Tank Setups for Hypancistrus spp.

[celticfish]

I have been getting bored with my previous setups.
So this past December saw me collecting substrate and rocks for the new setups.
These setups were mostly inspired by pictures of tank setups and pictures of plecos in the wild I saw from the L-Numbers Day I attended.

First up is a 4ft tank setup while the rest are 2ft tank setups.
All tanks run on HMF filters, one airstone and one powerhead.
No cannister tolerated... erm... required!



The rocks in this setup was very workable.
I was able to shape the holes easily with a small hammer and chisel.
This allowed me to widen the holes to fit various S-size and M-size caves into or through the holes in the rocks.
Forget this setup if you want to do a headcount daily.
I reckon the filtration system will be able to withstand the occassional dead pleco without catastrophic failure.



This "boulder" setup was easiest to do.
Just stack them up!
As above setup this one doesn't make doing a headcount easy.
Two samples here for more variation.
I think I need more rocks to choose from...







Last, very reminescent of my previous typical breeding setup.
This time built a little higher than just one tier.
I suppose you can go much higher if your tank is bigger than this 2ft tank.
Main selling point is ease of maintenance and doing headcounts.



More tank setups will be posted as and when I get time to do something new.
I hope pictures of the tank setups will inspire new "pleconitis" sufferers for something simple and nice to display at home.

Anyone with Hypancistrus spp. setup are welcome to add-on to this thread.
Please do not post pictures if you want a critique for your tanksetup.
Start a new thread for that!


PS - Sorry for the badly taken pictures.
Lighting was a big issue...

[eeeeemo]

do the waste of the fishes get stucked in between the rock holes and caves??
and does the pH of the tank rise with the rocks?

i like the first the most!

got any crevice without a slot in cave?
maybe can test if they like it better.

[celticfish]

I can assure you they like it!
It replicates pictures I've seen of them in the wild.
I use to think they will only use the bottom area only.
After seeing the pictures and setups of the German breeders I realize they do use the upper area.
You will need to make it like a network with lots of tunnels and crevices.
It will naturally increase the shadowed areas and consequently make them more comfortable.

Yes, the rocks to increase the pH.
The first setup has a rise in the range of 7.6 to 7.8 pH.
But I reckon it will drop as time goes on.
I'm not to bothered by the pH rise as plecos are, generally, tolerant of a wide pH range.

With all the nooks and crannies the waste of the fish will certainly get trapped here and there.
There are quite a few crevice in the right mass of rocks.
Its a composition of 7 pieces for the right mass of rocks, 2 on the back left and one front and between the two mass.
The most noticeable in the front rock on the left and you can see the crevice below the "cave".

The first is my favorite too though the "boulder" type seems more common with the German hobbyist.

[desmondekker]

agree that the 1st setup is an art

can i copycat your setup?

[celticfish]

Not at all.
The whole point of the thread is to get the tank ideas fired up for all interested to start a setup!

[desmondekker]

your thread couldn't have come at a better time! my new tank is arriving tomorrow!

thumbs up for those sturdy caves too

[eeeeemo]

with this set up, i doubt you'll be intending to remove any fries from the caves right..?
so far the alpha male take up which hole??

[celticfish]

with this set up, i doubt you'll be intending to remove any fries from the caves right..?

<--- Clever undergrad!
I've had enough of "eggball sitting" and would like to leave them be (read as I want to spend less/no time on them!).
The first setup has the alpha male on the right just under the powerhead.
And the second highest flow is on the left side as the water gets pushed down on the side.

For the rest of the setups they are usually on the right as I have a internal filter flowing left to right.
But I find if I put an airstone it will literally change the flow dynamics since the tank is small at 2 ft.

Much to both mine and the alpha's frustration!
Just when he thinks he's got the perfect cave the flow gets better in another.

your thread couldn't have come at a better time! my new tank is arriving tomorrow!

Lucky you...
Take your time getting the rocks and stones.
And always get more pieces than you need so you can have more choice.
I rushed the boulder setup as I didn't have enough rocks.
Took me forever to get all the rocks and I'm still short!
But on hind sight it was a blessing because they are HEAVY!!!
Getting to buy 2 or 3 pieces at a time was a great help.
Not mentioning the fact that each setup required about 2 to 3 bags of gravel each...

[soltari007]

no wonder celticfish's muscles growing noticeably bigger recently!

[johannes]

nice setups...

first one seems like a Tanga set up.. hehhee