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Sixty Gallon Journal
- Thread starter gwand
- Start date
OP
OP
What do you recommend and how many mating pairs can co-exist in a 4 foot wide, 60 gallon tank. 48.5 inches widex13 inches high and 18.5 inches long.
I prefer 1pr of bottom dwelling cichlids per tank. In a 4ft tank you could have 2 prs or a male and a few females (depending on the species you choose).
I like Apistogramma cacatuoides, agassizii and trifasciata.
Don't mix species of Apistogramma because the females all look the same.
I like Apistogramma cacatuoides, agassizii and trifasciata.
Don't mix species of Apistogramma because the females all look the same.
OP
OP
What if any community fish in the tank? Water GH is 200 ppm.
The GH is too high for South American dwarf cichlids and too soft for Lake Malawi cichlids. It is fine for rainbowfish and livebearers, and Lake Victoria cichlids would probably be ok in it from a hardness level.
If you mixed rain, distilled or reverse osmosis water with the well water (50/50) you could go South American dwarfs and have a pr or small group (1 male and a few females) of Apistogrammas, or a pr of the Thomasi dwarf cichlid or Pelvicachromis you were originally looking at. You could then add a group of tetras or small barbs as dither fish.
Alternatively, add some Rift Lake water conditioner (mineral salts) to get the GH up to 300ppm and go for small Lake Malawi cichlids, or push the GH to 350-400ppm and go for small Lake Tanganyika cichlids. Lake Tanganyika cichlids are generally more peaceful than stuff from Lake Malawi.
If you mixed rain, distilled or reverse osmosis water with the well water (50/50) you could go South American dwarfs and have a pr or small group (1 male and a few females) of Apistogrammas, or a pr of the Thomasi dwarf cichlid or Pelvicachromis you were originally looking at. You could then add a group of tetras or small barbs as dither fish.
Alternatively, add some Rift Lake water conditioner (mineral salts) to get the GH up to 300ppm and go for small Lake Malawi cichlids, or push the GH to 350-400ppm and go for small Lake Tanganyika cichlids. Lake Tanganyika cichlids are generally more peaceful than stuff from Lake Malawi.
OP
OP
Entry #6
I bought a water filter from a company called Water Filters of America that will sequester nitrate from my well water. It is being shipped to me from Florida and I will receive it soon. I will attach the filter to the sink I use for my water exchanges with my python. I am not expecting miracles from the filter, but it would be great if I could reduce the nitrate level from 28 ppm to around 10 ppm. If I do better than that, then that will be terrific.
I completed the first part of my musical tanks last night. See previous entries. I transferred my 10 gallon tank and my 5 gallon hospital tank into my office where my 20 gallon tank and my dedicated shrimp tank are located. Once the aquarium stand for my 20 gallon tank arrives, I will construct it and transfer the 20 gallon tank onto the new stand and place it on the other side of my office. This will free up about 6 feet of desk space which is earmarked for the new 4 foot, 60 gallon tank.
For substrate I ordered a bag of pool filter sand which should arrive soon. I have been collecting all sorts of stones which I will use to create caves for the two cichlid species that will be housed in the 60 gallon tank. I will operate two filters in the new tank. I’ve already purchased the sponge filter. On Friday and aqua clear 110 HOB filter will arrive. I’m still contemplating what brand and kind of light source I will purchase. Same goes for a heater. If anybody is reading this journal, I would appreciate suggestions for lighting and a heater.
I am looking forward to purchasing my fish, but this is many weeks away. I will probably mail order from Dan’s fish and the Wet Spot, although I do have a premium fish store about 20 minutes from my house. They almost always carry a few species of cichlids. However, I do not know if they will have pelvicachromas subocellatus or Anomalochromis thomasi. This is a very exciting process. I never thought I would get such pleasure from building a tank. I hope you do too.
I bought a water filter from a company called Water Filters of America that will sequester nitrate from my well water. It is being shipped to me from Florida and I will receive it soon. I will attach the filter to the sink I use for my water exchanges with my python. I am not expecting miracles from the filter, but it would be great if I could reduce the nitrate level from 28 ppm to around 10 ppm. If I do better than that, then that will be terrific.
I completed the first part of my musical tanks last night. See previous entries. I transferred my 10 gallon tank and my 5 gallon hospital tank into my office where my 20 gallon tank and my dedicated shrimp tank are located. Once the aquarium stand for my 20 gallon tank arrives, I will construct it and transfer the 20 gallon tank onto the new stand and place it on the other side of my office. This will free up about 6 feet of desk space which is earmarked for the new 4 foot, 60 gallon tank.
