What did you do with your tank(s) today?

[sir_keith]

If I had a soft-water 90 available I would stock it with some beautiful silver Angels (hoping for a large, stably bonded pair eventually), a large school of African Red-Eye tetras, and abundant live plants. But then, I have a soft spot in my heart for Angels.

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[DMD123]

I do have a solo angel in my 46 bowfront. I really like it but not sure about doing them in the 90... The color thing would be easy since so many color forms are available now. Would a large severum be too much with a small group of angels? Still really have my sights on a sev in this tank

 

[sir_keith]

Would a large severum be too much with a small group of angels?

Yes. Definitely.

 

[DMD123]

Got home from work and noticed an Aquaclear in the garage starting to pop up the media basket. Knew the sponge was gettIng “full” so I had to clean a filter. As I was cleaning the net mesh bag, it disintegrated. These used to last forever and now you are fortunate to get a year out of them.

Also did a water change on the trimac tank. This was always a ‘dream fish’ for me and now that Ive had him for some time now Im kind of disappointed. Not very personable or food driven so does not interact very much. But I already get that wet pet behavior from my oscar and puffer.

 

[sir_keith]

I had the same problem. Switched to these- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D4V15V1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. $12 for four of them, and they seem to be nice quality.

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[DMD123]

I got some similar bags that came with media and have made the switch as the Aquaclear ones rotted away. Have only used those for a few months but are holding up well. I do like the zipper closure too.

 

[DMD123]

Did a gravel vac/water change on the 65B red wolf tank. I switched him over to Hikari Massivore recently. This stuff will make your water stink if any uneaten pellets sit. Im still gauging how many pellets to feed him so there were some left over.

 

[sir_keith]

Going to move some fishes around today to free up a 75 for a shipment of Enantiopus melanogenys on Tuesday. Been looking forward to having a colony of these for a while. There are two sibling species of Enantiopus, E. melanogenys and E. kilesa, which were formerly assigned to the genus Xenotilapia (which is in serious need of revision IMO). Both of these get to be ~5 inches, and are amongst my favourite Tanganyikans. They are very active and social, but their skirmishes are highly ritualized, and they never seem to damage each other. I like that.

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[DMD123]

Been frustrated with the filtration on the Fluval Flex 32.5. I just ordered the inTank set up. It’s cheaper to order directly from them and order the pair of media baskets.


Better layout than the stock set up

 

[DMD123]

Deep cleaning day in the 300. Scrubbed the back walls and did a hard core gravel vac. OCD tank cleaning, lol

 

[John58Ford]

Enantiopus melanogenys

Do these colonize and reproduce well in ~75 gallons or are they one of the harder to breed Tanganyika species? Very stunning pattern on that example you posted.

 

[lloyd378]

Been looking at my garage tanks and contemplating stock changes... Thinking its time to change some occupants out and researching some ideas at the moment. The 90 gallon trimac tank is one that I really want to make changes to. It it a tank you notice when you walk in and its at eye level. I keep envisioning this tank as a community with a large school of Australian rainbows or tetras. A colorful schooler that catches your eye and then a single larger fish like a Super red severum. Then possibly some smaller fill in fish... but what? Something with color...

So I am just throwing it out there to you fishboxers... What would you suggest to go along these lines? Remember colorful, community and fits a 48" x 18" footprint 90 gallon tank. Also no special water conditions, so something I can just use my standard tap water without adding anything to have to maintain.

Edit: Added some specific fish I like. Boesemani rainbow, Roseline sharks, Congo Tetra, African Red eye tetra

Saw two medium sized chocolate cichlids at AP today…. The larger one was close to 9”, the smaller one was 7” I like the look of the smaller one but it also looked stressed out being with a parachromis in the tank with it. I would have bought it for my Oscar tank but at 80 each, a bit to steep for me. Now, if I had a trimac to trade them and then got it for like 40, I think it would be a good purchase.

Being that they are outgoing like Oscar’s, maybe they would work for your 90g

 

[lloyd378]

I moved my barred red devil into my 125 with my large female festae as it was starting to pick on my Oscar’s…

The red devil and possibly my gold saum will be going to madness if he wants them and has room.

The goal is to figure out where to put my female festae as she is beautiful but I want to get rid of my 5’ 125g so I have more room in the garage ( I think four tanks in there are enough).

 

[lloyd378]

Also noticed as my tiger shovel nose is getting bigger, I’m seeing some some deformities in it that I didn’t notice when I got it at 2”…. The pictorial fins seem to be too high on its body, the head shape is too bulbous too. But it has amazing markings so I think where ever tropical fish world and pets got their order from, the supplier did far too much line breeding.

I’ll get a pic of it soon.

 

[sir_keith]

Do these colonize and reproduce well in ~75 gallons or are they one of the harder to breed Tanganyika species? Very stunning pattern on that example you posted.

They are polygamous maternal mouthbrooders with a lek mating system, so definitely on the challenging side unless everything is just right. I had a few isolated spawnings of E. kilesa, but that was under suboptimal conditions, with too many tankmates wanting territories on the sand floor. My plan for the E. melanogenys is to raise them in a 75 with no other bottom dwellers, and then move them into a 100 or 125 as they approach sexual maturity. Hopefully that will lead to some productive spawnings. Fingers crossed for a good sex ratio; 4m:8f would be perfect.

 

[lloyd378]

Here’s the tiger shovel nose I spoke of… notice anything off, or it just me? I’m keeping it, as it’s healthy, with a healthy appetite.

 

[DMD123]

@lloyd378, no your not imagining it. The pectoral fins should not be sticking upwards, they should be more flat so they would fan out when resting on the substrate. Those are poking upwards to me. Snout looks pointed down instead of straight out. Shame, cause it has a cool pattern otherwise.

 

[DMD123]

Did a water change in the 65B growout to help encourage the pearsei growth. Feel like an even better thing would be to rehome the two Bocourti as soon as possible to give the pearsei more space. I did put them up for sale but am thinking to try and take them to a fish store to make the change as soon as possible. Or good old Craigslist…

 

[DMD123]

Well its done... ad up on Fishbox to start moving fish out to get ready to do new tank stocking. Knowing what everyone here keeps, I might have to see if Aquaium paradise might take the trimac or just post it on Craigslist. But the other little community fishes Im sure will move easily. Problem now is changing weather and whether or not I will be able to find the fishes I want online. If anyone sees any super red severum or nice gold serverum out there, let me know.

 

[DMD123]

A couple of fish moved out today, so room to add something to the 46 Bowfront. Decided to keep two of the albino bn pleco. I will hopefully get a solo male to keep. Might still consider rehoming them in the future and pick up a blue eyed lemon bn pleco. Will see how it goes. I need more tetras but not sure if I want more monk tetras or something else with color or unique shape, maybe a school of hatchet fish? This tank will likely focus more on small, borderline nano fishes.