Hello folks, I'm just registered to this Cichlid forum (finally) after a couple years of relying on this place for quick answers. Anyways, I used to have a 36 Gallon Bowfront setup with 1 Bumblebee cichlid who managed to get around 5-6 inches tall in around 2ish years and he died after I added some AlgaeFix, which worked for some time, but then my fish started having breathing problems. =(
Anyways, I got a new tank, a 38 Gallon edgeless glass aquarium with some new NatGeo white sand. Here is my setup for the 38 Gallon (My 36 gallon is decommissioned):
- Fluval 306 w/ Additional Lava Rock
- Some old heater I got from my 36 Gallon
- 3 Pieces of CaribSea baserock (awesome)
- 1 Big Driftwood smack in the middle
- 1 stock LED lights + 1 Front LED bar
As for the fish:
- 4 Bumblebee Cichlids
- 3 Red Zebra Cichlids
- 2 electric yellow labs
- 3 Kenyi
- 1 Peacock cichlid (forgot the type, looks like a hyena)
- 1 Bristlenose Pleco
My Steps:
1. Setup the aquarium decor/substrate/background
2. Attach the 306 Filter w/ media
3. Fill aquarium with dechlorinated water (Stress Coat/ Used a 1ml/gal)
3. Dump one WHOLE pack of Marineland Aquarium Bacteria
4. Wait for 1 day
5. Added 8 fish then 6 fish (including pleco)
Results:
-Fish are very happy, not aggression AT ALL. Pleco is funny as he sucks on the wood most of the time and comes down to eat leftover cichlid pellets.
-Fish are eating VERY well and are active but not school of fish active (normal)
-water is very clean and near crystal clear
These have been constant for 2 weeks
Now the question is, how the **** did it work? I have a feeling the Marineland Bacteria pouches are really wonderful! My cichlids are very happy at least it seems, territories all established and they are swimming A-OK.
FYI: I purposefully overstocked (Did I do too much overstocking?)
Please give me some feedback as this is my first time with THIS MANY cichlids and actually dry running (not "cycled") a tank without adding 1 or two fish a week after cycling. I haven't actually got my parents to order water test kits, but my LFS said water is looking fine with light ammonia levels and nitrites almost none (I did very light weekly water changes ~5%) Thanks
Anyways, I got a new tank, a 38 Gallon edgeless glass aquarium with some new NatGeo white sand. Here is my setup for the 38 Gallon (My 36 gallon is decommissioned):
- Fluval 306 w/ Additional Lava Rock
- Some old heater I got from my 36 Gallon
- 3 Pieces of CaribSea baserock (awesome)
- 1 Big Driftwood smack in the middle
- 1 stock LED lights + 1 Front LED bar
As for the fish:
- 4 Bumblebee Cichlids
- 3 Red Zebra Cichlids
- 2 electric yellow labs
- 3 Kenyi
- 1 Peacock cichlid (forgot the type, looks like a hyena)
- 1 Bristlenose Pleco
My Steps:
1. Setup the aquarium decor/substrate/background
2. Attach the 306 Filter w/ media
3. Fill aquarium with dechlorinated water (Stress Coat/ Used a 1ml/gal)
3. Dump one WHOLE pack of Marineland Aquarium Bacteria
4. Wait for 1 day
5. Added 8 fish then 6 fish (including pleco)
Results:
-Fish are very happy, not aggression AT ALL. Pleco is funny as he sucks on the wood most of the time and comes down to eat leftover cichlid pellets.
-Fish are eating VERY well and are active but not school of fish active (normal)
-water is very clean and near crystal clear
These have been constant for 2 weeks
Now the question is, how the **** did it work? I have a feeling the Marineland Bacteria pouches are really wonderful! My cichlids are very happy at least it seems, territories all established and they are swimming A-OK.
FYI: I purposefully overstocked (Did I do too much overstocking?)
Please give me some feedback as this is my first time with THIS MANY cichlids and actually dry running (not "cycled") a tank without adding 1 or two fish a week after cycling. I haven't actually got my parents to order water test kits, but my LFS said water is looking fine with light ammonia levels and nitrites almost none (I did very light weekly water changes ~5%) Thanks