New Tank for cichlids!

[sen_jie]

Any recommandation for me?

Thus far i have used only Jebao, atman and dolphin.

Ehiem, tetra etc are alittle too expensive for me to handle

[Blue Whale]

Future tanks if you want to keep small fishes, then a small one like GEX Slim Large will do. Hang on filter. Easy maintenance.

For large fishes, it depends. The tank might not be suitable in the first place. So it depends more on your intentions and specific needs of the fish and plants then. But you can look into Ehiem, GEX.
Jebao isn't lasting. Atman I no comments, never use. Dolphin you know so-so only, you know more as time progresses.

These ain't just the only few brands around. You can read more in equipment section. Just subscribe to the threads and camp there to read. That would be easier for you. Eye power only. Else, do more walk about through different LFS. See, learn, ask.

[illumnae]

I have heard Dolphin and Atman are pretty good brands if you're looking for a canister on a budget. Of course they won't last as long as Eheims, but you can buy 3-4 of them for the price of an equivalent Eheim, so I guess the cost evens out - just increased risk of filter malfunction flooding your room or killing your fish.

In terms of flow rate, I wouldn't worry. After media and head loss, I am pretty sure your flow rate will not be higher than 900L/hr (in fact it's probably less). based on your water volume of ~180L, that's a mere 5x flow per hour. Remember, flow rate is likely to be much less than 900L/hr so in actual fact you are probably looking at a figure of perhaps 3x flow per hour, which is very low.

Just as a reference, I run my biotope tanks with the following pumps: 4ft - Eheim 1262 & 6ft - Ocean Runner 6500. Flow rate in each tank is definitely more than 5x per hour, and the wild fish love it. If you're keeping angel fish as your main tank, they would appreciate more flow.

[Blue Whale]

I only got Ehiem when I was having a 3ft back way way back. Okie, get external only if I need chiller. Else, Hangon Canister or Hangon Filter will suffice. I am not training champion now...not yet...heh heh. There is always a poisonous element there. Heh Heh...

Idea is, know what you need, know what you want, know how deep is your pocket, know when the equipment will roughly give way.
For Fish and Plants! (King and Country!)

[sen_jie]

Hi Illumnae,

Oh i am surprised that Angels will appreciate high flow rate. Bais on the rational that they have a tall body I assumed that they will prefer slower water flow. I don't think i need to worry much for the cories either.


Just a short update. the tank water seems to clear up quite a fair bit. Will continue to run in the tank, and do a test on friday.
In the meanwhile, Water change from my existing tank goes directly to this main tank.

[Blue Whale]

Angel fish can survive in fast and slow flow rate. How come? Now in the natural environment, say one of the tributeries of amazonia river, depending on season, flowrate can go fast and slow. So it adapts to both kinda of environment. But you saw during feeding time...they are fast because they are predatory class. They can hunt alone or in group. So endlers and cardinals shouldn't go near angel fish - fish food.

[sen_jie]

Any Kind soul can recommand me places to get branch Driftwood? (Farms or LFS etc)

I know GC selling, but the woods which they are selling is totally out of my budget

[Sinubux]

Any Kind soul can recommand me places to get branch Driftwood? (Farms or LFS etc)

I know GC selling, but the woods which they are selling is totally out of my budget

C328 perhaps or Nature Aquarium.

[ciaossu]

seaview got lots to choose from also.

[Blue Whale]

Any Kind soul can recommand me places to get branch Driftwood? (Farms or LFS etc)

I know GC selling, but the woods which they are selling is totally out of my budget

Supposed you goto C328 and buy vegetables, look for those which are tied. It comes with a driftwood. Just pick one that is within your budget.
Usually these DW are pretty decomposed or near decomposition and are very suitable to culture algae, as in if water parameters allows, the algae will grow on the DW instead of the glass... unless it is frantically out of parameters that is. This is how I collect my wood in the first place. Big or small, they are all useful.

If the plants being eaten or maybe died due to improper care, you can still take that piece out for drying. But best with water treatment before you wind dry over newspaper and wrap them up for storage for future use.

[jervinphua]

Bro post some pictures of your tank leh...

[sen_jie]

seaview got lots to choose from also.

Hi bro

went over there over the weekend. the woods which they are selling are different fromt he one which i am keen in. Apparently only 3 places sell the woods which i like, however 1 is over prices, the other one stop business and my last hope, they mentioned that they didnt import much wood recently.

So guess i still have the wait for the right chance

[sen_jie]

Bro post some pictures of your tank leh...

Hi bro, the tank water now have cleared up and with a layer of sudo sand. Have not added any lifestock or scaping materials in.

Will do so once i start to add things in

[sen_jie]

All pictures are taken as at 15/04/2012
Initial tank when i filled it up with water and sand (Top tank). 50% of water are from my old seasoned tank. another 50% is tap water with 2x dose of seachem PRIME



After 1 week (With filter media and Seachem purigen)



Bottom tank(when initially just filled up it was so black that i cannot see my fingers in the water.
*thus never take pictures*

Now

[sen_jie]

transfer window opens in May'12. Potential target
For bottom tank
-Apistogramma Hongsloi
-Apistogramma Bit Menti red
-Apistogramma Eliz

For top tank
-German Rams
-Either Mana angel / Altum angel / wild discus
-Corydoras

[Aquanoob]

Big project coming up... Where will you be getting the Hongsloi, I am also interested in getting a pair.

[alfredliow316]

Many many pairs from Malaysia!

Senjie,
Ask your 'good friend' to bring them to you!

[sen_jie]

Many many pairs from Malaysia!

Senjie,
Ask your 'good friend' to bring them to you!

Bro did he breathe any words on the bretbinden which i am looking for? wahahaha

[alfredliow316]

Wanted to pass you my pair which have gave me one spawn. But unfortunately the female has caught pop eye. No worries, I think he'll able to net one pair from his tanks. (i think)

[sen_jie]

Just some small updates

draft 1 of my main tank


got some small fishes over the weekend. anybody can help with the ID for those cute cory? i know the polka dot is a melini, got 2 more unknown speicies