CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I'm curious as to what our current setups are! I'll start, and I'll make this a "sticky" so all of us, new and old, can post our setups.

I probably have the "smallest", but here it is: I have a 55 gallon (1 inhabitant, "Barnes", a 4 or 5 inch Amphilophus labiatus [AKA "Red Devil"]) on a homemade stand. The stand is described in the DIY forum. My filtration is 1 Penguin 100 with a biowheel, and a second Penguin 200 also with a biowheel. I have these filters at the far ends of the tank, and a "curtain" style airstone in the middle that keeps the water moving around pretty good. I have a Penguin 300 watt heater mounted to the back glass. For decorations, I have 5 or 6 large rocks centered, and [i]a lot[/i] of plastic plants. I weighted all of them by siliconing aquarium gravel into the bases, so when Barnes digs around and abuses the plants, they don't float up. I've discovered that having a lot of plastic plants in the tank calms Barnes down a lot. My gravel is a rather large, black variety that I got at an LFS. I made sure it was large and didn't have sharp edges because RDs spend a goodly portion of their evenings moving it around, and I didn't want Barnes to get cut.

Well, here goes.  Lest it look like I don't have a plan, I remind everyone of Patton's dictum:  "No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy."  In most of my tanks I chose gravel and lighting for one set of fish, only to move those based on who doesn't get along with whom.  My 125 for example, was originally set up for perch and sunfish, and light gravel showed off their colors the best.  Now I have a pair of Severums and a couple of Uarus inhabiting that tank.  They'd probably look better with a little darker gravel, but I'm not ambitious enough to change it.  Have a couple of vertical pieces of driftwood, and some large rocks.  Filtration is an Eheim 2217 and an Aquaclear 110 (old 500).  300 watt heater -- Visitherm -- mounted on back wall.  There's also a pretty good size Gibbiceps pleco in there, as well as a couple of young female P. Synspilums growing out.  All lights are on timers

On the other hand, one of my two 55's has darker beige gravel, and a dark blue background.  It does no favors at all to my 2 P. pollenis.  They're "separated" by a divider that they both can get through fairly easily, but they get along a lot better with the divider than without.  They look great in the 125, but without a divider the male persecutes the female to the point shere she just hides in a cave all the time, so for now they're in the 55 along with a Rusty Pleco (L077).  Filtration is a Penguin 300 and an Aquaclear 110.  200w heater on the back wall; driftwood and rocks.  Even a couple of plants!  And lots of snails.  This is my only tank with resident cichlids and thriving snails! 

On the lower shelf is my newest tank, a 30-long, growing out some HRP's and a couple of offspring from the Severums, as well as a couple of young Bushynose plecos.  False log, broken flowerpot, and a fake log are the decor. Penguin 200 filter.

The other 55 contains my pair of H carpintis "Esconidos".  The darker beige gravel shows them off very well.  There's a rather stark piece of driftwook, a fake barrel, and a turle bridge.  I'd switch them with the Pollenis, but they don't like the foot traffic where that tank is, and that blue backround would steal from their color.  No plants or snails with these guys!  Penguin 330 and Eheim 2213.  There's also a Bristlenose Pleco in there that I never see (the carpintis are highly suspicious of him, so he stays out of sight for a reason!)  Right now they're sharing the tank with a few fry from their latest spawn.  I did have an opaline gourami in there as well, but he died over the week-end.  My longest lived fish from this chapter of the hobby.  Probably 10-12 years old.

On the lower shelf of that metal stand is a 29.  Blue gravel, and a Fluval internal power filter (heater of course).  I've used this primarily as a grow-out or Q tank, though that may be changing.  Right now it contains 4 young Sajicas (T-Bar), and a young Oscar about the same size, plus a few snails (we'll see how long they last).  Deco is a small flower pot, some plastic plants and a weird gothic arch.

In the room with the Escondidos is also a 75, as well as a 40-log (lower level), and a couple of 10's. 

The 75 has an 8-inch P. Synspilum, an Adonis Pleco, a couple of Hoplosternum littorale (wild caught in the jungles of central Florida), and 4 Giant Danios.  Light colored gravel, big piece of driftwood, and a rock cave (more of a carport, really) Penguin 300 and AC 110. 

The 40-long is on the lower level of the 75 stand.  Green gravel, some bricks, a stone, small piece of driftwood, a small fake cave and a large plastic cave/rock looking thing.  Right now this is full of growing out Escondidos, as well a a couple of young L229s, a Banjo Cat, and a Spotted Hopl Cat (Megalechis thoracata).  Penguin 330 filter.

The 2 10's are used mostly for growing out fry.  Right now the bottom one is unoccupied except by a dwarf sword plant and a few snails.  The top has a couple more young Bushynoses, and is temporarily housing some swordtails I picked up for a friend.  Whisper power filters.

