Stocking Advice Needed

[Wills]

Have a look on Ebay or a website called Aquarist Classifieds - its a site just for selling fish stuff alternativly the classifieds here are good as well. My tank is second hand and a bit scratched but I can handle it.

Severums grow at about half an inch per month but grow quite stocky - is it possible to take a picture of the severums as there are actually a few species under the name Severum that you would not know the difference between unless someone taught you how - but some species stay smaller than others. Yours is Heros Efasticious which gets to 10-12 inches but I have a Heros Severus which gets to 6-8 inches - also to add more confusion all shops think they are selling Heros Severus but they are actually selling Heros Efasticous at some point in the past 20 or so years the breeders swapped their breeding stock and actually swapped species without telling anyone so Heros Efasticious aka Green Severums are often labeled as Heros Severus in shops.

The Red Hump Eartheaters - aka Geophagus Stiendachnary will grow quite slowly probably taking a few years to get to adult size however the thing with these fish is the aggression so even 4/6 months down the line when they all approach kind of 3/4 inches the 40 gallon could become quite cramped.

I know the feeling about trying to convince women about bigger tanks believe me haha

Wills

 

[plaskotki]

Wills, thanks for your reply. I will try to take a picture and will post it this evening. How long have you been keeping fish? Are the SA cichlids your main interest?

 

[Wills]

Ive been keeping fish for about 6 or 7 years now, South American and Central American Cichlids are what I keep right now, but I also love South American fish in general like headstanders, whiptail cats and unusual catfish. I wish I had more tanks though as there are a lot more set ups I want to explore - my next one is either South American Puffers or a breeding set up for some dwarf cichlids - depends what size tank my other half agrees to haha

 

[star4]

Check out the classifieds section on here too, there is someone selling a rio 400 I think they are asking around £150 for it.

found it http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/339752-juwel-rio-400/

 

[plaskotki]

Thanks guys. I need to work on my wife first. When I'm ready I know where to look nof for a resonably priced tank.

 

[plaskotki]

Wills,
Here are two photos of my Severums. They are about 2" or 5cm:


Heros Efasciatus by Marek's Photography, on Flickr


Heros Efasciatus by Marek's Photography, on Flickr



Any ideas regarding sex and exact name of my babies?

 

[Wills]

Hi yeah those are the larger growing Heros Efasticious - Nice looking ones as well, with the redish spotting it would look like they have some Rio Tapajo genes in them

Wills

 

[plaskotki]

Thanks Wills. Do you have this forum on your iphone or something?? You seem to be on it all the time I post something. Nice to get a quick reply. I really appreciate your advice. Even if it means possible war in the family. I have not discussed the bigger tank yet. \waiting for the right moment

 

[plaskotki]

How often would you recommend I should do water changes in my 180l tank. Also, atthe moment I have the original filter that Juwel rio180 came with. Do you think it will suffice? Would appreciate some advice, please.

 

[Wills]

No I phone, just no job so currently living on my settee

With water changes, there are quite a few big fish in there do you have a water test kit? Water changes are mainly based on the Nitrate level so I would do water changes of about 40% per week at present but if you get a nitrate test kit and the number is high maybe consider doing a bit more or 2 changes per week.

Wills

 

[plaskotki]

I do have a water testing kit. Before I bought the cichlids 20% once a month was more than sufficient. So you reckon that the filter I have at the mo plus frequent water changes should do the trick, right?

 

[Wills]

In 180 liters with a large clown loach and a growing plec I would guess that 20% a month isnt really ideal. Its not just based on the appearance of the tank but also how the water chemistry can work out in the long term, the main factor here is the Nitrate level - every time a fish poos ammonia is created which is then turned into nitrite and then turned into nitrate. So in the tank ammonia is eaten and nitrite is eaten but nitrate just builds up and thats why we do water changes to get rid of it out of the water - even water with high nitrate could be crystal clear but it will still be affecting the fish in the tank. Now the fish you keep are generally pretty hardy so will be able to cope with this system I suspect but the new fish wont be used to these levels particularly the Eartheaters who are quite delicate maybe try and up the water change regime

Wills

 

[plaskotki]

Will do. I am aware of the water nitrate cycle. I did water testing and with the amount of fish I had what I was doing was enough. Now I will do it more frequently. Thanks. By the way, I know it might be hard to be out of job but then, you have more time to spend with your hobby

 

[plaskotki]

Wills,
I am a bit puzzled... I wonder if you could advise me. What kit are you using to test your water and what parameters you are keeping your eye on? I have two kits and with all the fish I have they both show no nitrate! They are both in date. Any suggestions? The fish seem to be looking happy.

 

[Wills]

Im using the API drop test kit. I test Ammonia and Nitrite for peace of mind but the Nitrate test is a nightmare and difficult to do accurately so I almost never test for it. I know my tap water is naturally high in Nitrate so I only really test occasionally if I suspect something is untoward in the tank. I otherwise assume it sits around my tap water level most of the week then when it comes to water change time it has risen by maybe 10ppm - though that may be optimistic on my part.

With your tests, how many plants do you have? And what filter do you have? Just wondering if you have any kind of nitrate remover in your filter.

Wills