My second planted cichlid tank

[tiger15]

I have rescaped my 125g by removing some Java fern and added a few potted Cryptocoryn, Amazon sword and dwarf water lily on top of rock terrace to gain height. So the layout has stronger triangular shape and red towards the right. As my own critique, I do not like mixing rainbow with larva rock as it is violation of aquascaping rule number one for mixing rock type. The carved rainbow and larva rock are left over from previous set up that, despite unnatural looking, provides cave habitat for cichlid. One day I will replace all rainbow rock with larva rock for uniformity. Larva rock has more subtle color than larva rock and provides better bonding to epiphytes due to porous surfaces. I added a couple submersible LED lights to the right side of the tank in support the red plants. The dwarf water lily is an easy red plants, growing fast and already filling up within a month.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

Did you add the Tiger barbs after getting rid of the rosy barbs? Love your documentation of what was working and what was not.

 

[tiger15]

Did you add the Tiger barbs after getting rid of the rosy barbs? Love your documentation of what was working and what was not.

The tiger barb were transferred from my planted 75g when they grew large enough long after I got rid of the rosy barb. The rosy did not school but fought one another all day long with torn fins. Those are not ordinary tiger barb but glo tiger barb with vivid red. They school well and don’t fight.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

Yeah could tell they were altered tigers nonetheless still very pretty with the color contrast. Your documentation of having a planted tank is making me want to start a tiger barb planted tank or some type of other barbs that can be dither for clown loaches as I am looking for shooling fish not like you described. I took the rosy barbs off my possibility list.

 

[tiger15]

125g update.

Rearranged some plants and added a couple submersible LEDs to the right end to grow higher light plants.

 

[tiger15]

I am providing species update of my 125 gal journal as of the date of the post. I have 8 species of plants, and 17 species of fish.

The 8 species of plants are: regula Java fern, Trident Java fern, Amazon sword, Bolbitis, Cryptocoryn Wendtii, AR Rosanervig, Ludwigia repen and Dwarf red lily.

The 17 species of fish consists of 57 individuals ranging from cichlid, tetra, barbs to algae eaters. The population is so large and diverse that I keep a spreadsheet to track them. Despite the large population of fish, they don’t look too cramped as the plants provide 3D habitats and many sight barriers for fish to retreat.

 

[tiger15]

This is my 6th year update of my planted 125 gal set up in 2019. All fish inhabitants are gone, except for the Zaire frontosa, still vibrant and eating voraciously. I suspect it is a female as its size remains under 10 inch. Major fauna change is adding Turkana jewel cichlid and Juli ornatus, which breed regularly and turned into self sustaining colonies. Original plants, mainly fern and Anubias, are still around and thriving, but I made substantial plant reduction and rearrangement to make room for fish which I last counted over 40.

View attachment 1539873

 

[Stitches21]

Hi, I was wondering if you would be willing to sell 2 turkana jewels ??

 

[Stitches21]

Younger ones. I have what I believe to be a male so 2 females would be fantastic