New Setup - African Cichlids Tank 5x2x2

**bravobb** · 21st Oct 2012, 16:27

Finally managed to complete a basic setup and cycling the water today.
Next phase will be adding dead prawn and a fish for cycling.
Follow by more rocks and some plants(live ?)
Final phase will be transfer of my existing African Cichlids and some new members.

I still find the placement of the rocks very odd.. just can't tell what is wrong...
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**jemswira** · 21st Oct 2012, 18:33

Well from an aqua scaling standpoint, you're wasting a lot of space that can be filled. Try to follow the rule of thirds on this.
From a cichlid standpoint you don't have enough hiding places for the fish. That's what I recall from my readings. Try googling "between a rock and a hard place, hard scape for cichlids.". Something like that I can't really remember the article name and I'm on tapatalk. Sorry.

**bravobb** · 21st Oct 2012, 22:47

Rule of thirds... i google it and it is very enriching...
Will do some re-arrangement next week.
Thank you.

**bravobb** · 21st Oct 2012, 23:04

Rule of Thirds... - Before re-arrangement.

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**jemswira** · 21st Oct 2012, 23:10

Haha no worries.
If you're still looking, here's the two articles I read that really helped it. Both are really good.
http://fish-etc.com/aquascaping-main...-your-aquarium
http://fish-etc.com/aquascaping-main...ichlid-habitat
The first is more about aquascaping. The second more on cichlid specific habitats. Suggested by the author to read the first then second.

**bravobb** · 21st Oct 2012, 23:21

Reading now.... look like alot of stuff for me to absorbs... hope to be able to make some nice scaping next weekend...
Thanks again

**jemswira** · 21st Oct 2012, 23:23

Haha no worries! Have fun scaping! Keep us updated here

**BFG** · 29th Oct 2012, 00:31

Don't forget about youtube. There are bounds to be something there that might interest you.

**bravobb** · 29th Oct 2012, 13:57

Originally Posted by BFG

Don't forget about youtube. There are bounds to be something there that might interest you.

Definitely.. youtube is a great place for fish keeper...
However, i try to learn the basic placement so that i do not copy the same layout as others... and this is my own design... hope everyone likes it.
I would say like 90% complete for me.

24W T5 lighting.
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2W LED night view
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**bravobb** · 29th Oct 2012, 17:52

Also, i have added the Koi and 12 small Cichlids. The other 10 bigger Cichlids will be transferred this week.

This is the PH tested.
I still prefer to use solution tester as the ph meter needs to hold for around 5-10 minutes for it to stablised the reading....very tiring for my hand.

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