| Our New 55 Gallon Cichlid Tank |
| Well here it finally is...our 55 gallon tank! I have been waiting for quite some time to find the perfect tank and luckily I got this wonderful sample for my birthday! The set up of the tank began around Jan. 15, 2003. You will notice the cave grato in the photo (D.I.Y. project that took almost a week to complete thanks to having to wait for the silicone to dry and finish curing), and also quite a arrangement of rocks, gravel, and stone. All were hand washed and arraged and water was finally filled on Jan. 20, 2003 (my birthday!!!). Currently the tank is undergoing the cycling process and should be ready to stock by no later than Valentine's! Alot of love, hard work, effort, and trial and error went into this tank! I LOVE THIS TANK!!! I cannot wait to get it stocked! |
| Sadly, much as when we upgraded to our 20 gallon long tank, we lost a fish prior to the rehoming. Our female Kenyii passed away 1/27/03. |
| NEW STOCK With the new tank almost finished with cycling, we wondered what we might stock our new tank with. Currently we have 1 Red Zebra (F), 1 Bumblebee (?), 1 Acei (?), and 1 Yellow Lab (?). As for our algee eaters, we currently have 1 Bristlenose Catfish (M) and 1 Chinese Algee Eater (?). Since cichlids are best kept at a 3 to 1 female to male ratio, most likly we will be purchasing 3 more of each cichlid species we have. Of course since the newbies will still be juviniles, once they come of age to be sexed, any that do not fall into that ratio will probably be returned and hopefully newbies of the correct sex will be added. As for the algee eaters, since the Chinese Algee Eaters are known not to get along with their own kind, and since Bristlenose Catfish breed like rabbits, we probably will not add any more algee eaters, though we have thought about adding Clown Loaches. |
| CHECK OUT OUR OTHER TANKS WE HAVE HAD |
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| Update: On friday January 31, Kris and I went to Fish Land and purcahsed the following: 2 female yellow labs 2 unsexed red zebras 2 femal acei 3 unsexed livingstoni 1 femal auratus |
| TANK OF DEATH!!!! Well, it seems that something is definetly wrong in my new tank. Fish are dropping left and right beginning with two of the livingstoni, and one is MIA! Since Friday we lost 2 or possibly 3 livingstonis, Bobbie - our large red zebra, 1 female acei, the female auratus, and now possible the chinese algee eater. Currently MIA is one livingstoni, and both female yellow labs and the young red zebras. Our Bumblebee - Tibby - seems to be hanging in there along with our old male yellow lab and our bristlenose - Mr. Clean. I think there must be something toxic in the water and tonight I plan on removing the cave grotto I worked so hard on. Stay tuned for further updates. UPDATE: it was the silicone (thanks alot girl salesperson at Aquarium World 290 for giving me BAD ADVISE!!) used for the cave grotto that caused the genecide..all fish were lost...except for our Bumblebee Tibby. Sadly we did lose our Red Zebra Bobbie Lee. |
| update: Tank issues have been rectified and my tank is doing wonderful now...Current inhabitatnts: 1 5 inch bumblebee (orignal and only surviver from the 10 gallon) 3 - 2 1/2 inch Yellow labs 2 - 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 inch Rusys 2 - 2 inch Golden Zebra Loaches 2 - 2 1/2 inch Jewel Cichlids 1 2 inch Pleco |
| SEPT 4 2003 UPDATE!! The tank has finally become established and is finally the wonderful home of lucky fish. All the fish in the update to the left of this are still alive and kicking..well except for the femal Jewel cichlid who was killed for the nookie! The Rusty's have nookied several times and currently we have about 10 - 15 young fish. We have also added and Albino Red Zebra, and four Giant Danios. Since the addition of the Danios, the activity has increased in the tank! We hope to soon have some new Kenyii soon who are going to be donated to us from Mr. Andrew Cockers Cichlid Pond. We might trade the Albino and some of the baby Rusty's for the new Kenyii...pictures coming as soon as I borrow a digital camera! |