The 4 Foot Project

[kubora666]

Tank Project

After having a really good idea of a tank, im embarking on creating it exactly how i imagine it!

the tank is already mature and sofar has a senegal bichir and a small (hybrid jade eye) cichlid.

i will update this thread when each phase is complete and take pictures every week.

so here's the idea

i am going for a Comunity/cichlid/planted tank
ive always liked this set ups so thought id make a hybrid tank.

i shal be running the tank with a highly powered eheim filter, that not only is more than adequete for an oscar, but more than enough power for this.
and the tank will be enriched by weekly/2 weekly water changes.


Fish

Cichlids: Firemouths, rainbow, keyhole, maybe some other less aggresive species.
some manageble smaller species of cichlid to give interesting behaviour and colour

surface dweller: a group of butterfly fish
to create an active looking tank, with grace.


dither/algae grazing: 3 kissing gourami.

lower level dwellers: clown loaches, sucking loaches and a senegal bichir.


main attraction: a beautiful Uaru.

Random: possibly a group of rainbowfish or other 4"+ dither,
possibly a spotted climbing perch or two
and i'd like to get a group of sword tails breeding too.
bristlenose plec/bulldog plec.

i know it is an ambitious project but as with art and movies i have made, its always fulfilling to persue what you envision and see the final result.


this is my plan...


Week 1: assorted hardy plants to see what works in my tank.

Week 2: the 3 kissing gourami' and the Uaru will be introduced to get a foothold first as they are the main pieces of the tank.

Week 3: Rainbowfish, clown loach, sword tails,

Week 4: rainbow cichlid keyholes, firemouthes, the interesting behaviour cichlids come in now, and the uaru will already have a territory so i won't risk loosing my showpiece.

Week 5: the butterfly fish, sucking loaches and bulldog/bristlenose plec.
the reason for this is the butterflys are predators so if i put them in first i risk new entrants to the tank being seen as food, and the reason im putting the algae grazers in last is because i'd like an abundance of algae.


thats my plan and hopefully everything will go smoothely

what do you think?
anyone have any ideas or suggestions

 

[Mr Bliss]

I like the combination of cichlids, although I'm a wee bit concerned about the keyholes' ability to hold their own against the firemouths and rainbows; in my experience they're a bit shy. I'd actually get kribensis; they're smaller than keyholes but so full of attitude that they'd be a match for the others.

Rainbow cichlids will sometimes decide to destroy plants, although probably not so much in a bigger tank, and firemouths will dig a little, so take that into account when planting the tank.

 

[kubora666]

I like the combination of cichlids, although I'm a wee bit concerned about the keyholes' ability to hold their own against the firemouths and rainbows; in my experience they're a bit shy. I'd actually get kribensis; they're smaller than keyholes but so full of attitude that they'd be a match for the others.

Rainbow cichlids will sometimes decide to destroy plants, although probably not so much in a bigger tank, and firemouths will dig a little, so take that into account when planting the tank.

yeah the keyholes arent 100% sure on but they are easy to get hold of so i thought they would be a good idea.

for those of you also concerned on the senegal bichir, its very fat cause i feed him well so its doubtfull he will eat things