For substrate I ordered a bag of pool filter sand which should arrive soon. I have been collecting all sorts of stones which I will use to create caves for the two cichlid species that will be housed in the 60 gallon tank. I will operate two filters in the new tank. I’ve already purchased the sponge filter. On Friday and aqua clear 110 HOB filter will arrive. I’m still contemplating what brand and kind of light source I will purchase. Same goes for a heater. If anybody is reading this journal, I would appreciate suggestions for lighting and a heater.
I am looking forward to purchasing my fish, but this is many weeks away. I will probably mail order from Dan’s fish and the Wet Spot, although I do have a premium fish store about 20 minutes from my house. They almost always carry a few species of cichlids. However, I do not know if they will have pelvicachromas subocellatus or Anomalochromis thomasi. This is a very exciting process. I never thought I would get such pleasure from building a tank. I hope you do too.
Uberhoust
Fish Herder
Total agreement. If I found a tank with that dimensions in one of our stores I would pick it up immediately. Around here at sixty is likely to be 48"X12"X24" too tall. Your tank gives the fist more space to swim and more depth to give a more 3d look to the aquarium.
OP
OP
Entry #7
The next step in this multistaged process is to remove the 20 gallon and 5 gallon tanks off my desk to make room for the 60 gallon tank. The aquarium stand which will house the two tanks arrived today. My wife and I assembled it over the afternoon. The next step will be delicate: moving the 20 gallon tank onto the new aquarium stand. I will remove about 15 gallons of water from the tank first. My poor fish are bound to be stressed by the move. I know I will be!
The next step in this multistaged process is to remove the 20 gallon and 5 gallon tanks off my desk to make room for the 60 gallon tank. The aquarium stand which will house the two tanks arrived today. My wife and I assembled it over the afternoon. The next step will be delicate: moving the 20 gallon tank onto the new aquarium stand. I will remove about 15 gallons of water from the tank first. My poor fish are bound to be stressed by the move. I know I will be!
OP
OP
Entry #8
With great care my wife and I transferred the 20 gallon tank onto the newly assembled aquarium stand. I removed 10 gallons of water before we did the transfer. We had placed “slippers” on the feet of the aquarium stand so we could more easily slide it across the room to its new home. Then we move the 60 gallon tank onto my desk in the vacated space.
New home for the 20 gallon long (above)
60 gallon on my desk next to shrimp tank (below)
With great care my wife and I transferred the 20 gallon tank onto the newly assembled aquarium stand. I removed 10 gallons of water before we did the transfer. We had placed “slippers” on the feet of the aquarium stand so we could more easily slide it across the room to its new home. Then we move the 60 gallon tank onto my desk in the vacated space.
New home for the 20 gallon long (above)
60 gallon on my desk next to shrimp tank (below)
OP
OP
Almost certain, and also a shoal of Congo tetras.Nicely done! Can’t wait to see the new tank set upstill going with Cichlids?
That’s the tank size I want to get if I get a larger tank in the future.
OP
OP
Entry #9
Hurry up and wait. That is the theme for the next week. My pool filter sand is being shipped and there has been a delay. I purchased a product that supposedly needs little to no rinsing. That would be great if true. In the meantime, I am collecting rocks, and scrubbing them down, which once the sand substrate is laid, I will construct caves with. I have been window shopping for a glass cover, heater, and light source. If anyone has suggestions, that would be great. I am also looking at driftwood. Everything I see is over priced in my opinion. For god sake, it’s only a discarded piece of wood.
Hurry up and wait. That is the theme for the next week. My pool filter sand is being shipped and there has been a delay. I purchased a product that supposedly needs little to no rinsing. That would be great if true. In the meantime, I am collecting rocks, and scrubbing them down, which once the sand substrate is laid, I will construct caves with. I have been window shopping for a glass cover, heater, and light source. If anyone has suggestions, that would be great. I am also looking at driftwood. Everything I see is over priced in my opinion. For god sake, it’s only a discarded piece of wood.
OP
OP
Entry #10
Finally, my sand came in today. I thought it would not need rinsing, but I was wrong. My tank will contain one species of cave spawners, and another species that spawns on flats. You can see in the photographs i created two separate habitats. I will place a piece of driftwood, in between the flats and the caves so there’s more visual separation. I will also place Anubias in front of each cave. I will decide on other taller plants at a later date.
Finally, my sand came in today. I thought it would not need rinsing, but I was wrong. My tank will contain one species of cave spawners, and another species that spawns on flats. You can see in the photographs i created two separate habitats. I will place a piece of driftwood, in between the flats and the caves so there’s more visual separation. I will also place Anubias in front of each cave. I will decide on other taller plants at a later date.
I love it !
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