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The Scuppers This is a new forum for the not necessarily fishing related topics...

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Old 08-21-2006, 05:07 PM   #1
teaser
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Motox,

The saltwater here will definately support any saltwater fish from anywhere. You just have to check the salinity level and balance it out at what you want ppm (parts per million).

As far as FW rocks go just pick out some rocks that you want to use, put them one at a time in a clean 5 gal. bucket filled with H20 and then check the Ph levels on them, if it doesn't go up then you're safe. Rule of thought though ... NO rocks that contain iron.

When you say your putting pool sand in your tank where are you putting the sand? If you are putting the sand over the gravel what type of filter system are you using now? If you have uplift tubes then forget about the sand because it'll block the undergravel filter.

The only way to do it with sand is lose the undergravel filter if in fact is what you are using now, if you are using a filter that hangs off the side of the tank then that's fine as long as the intake tube doesn't hang down to the sand, and once a week stir the sand up to get the undigested food to go up in the filter.

If you have any more questions I'll try my best to help you out.

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Old 08-21-2006, 08:35 PM   #2
The Iceman 6
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MotoX -

Texas siclet (sp?)? or JD? I had the same prob. Then bought 3piranhas (sp?) in brisol, ri.,....had them for 10 freaking years...one day there was 2.....one day there was 1.....next day the "survivor" got bored and next day there were none....
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Old 08-21-2006, 08:36 PM   #3
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Never mind....Convict...2nd or 3rd word in MX's post....got it......

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Old 08-22-2006, 02:03 PM   #4
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The freshwater tank with the convict in it.

Is too close to that window. Being that close to the window, you may see algae blooms starting down the road. Cant make it out from the picture, but if you have a little bit of that backdrop left over wrap it around that corner that faces out the window. It should cut down on some of the light/ algae blooms.

If you havent already, get yourself a plecostamus "pleco" to clean the tank for you. The convict shouldnt bother it.

If you plan on adding other aggressive cichlids two things to remember: 1. Rearrange the structures inside the tank just before you add the new fish. The established fish, your convict knows the lay of the land in the tank and its all his. Pretty much the whole thing is his, rearranging the tank when introducing the new fish, this will make the fish establish their own territories. Basically, if you add stuff without rearranging the tank, your convict thinks youre feeding him.... 2. Make sure the fish you are adding are roughly the same size, this will cut down on your convict picking on your new additions because they are smaller, unless you're introducing small, quick shoal fish.

If you want something fun to watch add like a half dozen "striped danios" if you can get the jumbos theyre better, they're short money and fun to watch, in a tank with aggressives. The aggressives will chase them but cant catch em They're pretty quick lil shoal or schooling fish.

Looks like a fun tank!! I raised fish for years if I can help with anything let me know.

If you like saltwater tanks, look at keeping African chichclids. They keep at a really high ph but they have all the vibrant colors of most salwater setups. My favorites are the labido Chromis.

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Old 08-22-2006, 03:41 PM   #5
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Thanks vic,
You're right, I am starting to experience algae blooms. (since my pleco died, the convict killed him too) I usually leave the shade closed all day and open it at sunset (feeding time and leave it open till I wake up so the fish gets to see sunrise and sunset. So I should have no sunlight at all huh...? I'll cover that side with some extra background I have. thanks.

I plan on getting another pleco (bigger) soon, once i have more hiding places for it.

thanks for the two tips about adding fish. Re-arranging structure..good idea. I didnt know about that.

cool...i gotta check out these "striped danios" that sounds cool too.

thanks for the advice I'll post here if i have questions.

Last edited by MotoXcowboy; 08-22-2006 at 03:53 PM..
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Old 08-22-2006, 03:51 PM   #6
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alright, heres my only question before I set up the new substrate...

should I just put it over the old gravel?

I have also read about egg crates and found them yesterday at hommies.

I didnt get them yet because im not ready to jump into the switch yet.

The guy at homies said he had tanks too and he puts a cloth over the egg crate then put sand over that. is that right? I thought the sand went right into/and piled up ontop of the egg crate.

I also read if you go the egg crate route/switch you lose alot of the natural cycle..and should probably re-cycle the tank? is that right?

I would imagine stirring up the sand on top of a gravel base(to release the gasses) would be a pain in the ass and messy. I dont want the two mixing!

I like the clean sand look...I'm probably going to just take the old gravel out and go with the egg crate. I would be pissed if the ugly gravel started to mix with my new sand...

What advice can you guys give me about switching this ugly gravel out and putting in some nice sand.

Makeover step 2 is im going to get rid of all this store bought ornamental crap and put in some real rocks.

thanks in advance guys..
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Old 08-22-2006, 05:14 PM   #7
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Pond rocks wash em and scrub em like taters, then boil them and let them sun dry. Then do the bucket of water ph thing...

Taking out that gravel, remember that there is bacteria starting to grow on there that is beneficial to your tank. Cant really speak much to sand as I always stayed with a thin layer or polished rocks. Easier to vaccum

One thing to remember with rocks, that I learned with my piranas. When they grow a lil bigger (14"&17"), they're going to move things around to how they like them. Make sure they're set pretty sturdy, or you'll start hearing the rocks slamming into the glass at odd hours...

If you want to see that convict grow quick feed him a weekly cycle of krill in a month

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Old 08-22-2006, 03:31 PM   #8
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Thanks for the info teaser. I was contemplating putting the pool or sandbox sand (homedepot) over the gravel, since I dont have a undergravel filter. Until I upgrade to a better pump, Im using the whisper HOB filter that came with the tank.

Still havent decided to go all out w/ african cichlids or make the saltwater switch. I wish I could have both! hah...but until then im just going to make this tank a little better and hopefully introduce a few more after its upgraded a bit. (more rock structure/hiding places)

Last edited by MotoXcowboy; 08-22-2006 at 03:52 PM..
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