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Thanks for the positive comments! Dark is the theme, and I was considering a vampire plec but they prefer acidic to neutral so I read; mine is naturally alkaline so planning a couple of Rift Valley syno cats, a couple of Raphael cats, and a male Dempsey (possibly a breeding pair) - their...

I like the look of it as it is...just posted pics of my set-up for comments and was given a link to check out your home-made celtic cross; great stuff! I cheated and went to ebay...everything apart from the mopani and substrate in the tank is resin so I hope the water parameters are unaffected

new tank coming along - some might accuse me of a little cheesyness but I like the darker look! now just waiting for the ammonia to drop etc... comments welcomed! :nod:

great, seems I have some good options here, thanks for all the helpful advice people :good:

every time I look at your Dempsey journal I find I am determined to have a breeding pair! So may have to wait for catfish until tank number two comes round...thanks for your input anyway :good:

thanks for that, love catfish so syno's would be a welcome addition...perhaps just one male Dempsey rather than a breeding pair, as I wouldn't want any harm to come to the catfish...is a solitary Dempsey a happy Dempsey would you say?

what do you keep with your Dempseys? My tank is also a 55G so it would be great to have your advice...

yeah I thought OK, 260 litres, well maybe in reality 250 so instead of the recommended 13.whatever ml I did 12ml...as you say a guessing game which I didn't quite get right - just meant a water change or two to get it right! The calculator is a great tool for getting you in the right ballpark..

I am a little put off by the size issue with the giant danios then as I really don't want to overstock...with you on the pictus catfish (gtreat fun to watch), but is there not as problem with adult cichlids trying to eat them and getting a mouth full of spines for their trouble? Are there any...

I recently used the calculator for my 260 litre but it slightly overdid it, possibly as there was a trace of ammonia in the tapwater...might I suggest that, unlike me, you don't add the recommended doseage all at once but maybe go close but under for the first addition and see how it reads the...

just added some sub-gravel gunk from a more traditional LFS without centralised filtration...fingers crossed for that then...and he has Dempseys so now I'm really itching to go!

giant danios as I recall are fast,active and fun to watch, but would the Dempsey not consider them to be lunch? I would be happy keeping it at just the Dempsey, the Raphaels and the Danios if that would work, as I dont want to cramp their style! great advice, thanks :good:

yeah, some real beauties on here - thanks for the up on heatpads but it seems that the bacs will do 24hrs without...hoping that a member here will be good enough to send me some! I will follow your example when the bacs start to work; no more than 2-3ppm from then on...good to here that yours...

they are beautiful looking fish aren't they? The male can reach 12" length however so onidrase is bang on, my 260 litres won't be enough for that big boy!

thanks for the advice folks...and thanks mtbdean...if you are up for it just PM me and I will paypal you the cost and give you my address!

Hey, is that a pic of your tank in the signature there? looking great and good to see you off the mark! I am into week 2 of the cycle and looking for mucky media; hopefully find some soon so that I can get rolling... hope the new arrivals are settling in well :good:

I think I read somewhere that it will only last a couple of hours? and obviously has to stay wet and is temperature sensitive...have tried several local LFSs but they can't seem to provide due to the constant flow systems they use...I have one more to try tomorrow. I didn't think I would have...

thanks littlenemo, been there but the hampshire guy seems no longer active here thanks for your offer deftuch,...i'm in portsmouth; wonder if those bacs would make the trip? willing to give it a go though if i cannot source elsewhere so will take you up on the offer if still searching note to...

Ok call me Mr Impatient but I have been looking at a green test tube for too long! Is there anyone in the Portsmouth region of UK Hampshire willing to let me have some gunky filter media to get me out of the green and into the yellow? Be much appreciated... :good:

full name Paratilapia Polleni, madagascan cichlid also known as Black Diamond Cichlid...mmm, might just stick with Dempseys for this tank then and do the Polleni in the next one which I plan to be larger and probably more suitable - thanks for your input :good:

thanks Wills; I thought that as the female is smaller I might get away with that alongside a male Dempsey of comparable size? A second tank planned but not immediately so will have a divider to hand!

