).
my PH out of tap is 7.2.
I cycled the tank for 6 weeks, by first adding water and lots of Java Ferns, leaving it running for a week with my 1400 LPH Air Pond Solutions canister filter, running and got my temps up to around 26 degrees Celsius (78 FH), after a week I got 6 Zebra Danio's, and done a 25% water change (WC) every second day, keeping an eye on my parameters. after around 3 days I saw a spike in Ammonia, then after another 3, I started to see some Nitrites showing, then in around 10 days, I started to see Nitrates.
This was my first every tank that I cycled, and after around 22 days, my tank seemed to be fully cycled, my Ammonia was 0, Nitrites were 0, and Nitrates were showing around 5, I kept this running for a further 2 weeks keeping up with my WC of 25% every second day.
Africa Cichlid (AC) Time
Were I live we dont have any good pet shops which have AC, so I had to order them online of a guy near me, the only problem was, he didnt know individual species, only that they were pseudotropheus juveniles, and he promised there were in good health, and starting to show colour, so I took a change and ordered 8.
I received,
3 x orange looking ones. (looked like zebras)
3 x pure silver, with a slight black stripe
3 x pure white with red eyes.
1 x free, ha.
Received the fish, all about 1 inch, and all in good health, I removed my Danios, and gave to a friend, and just floated the bag for around, 15 mins, and emptied into a bucked with net to catch fish and placed them all in my tank. I didnt do any other acclimation, as have read this is the least stressful way.
After around 1 week all the fish seemed happy, and parameters were all good, so I ordered another bath of 8,
1 x more orange looking ones.
1 x pure silver, with a slight black stripe
3 x pure white with red eyes.
4 x peacock looking ones,
Again all healthy, so after another week, I ordered another 8.
2 x more orange looking ones.
3 x pure silver, with a slight black stripe
3 x peacock looking ones,
This was to be my total stock list.
All was good for the first few months, then I started to lose a fish every week or so, was checking my parameters all the time and everything seemed normal. after around 8 had died, I ordered another 8 to replace, again all seemed good, but kept having these dead fish every now and again, which I couldnt understand.
My fish were all around 2 - 3 inches long at this stage, and all showing lovely colours.
Nightmare
Then last week, I turned on my light, to find around 8 fish lying dead, and all other fish hiding with torn fins. I quickly removed dead fish, and done a water change this time adding some salt, so see if it would help calm things. I added around 280 grams of pure sea salt, first adding to boiling water to melt then slowly added to fish tank over the space of a few hours.
I then observed for a while and checked all my parameters and all seemed normal..
I could not see any fish acting aggressively as they were all hiding the whole time, so didnt know what or who was the issue.
The next morning I woke up to all my fish except one dead... a Male Kenyi Cichlid and the largest of all a Red Zebra, he was around 3 1/2 inches and pretty thick.. I observed for the day and the Kenyi Cichlid was relentless, he just chased him from every cave all the time, I tried seperating him to save him, however he died in my 10 gallon tank the next morning. this was over a week ago, and my kenyi has had the tank all to himself and is loving it. he just swims around all day. He is getting brighter Yellow by the day.
Has anyone else had any experience like this with Kenyi Cihclids. I thought having them all grow up together would help calm them down, not the case with this guys, I can only guess that he wiped out a whole tank by himself.
Anyway just wanted to add my experience in case it helps some one else. Male Kenyi need to be watched closely, especially if they get over 2 inches.
If I done anything wrong, or any behaviour I could have looked out for please let me know.
I have ordered a new fish today, and will be arriving on Tuesday, he is going to have the tank to himself... Ill write another post as need you guys advice on this one...
Thanks for reading
Vinnie
