Death of a 55G FW Cichlid Tank

Had to laugh about the leveling, grinding and raiding. As a member of WoW-Anon I too understand the addictive nature of the game. I was back in the UK a few years ago for some medical treatment which included steroids to prevent vomiting (Chemo is so so nice). As I viewed it, I had no steroids and could be up vomiting all night, and awake. Or have the steroids and be up all night awake, but not vomiting!
I would do about 30 hours with a couple of hours sleep. But never had any vomiting! So I played WoW. Haven't touched it now for about 3 years I'd say. I'd agree, it's an awesome game, and got me through days when I couldn't go out for risk of catching any infection, but now I'm back here in the sticks, with satalite internet WoW was a nightmare of lag. A great way to escape the clutches.

I'll try and get some decent pics this weekend.

Man I thought I was bad... though under the circumstances I can't say I blame you, seeing as you're posting and keeping tanks I'd have to assume the treatment was successful, though we've never met in person I am truly happy about this, I've lost a few close family friends to cancer as well as some who are still battling...
For me, I mainly quit because it was either play wow all day, or graduate and get my bachelor's degree....
I have to say you definitely have me beat on hours per day, don't get me wrong, in the time I played I logged over 7 months of total play time... nearly a fifth overall!!!! Some times I'd skip class to play, but mostly I'd stay up all night playing, don't even get me started on weekends, which I'd spend every hour from waking to finally crashing playing (I got to be good friends with the jimmy john's and dominos delivery guys...) and all I had to show for it was friends who were sick of coming over and 'watching me sit at my computer like a zombie playing wow' and 75 pounds and 2 pant sizes... I've heard horror stories of people getting divorced after ten plus years of marriage and moving back into their parents basement just so they can keep playing... WoW is definitely the closest thing any company has ever made to an addictive substance, in fact I think they nailed it..

...and yet, it is still Incredibly awesome....

Yes, I'm currently 4 years clear (just one of those things you do keep a count of).

As for WoW, I would love to play it again, but as e both know, playing it occasionally, once bitten, isn't really possible. So now .... yay, cichlids. Addictive too, but not life consuming.

thru trial and error... i managed to avoid the wow bug thru a thorough diablo II LOD addiction... 6 years of my life ill never get back... thanks again blizzard lol.

So glad to hear "fish keepers" don't have addictive natures.....

between this tire guage and a pencil... break me off a frag... c'mon man... im good for it... lol....

LMAO, I grew up with Warcraft/Starcraft/Diablo, Blizzard hands down knows what they're doing...
But I agree, fish are easier to level, and more satisfying lol!!!!

lol i dunno i had a system on diablo... i could hit lvl 90 in 1 hour lol....



edit: all your high runes belong to Win!

OK so I now have the Magnum 350 Canister running, and after Stick suggested, the Tetra 30-60, the latter is running with 4 layered hypo allergic polyester filler ( got to love Michaels ) and no carbon, also the large matter sponge as a prefilter, (not sure as to which order they should be in, as I cannot find the "idiots guide" to Tetra FS 30-60 anywhere). I do like the tetra as a HOB as it's so damned quiet.
I'm calculating my GPH at about 350 on the Magnum & Tetra 30-60 at about 330.
That's based upon Manu. figures, and of course, when clean, but either way I'm thinking 600GPH in a 55G is enough. And the nice thing about it is that this way I have 3 filter mediums, so changing one, leaves 2 still fully intact.

I'm wondering if I should buy a couple of the potted aquarium plants to put in there, short term (will then go into the tetra and pictus cat tank my g/f has) to help lower Nitrite/Nitrate levels.....or am I being an old worry monger?

I would say your filtration is definitely thorough, I'm considering adding another emperor 400 to the community tank for the same reasons you'd mentioned. Though I must say, even with the single emperor and 24W UV filter, I've been relatively happy with my water conditions, compounded with a decent grouping of plecos, java fern and other live plants that help with nitrates... I'm ' ' this close to getting a UV for the nursery for this reason... which I'm also considering getting another matching filter (250 not the emperor...)
Working in IT I've been trained to isolate and reduce single points of failure, and assimilating this into tank setups is definitely a no brainer... Though I would say there's no sense to go overboard, lest the wife/gf wine about ye'old power bill...

Win wrote:all your high runes belong to Win!

What you say?!?!

Perhaps you are overstocked on Pleco's.....like maybe, REHOME that nasty ugly green MONSTER???


