Open Cichlid Forum All Welcome

[Ruskull]

Wow, fun thread read thanks everyone........I don't rock the cichlid thing myself for all the reasons listed here but someday I might & this thread explained a lot.

Def. post pics Murry, now I have to see what all the fuss was about! Good luck & it sounds like great advice you were given.

 

[Murrayjane]

Pictures are up!



My 55 Gallon Tank

Blue Acara

Electric Blue Jack Dempsey

Coconut Convict

Acara and Dempsey

Acara and Convict

Firemouths (Now In 29 Gallon)

 

[Flute]

Gorgeous looking fish, especially the EJD and blue acara! But I'm pretty sure the plants you have in there aren't aquatic plants. If they're not, they will eventually rot and cause water quality issues.

 

[Murrayjane]

Thanks, they are aquatic, but I agree that they are starting to rot. Will replace them with something else promptly

 

[Flute]

They look very much like Dracaena sanderiana, which if they are, they are not aquatic plants. I have made the same mistake in the past, and they make a massive mess. There's a good article on PFK about commonly sold plants for tanks that aren't aquatic, and will rot. Linky

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I'm inclined to agree with Flute. They are in fact Draceana sanderiana, and they are non aquatic. Some will survive months in an aquarium before dying, but will almost alway rot rather quickly. If you like potted plants, take them out and plant them, place em in a window and they are quite awesome houseplants (I to have been the victim of this mistake, just so you know.)

On a lighter note, your fish are very lovely, and I am particularly fond of the Blue Acara, although, looking at the black markings, he really does look like a green terror as you originally thought, but he is a youngin and I could be very wrong lol (they do look amazingly alike). I liek both species particular because th blue acara looks like a Green Terror (GTs are my favorate fish)

 

[Murrayjane]

I removed the plants and put them in a pot. Can the Draceana Sanderiana survive outside?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I removed the plants and put them in a pot. Can the Draceana Sanderiana survive outside?

If it is nice and warm, I think they can. I would def. move them inside for cold weather. Be sure to post pics as they grow They make lovely plants.

How are your new setups doing?

 

[Murrayjane]

I removed the plants and put them in a pot. Can the Draceana Sanderiana survive outside?

If it is nice and warm, I think they can. I would def. move them inside for cold weather. Be sure to post pics as they grow They make lovely plants.

How are your new setups doing?

I will and thanks! having bought them from Petco, I would have thought that they were aquatic, but your right! (can't believe they sell them there)

As for the new setups, I think my 55 gallon is pretty solid, my 29 gallon is still in the making. I am currently trying to soak/sink some driftwood and unfortunately it's turned my water into that nasty yellowish color (so ill save the picture taking for a few weeks). The Firemouths seem to be doing well. I have temporarily placed the fish from my ten gallon into the 29 and thus far they all seem to be fine. 2 Firemouths, 1 killi fish, 1 sunset gourami, 1 platy and a juvenile jack dempsey. The gourami and dempsey love to hang out together. Once the dempsey grows a bit I plan to either rehome him or hopefully by then ill have my bigger tank.

There are a bunch of hiding spaces, allowing them to make a quick getaway, but surprisingly, the firemouths don't appear to be interested in any of the fish. They like to hide a lot and will only come out if no person is standing anywhere near the tank.

 

[Flute]

It's really annoying that they still sell them! When I first got into the hobby my LFS sold pretty much all non aquatic plants, and so I ended up stuffing my tanks full with them. Couldn't understand why they were rotting and not growing until someone pointed them out for me!

 

[Murrayjane]

All the non aquatic plants have now been removed

Can anyone sex my Blue Acara based on the pictures I presented?