New Cichlid Gal in the DC area

[thedavidzoo]

Hi all!
I have gotten some great info off of this board, so it is time to join.

My husband and I have had fish for about 1 3/4 years now. We started with a 20 gal long, up to a 55 and recently a CL 75 gallon. Mostly we have had generic Petsm**t fish.
As some of the older ones started to die off, I began rethinking our setup. Somehow I ended up with the idea of Tanganyikans. We yanked out everything in our busy 55 (gravel, plastic plants, fake driftwood) and started fresh with pool sand and slate/rock in the 75.

Right now we have a few leftover Zebra danios, 4 cherry barbs, a male and female dwarf gourami, a few albino and peppered corys, a Pelvicachromis taeniatus "Moliwe" male (needs a new partner) and a bristlenose pleco pair (and some fry) that was breeding like crazy in the old tank, oh and 3 hatchetfish. I know, it is all over the map.

My pH is naturally about 7.6. All my other values look good. I do weekly water changes. I did introduce a CL pair of Julidochromis transcriptus a few weeks back.

So, now I need to figure out how to make the switch to a mostly Tang tank.
I am interested in some shellies (multi or occies), maybe a Eretmodus cyanostictus
eventually a school of Cyprichromis leptosoma, another Neolamprologus (but prob not leleupi)or something, some calvus or compressiceps (poss prob with shellies?).
Anyhow, I'll try to post a pic so you seasoned fish keepers can give me some pointers.
Thanks!

 

[UNCLERUCKUS]

Hi all!
I have gotten some great info off of this board, so it is time to join.

My husband and I have had fish for about 1 3/4 years now. We started with a 20 gal long, up to a 55 and recently a CL 75 gallon. Mostly we have had generic Petsm**t fish.
As some of the older ones started to die off, I began rethinking our setup. Somehow I ended up with the idea of Tanganyikans. We yanked out everything in our busy 55 (gravel, plastic plants, fake driftwood) and started fresh with pool sand and slate/rock in the 75.

Right now we have a few leftover Zebra danios, 4 cherry barbs, a male and female dwarf gourami, a few albino and peppered corys, a Pelvicachromis taeniatus "Moliwe" male (needs a new partner) and a bristlenose pleco pair (and some fry) that was breeding like crazy in the old tank, oh and 3 hatchetfish. I know, it is all over the map.

My pH is naturally about 7.6. All my other values look good. I do weekly water changes. I did introduce a CL pair of Julidochromis transcriptus a few weeks back.

So, now I need to figure out how to make the switch to a mostly Tang tank.
I am interested in some shellies (multi or occies), maybe a Eretmodus cyanostictus
eventually a school of Cyprichromis leptosoma, another Neolamprologus (but prob not leleupi)or something, some calvus or compressiceps (poss prob with shellies?).
Anyhow, I'll try to post a pic so you seasoned fish keepers can give me some pointers.
Thanks!

WELCOME TO CCA!! TRY AND TALK TO CALEB..."MINIFOOT" I THINK HE CAN HELP YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THE BN FRY?

 

[Tony]

welcome to the forum.

There's a lot you can do with a 75 gallon in terms of Tangs. In that footprint, maybe two pairs of rockdwellers and a group of Cyps. A single goby would do fine in there. I wouldn't add much more than that. Everyone will need their territory, especially when they start to breed. Also remember that the Cyps will need a place on the floor to sleep at night. Putting in a group of shellies might be over the top.

When my 75 was set up, I had Cyp leptosoma, a large group of gold head Comps and Paracyprichromis nigripinnis. It worked ok, but was a bit crowded for the long term. Also, in that tank none of the three groups could colonize since the Comps would eat any fry. If you did without the Comps, the tank may fill up pretty quickly with groups of Julidochromis and Lamprologus.

A lot of these fish are being bred in the club, btw. You should definitely try to make the January meeting!

 

[mscichlid]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Jay]

Tanganyika Tanks

Most Tanganyika cichlids like a high PH of 8.6 and up. Some of these fish will die if their PH is below 8.6. Others, like Julidochromis can tolerate as low as 7.8. Sarah (Longstocking) is probably the club's best Tanganyika fish keeper. You should contact her for more help.

 

[rsretep]

Welcome to the forum Esther

 

[jonclark96]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Leffler817]

WELCOME TO CCA! :happy0180:

 

[mdlnewman]

Welcome to the Dark Side.

 

[thedavidzoo]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes!

My bristlenose fry have mostly been sold off on CL over the past year or so. I always hope they end up in a good home. When someone wants 12 at once it makes me wonder....

I'll be doing some more research on my Tanganyika project. THanks for pointing me to Tang members on this forum. I'll have to pick their brains. Also, I'll be looking to get some new fish from Tang cichlid breeders here within the next few weeks.

I'll also see about the January meeting.

 

[longstocking]

Welcome...

If you need any insight on how to keep or breed tangs don't hesitate to shoot me a pm. Most tank raised fish will do fine in 7.8 and higher ph. Just add baking soda to raise your ph. They might do fine in lower ph... but will look there best at about 8.2 which you can achive with baking soda.

I have kept and bred all the fish you are interested in.... I don't have most of them currently, but there are plenty of people in the club that have what you are looking for. Or if you don't find it I can recommend where to buy them online from

 

[Reel Addiction]

Welcome to the club!

 

[thedavidzoo]

I was just reading more on the baking soda issue, Rift Lake buffers, etc.

My immediate problem is the fish I currently have that wouldn't appreciate me changing my pH by much. I feel like I am just at that pH point where all are relatively happy, although some would probably like to have it lower, between hatchet fish, corys, dwarf gouramis barbs and then the 2 new Julies.
So, I really want to move ahead but don't want to sell out my current fish pets either.
Do you think calvus would do ok in 7.6 pH for a while?

I may just have to wait a bit longer to get new Tangs and raise my pH, etc.,

 

[thedavidzoo]

Trying to get a pic of our current "new" setup uploaded:

 

[Tony]

Most Tangs will be completely fine - even breed in the pH coming out of your tap.

 

[thedavidzoo]

My test kit only went up to 7.6. Got another and I think my pH might actually be 8.

My hometown website says:
Average Hardness 8.4 grains/gal
Average pH 7.8

I'll be asking lots more questions in terms of stocking of my 75, I guess over in the "Old World" section.

 

[hydrodmg]

Well i must welcome you as well and educate you on one thing there is noooo such thing as a gal in the cichlid hobby we refer to them as beauties