Open View Tank

[Irf]

Hi all,

Further to my other post, I'm now ready to site my tank in the house. The best place (logistically) is sticking out from the wall, sort of forming a divider between two rooms. This would have the effect that the fish will be visible from boths sides of the tank.

The intention is to create a heavily "rocked" tank with minimal plants, with lots and lots of hidey holes and territory boundaries. What are people's feelings on having a cichlid tank with an open back? I don't want to kill fish by stressing them out, but I also don't want the tank to have one side blacked out!

If this is a really really bad idea (cruel to fish) then I may have to abandon the idea of a cichlid tank.

Thanks,

Irf.

 

[BzztYeow]

Hi all,

Further to my other post, I'm now ready to site my tank in the house. The best place (logistically) is sticking out from the wall, sort of forming a divider between two rooms. This would have the effect that the fish will be visible from boths sides of the tank.

The intention is to create a heavily "rocked" tank with minimal plants, with lots and lots of hidey holes and territory boundaries. What are people's feelings on having a cichlid tank with an open back? I don't want to kill fish by stressing them out, but I also don't want the tank to have one side blacked out!

If this is a really really bad idea (cruel to fish) then I may have to abandon the idea of a cichlid tank.

Thanks,

Irf.

My tank is about a foot from a yellow (ugh i know) wall that is very well lit- have no problems with cichlids not having a blacked out section (no backing on the tank). There may be some problems with that much motion around more shy fish since you will be "behind" the tank more than I- but my cichlids see me as "Captain Food Boy" and always follow me around as I move through the room.

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

I wish I could remember where I read this, either on this forum or in a magazine (I do a lot of reading, apparently too much), but the article or forum spoke in detail about tanks that are used in the situaiton you are thinking.

The gist was that some fish are going to be better at dealing with two open sides of a tank, but many will become very 'skittish' since they have movement from all sides. This can lead to a tank in which you will hardly see the fish.

I think the article was really aimed at the idea of keeping cichlids in a tank with a background, but like I said, there were a few fish that were less suseptable to these problems. I will search for where I read that and let you know as soon as I can.

 

[mamafish68]

the ONLY problem I see with this is....





IF YOU DONT BRING IN PICTURES WHEN YOUR DONE I'LL BE GRUMPY!!!!





you might want to use a more dim lighting scheme to keep the fish relaxed. that would go a long way towards them darting about being skittish and possibly hurting themselves. also, keep in mind SMOOTH rocks because you WILL have some that just dont get used to the foot traffic.

 

[Irf]

Thanks mama.... I will certainly send in some pics. It's gonna be some weeks off yet cos I gotta cycle properly, etc. Thanks fo the lighting suggestion too - will bear that in mind. I like the slightly subdued blue-ish lighting I've seen others have.

Oh, and rounded rocks is definitely the way to go. I was gonna pick up some at garden centres, beaches, etc.

Irf.

 

[BiffMalawi]

I have never had an tank as you are describing, but I think it should be OK for cichlids.

You have been given some good advice so far but in addition I find that if I approach my tanks slowly the fish seem happy to greet me but any quick movements freak them out. I also find that when room light is on and tank light is not it seems to amplify the need for a carfeful approach. Casting a shadow at all.

Even though you say the tank will sort of divide two rooms you don't say whether these are high traffic areas of the rooms. Is there space for furniture in front? Can you cover the ends?

Just some thoughts.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I think it would be fine... just leave lost of places where they can go into and sit in the dark if they so choose... i would think the the decor(rocks and such) would begin to replace the use of a backing. when fish get scared the zoom to the back of the tank , darker usually out of sight of the dreaded humans! hahaha! but what if the center of your tank served for the same purpose? just throw in lost of spots where they can run and hide if they feel they need to.

 

[Irf]

Thanks guys - helpful comments again!

I will certainly make sure they have plenty of hiding places. I might even construct some sort of wall along the middle of the tank, with caves in, so that they can hide from either side.

One end will definitely be completely covered, with about a foot of one side covered also. I'll make sure there is refuge there.

It's not a high traffic area at all, not like a hallway. In fact, with the tank in that spot, there is likely to be even less traffic passing by because af the narrowing effect on the walkthru from one room to another.

Regards,

Irf.