Plans for my new tank

[freddyk]

Hongi is more aggressive then Caeruleus - it would probably suit your tank even better.

 

[sr71pav]

Since there are no plants would there be any advantage to having compacts instead of regular flourescents? Will twin tube flourescents be bright enough or would 2x65 compacts be better?

 

[freddyk]

Better lighting encourages more algae growth. As algae grazers the mbuna would appreciate a healthy growth of algae on the rocks and show further natural behavior.

 

[sr71pav]

So, I was wandering through the LFS and I had an idea and I wanted to check my sanity. For a hospital or breeding tank, can I just keep a 10 gallon in the stand below the main tank? I was thinking that I can get already cycled water from the main tank whenever I need it for either of those uses. When I drain it from the main tank, it's more or less like a 10% water change for it, so it just seems like a great idea to me. I realize that it's not the cleanest (and probably not necessarily the best), but it seems like it should work. I figured I'd wire up some cheap flourescents (actually the ones from my 20g that I'm replacing with some pc's) for lighting and get a simple heater and filter.

Am I making any sense?

 

[freddyk]

That's about it sr71pav, I think you've got the right idea. It's safer to use the aquarium water anyway to start with to help lessen stress on already stressed fish. I run a sponge filter in one of the large tanks so I've always got a healthy bacteria colony ready to be moved. I don't bother with lights, the dim lighting tends to be reassuring to the stressed fish. I store my hospital tank out of sight and out of mind in a closet since it hasn't been used in years.

 

[Ferris]

Good thinking that sr71pav, should work a treat!

 

[sr71pav]

If instead of a 90 I did a 75, would anything have to change? There's a place near me that's running a deal on 75's with a nice wood stand that saves ~$100 and I'm finding that very tempting. Plus it's a new 75 vs. a factory 2nd 90, both Perfecto which is pretty much dominant around here since they're just outside of town. I haven't seen too much difference in 75 v. 90 setups but I just want to make sure.

 

[freddyk]

Nah, I've got a 75 and a 90 running and I'd go with a 75 again, the extra hieght is tough thing to make use of, especially with most cichlids, and it makes maintenance a little more of a reach. It's otherwise exactly the same tank.