Just a thought...

p.s. When that auction in Dallas?

Yeti wrote:p.s. When that auction in Dallas?

April 29-May 1, 2011
TEXAS CICHLID ASSOCIATION
SPRING 2011 SHOW, WORKSHOP & AUCTION
Hilton Garden Inn DFW South
2001 Valley View Lane, Irving, Texas 75061
(972) 313-2800

http://www.ralphdeboard.com/texascichlid/?s=auction

Drats, I think the Saturday is one of those I have to work, which would only leave the Sunday, by which time I'm thinking there wouldn't be much left.

Did you notice how much the Holey Rock was?

Negative, but can find out, will post tomorrow...

I decided that I really didn't like the river rock, it was to overbearing in the tank, and with the majority of inhabitants being peacocks it just wasn't right.
So I have been watching Ebay, and perusing Craigslist.
Craigslist had a few false leads, but hey it's only time spent and a few emails.
I also had my eye on about 3 pieces on Ebay. Now by now anyone that reads this diatribe has recognised I am working on a tight budget for my hobby (doesn't use "passion" for fear of my dearly beloved reading this). So I watched 3 peices, let them get to the last day, still no bids, so I went to work giving Tracy instructions to bid late afternoon, opening bid only.....well maybe a bit more "on that one".
I got home, and all 3 are mine. Yay! I can now change the tank, and make the stone fully Limestone.

That was Tues/Wed.
As I said, I had been searching on Craigslist, and one listing was a yard sale, including a small tank and accessories, including some rock. So not interested in a small tank, but the rock possibly, I sent an email asking "holey rock?"
I heard nothing, and dismissed it.
That email was sent about 2 weeks ago.

Then last night (fri) I worked late and came home to an email saying, "sorry, we delayed the yard sale to the next week, but have the rock left over, it's Texas Holey Rock, there's a picture attached, I'd like $50 for it."
I opened the link..... Holy Golden M'buna!
So today I have been and collected the rock. 94Lbs of Holey Rock including one piece that is over 40lbs, about 30" long and 15" high, 2 others that are 18-24" long by about 12" and others that are decent sized, yes for $50.
When I got home and had washed them I was like a kid in a candy store.
Needless to say, there is no river rock in either of my tanks now.
The two smaller M'buna have travelled across the lounge and are back with the bad boys, due to their attitude in the 55G tank. It's a tough tank, but no fin nipping occurs, so I am taking that as happy M'buna.
The Peacocks now are in heaven, the open space with a back wall of holey rock seems to have everyone content. The small female Kenyi (about 1.5") is currently docile with everyone, and the Red Top Ice Blue is giving no one any hassle.

So the 55G is now at the "enjoy and maintain stage"

As for the Bad Boy tank, it's to small I've decided, especially as I now have....3 Lovely pieces of Holey Rock on it's way to me! So watch this space for the second build, a good sized M'buna tank.
Pic's will be posted of the before and after, once I persuade Tracy to do the jiggery-pokery of reducing the images.

Very cool! Can't wait to see pics. :-)

Looking forward to seeing the tank with the new rock!

How exciting. Can't wait to see it!

Wow I did it!

OK so this is the Peacock tank with the river rocks which I felt were to over powering.


And after the addition of the Holey rock. The wall behind is actually a Medium darkish green, which works well as a back drop.


The Badboys (mbuna) tank, started off with sand but now has Argonite shell to improve the pH, and I like the effect. The blue light didn't work at all, took all the colour from most of the fish, so I'm on a more standard light, which I still don't like, so that will change at some date.


Badboys currently. I need to do something about the view of the pipes etc, and a beigish wall does nothing for the tank, so I'll have to look at some type of backing, not sure what as I would hate to have to move the tank now.


Big Blue, the top dog in the tank, and so ready to mate.


Female Chengi and Red Zebra(?)

OK, so now I know how to do this, maybe I'll post more frequently.

Great job Yeti. Kid in a candy store was right, the Holey Rock looks great. On your background, you can go to a fabric store and pick up all kinds of colors/ patterns ect... for a cheap but nice background. Washable too.. lol. Tanks look great.

Looking great yeti. Snag a cheap black bed sheet set, grab some scissors and put some backgrounds on all of those tanks! ;-)

^^^ Matt ^^^ has the "Finding Nemo" set

J.Davis wrote:^^^ Matt ^^^ has the "Finding Nemo" set

It was tough to find in King size too!