My New Tank

[cargo]

Hi. I recently (Aug 1) purchased a new 42gal hexagon fish tank. I am cycling it with zebra danios right now and 3 plants, 2 kind of sorwd looking thinks and 1 lower grass. I have 2 VERY big pices of petrified wood. I also havesome smaller pices of petrified wood arranged through out the tank. I have noticed some brown algae appear on the surfaces of the rocks and on some parts of the glass and also on the leaves of the pants.



The algae growth is normal right?



I am also considering a fish species I would like to keep and really, REALLY like cichlids. I am wondering if a hexagon tank would be sutiable for his type of aquarium and would my normal black aquarium gravel be ok with cichlids? Also would I need to take quite a bit of attention to making my water hard for the cichlids? would the plants be ok with cichlids? I would howeverget rid of the zebra dainos when I get my "real" fish once my tank is cycled.

Thank you for the help. I'll try and get some pics of the tank also.

 

[donna123]

hi,
welcome to tff,
if you realy set on cichlids, pop all the questions you have in the cichlid section, you will get all the help you need. donna .

 

[iamwhoiam]

brown algae is common of newly set up tanks. they feed on silicate that is leached from the glass

cichlids prefer a long type of tank as they can swim length to length

also... good luck catching those zebra danios... i still have 2 left in my tank from the first cycle!

 

[cargo]

so the algae should clear up overtime? or should i purchase one of those algae eaters?

 

[cargo]

Ok I have some pictures. I have no idea why they are blurry but I rarely take pictures of stuff.


Here is my aquarium and stand in the corner of my computer room. (note the fan for cooling my off on those hot days)

Here is my filter the fluva 305. Its nicley tucked away in my stand.

http/img444.imageshack.us/img444/3424/305wm0.jpg


Here is a closer shot of the tank. (you can see mee in the reflection lol)

http/img105.imageshack.us/img105/1096/closeupgoodyn3.jpg


Here is a side shot on the tank.

http/img130.imageshack.us/img130/6504/sidegt4.jpg


And here is a very pointless shot of the top canopy.

http/img130.imageshack.us/img130/1322/topgppdxr6.jpg