Thanks for that, I feel the choice is OK then...polleni is similar in size and temperament as dempseys from what I've read so far.

Dare a newbie to the forum suggest that it is very unlikely that you will get even current flow around any kind of obstruction big or small, fast flow or slow! There will be little eddy currents in there, regions where back-flow can occur, possibly forming a pool of uncirculated water...basing...

Thinking of 1 male dempsey, 1 female polleni and 2 raphael catfish for my 260 litre tank once cycled...would appreciate comments if anyone can see any issues with this mix? I plan to have a bigger tank for these guys once they have matured in about a years time. I feel this is not overstocking...

be careful what you put in...the zombies could get eaten, and anyway who would want to put rotting corpses in a fish tank... :lol: I am going to try for a very loosely themed dilapidated graveyard scene with the odd coffin dotted around and will soon post pics for comments; your theme sounds...

Sounds like a possible plan then; the next task is to find somewhere to get them! I would like catfish in there; was thinking of a couple of Agamyxis Pectinifrons spotted Raphaels? That would be it for this tank; planning for a 6' tank in a year or so as this tank stock matures.

While waiting for the fishless cycle to do its magic, I am looking at other members specimens and shroobs pics of his beautiful polleni have got me adjusting stock plans! Would these two rather aggressive fish from different global regions be compatible? Would they overcrowd my 55g tank when...

Hi! Just spotted your post on this great site...while I might not be able to attend due to evening commitments, I would be interested in knowing if anyone would be able to provide old filter media to kickstart my fishless cycle if I cannot be patient enough to wait! would like to come along if...

Hi Marjorie, the forum is great with many people willing to give of their knowledge - welcome from a fellow newbie :)

Thanks for that Minnnt, got that figured after checking a utube link! As to the Verminator89 journal...what a loss...felt the same losing mine 20-odd years ago, which similarly happened out of the blue with an otherwise perfectly healthy-looking male 4yr old JD; it is a big loss, especially with...

big day tomorrow then - can't wait to see what moves into your spanking new fishy apartment!! :hyper: shop better be open for easter...though I think those days are long gone now!

well spotted!! have since done away with the slate as unhappy with the swimming space lost - I have a couple of bits coming from ebay to theme that corner of the tank, and a couple of bits of mopani soaking...not going to overdo it though. thanks for the comments folks! :)

looks like you are there! :good:

thanks for that

Hi, doing a little research while waiting for my tank to cycle...it seems that Dempseys enjoy hard water? Yet many S.American cichlids supposedly need soft? Mine is very hard; measures at 18 degrees gH which is typical of my area. Thinking even further ahead, would I need to soften the water...

thanks for the advice, and I'm with you on the point on not overkilling the overkill - I plan Jack Dempseys when the tank is ready and am told they are messy fellows, but I suppose if the pair are producing more ammonia, surely then bacteria will respond to the increase by increasing in number...

yeah keeping a log...I am happy to wait as I know that this time, unlike 20 years ago when I kept fish, these ones won't be getting a rough deal when introduced to their new home! Reading the other posts here there seem to be several people knocking out nitrites after 13/14 hours rather than the...

this newbie salutes you - you are virtually there it seems! want to swap tanks then? I'm at day 2.. :lol:

been watching your post Welsweeks...you are nearly there it seems!! Patience is obviously a virtue...I don't suppose you would like to swap tanks would you, I am twitching at day 2!

thanks LucyB, I'll figure that one out in time...I think someone posted a utube on here so I will check it out! Tank now clear and in day 2 of fishless cycle; can't wait to stock it! well done dbanner on finding dempseys; seems to be a distinct lack of them in my area - probably a few weeks...