From the 2 10's to the 210:

Currently sporting light-colored gravel, some rock caves made of cobblestones & slate, a couple of large pieces of driftwood.  Also another turtle bridge.  Doesn't look great in there, but it's a needed hiding place.  Filters:  Eheim  2217, Eheim 2250, and Emperor 400.  Had a bubble wand for oxygenation till I got the Emperor.  Two 300w heaters. 
Current residents:  Female Oscar, pair of Chocolates (H temporalis), Widebar Dat (M pulcher), 2 Sorubim Limas, 2 Common Plecos, 1 Banded Leporinus, 1 Shortnose gar, plus one medium-size unidentified (CA?) cichlid.  Had the male Synspilum in here for awhile, but he and the Dat were just implacably skirmishing.  Shame -- I would have liked the Syn in this tank.  He really adds a splash of color.  The choolates would show off better in the 125.  They're just overwhelmed in here by the personalities of the Oscar and the Dat.  I may still try it, but 3 pairs of large fish in that 125 is probably one pair too many.  What I really NEED is another tank or two.  Or maybe a lake.   :angel9:

Gosh mark, you want us on for a LONG time here.. AS I have 14 tanks, but thank goodness only 12 are going so it should take me an hour or so!! Ha ha....
Smallers first:
[b]20 gal:[/b] One Neolamprologus Pulcher Brichardi: One juvie male Red top and a  female for company.. Black Tihitian moon sand. Small Texas holey rocks, one fake plant. pH 8.4 GH/KH ??  Heater is set at 78F.. They are on a double metal stand with a 15 gal on the bottom..

[b]15 gal bottom:[/b]  Female Kenyi holding.. ( added today)  Black Tihitian Moon sand. Sm Texas holey rock, one fake plant. pH 8.2?.. Heater set at 79F..

[b]29 gal [/b]in living room is now a Tropical NON cichlid tank. 8 neon tetras, but only 7 now??, two dwraf Gouramines, one powder blue, one red jewel like..
pH 7.2  GH/KH NONE... Ro water.. Filter is a Emperor 280 turned down and the substrate is a natural brown gravel BUT is being changed to the Tihitian black moon sand this weekend.. Rams are also being added.. the stand is from a 55 gal cut to fit painted black and modified to fit a 29 gal tank.. (new top added)..

[b]29 gal Top tank:[/b] At this time it is the home of my lone female Midas.. She has a clay pot for her home and brown natural gravel.. pH 7.4 GH 5= 89.5ppm KH 3= 53.7ppm Give or take...  she has A Emperor 400 .. Double stands with the next 29 gal on the bottom...  
[b]29 gal BOTTOM tank[/b]: I have a family of black striped normal CONVICTS.. Gosh what was I thinking?? Brown natural gravel. they have a Emperor 400 filter and a heater at 80F and 200+ fry..    :crybaby2:    They are in a double stand custom made by my hubby.. pH 7.4 GH 4= 17.6ppm KH: 2 = 35.8 give or take...

[b]55 gal tank TOP tank in double stands [/b]  This is a grow out tank for Cyrtocara Moorii Blue dolphins and Red Top Zebra Juvies. The substrate is Tihitian Black moon sand. 1 Emperor 400 and a Emperor 280. NO heater as the room now stays at 78F.. Petrified rock for deco and the back ground is the same 3D effect.. pH is 8.4 GH: 9= 161.1ppm KH 7= 125.3ppm GIVE or take here.. Some fake plants..
[b]55 gal Bottom Tank: [/b] This tank has juvie to adult Kenyi.. Their are about 10 in this tank.. They are waiting for the LFS that moved to take them.. (I hope) several texas holey rock, a fake stump and some fake plants scattered around..  pH is about 8.2 GH: 9 = 161.1ppm KH: 7= 125.3ppm GIVE or take.. Substrate is natural brown gravel. Filters: Two Emperor 400.

[b]55gal SECOND set of tanks: Top tank[/b] More juvie to adult Cyrtocara Moorii Blue dolphins waiting for a LFS, ( same LFS as above) 5 Kenyi juvies.. Texas holey rock, a large stump and several fake plants.. Nartural brown gravel.. pH: 8.2  GH: 9 =  161.1ppm KH: 7= 125.3ppm GIVE or take...    1 Emperor 400 filter and a different filter not doing very well..
[b]55 gal Bottom tank [/b] Now this tank houses ONE adult 4 yold  female JD at 7".. Several convicts from the 29 gal ALL females with their mom.. 5 Emerald green cory cats and one odd cory cat..  pH: 7.4  GH: 4= 71.6ppm KH 2= 35.8 GIVE or take...  Small  natural Brown gravel. Emperor 400 and a Emperor 280 filter.. Heater
set at 78F..

[b]75 gal TOP tank: [/b]  Double stands again: this top tank holds a pair of adult Midas's and a young offspring adult Midas that has survived with them for ONE year..
Two Flower pots and a large stump in front of mom Strawberry pot to keep daddy midas at bay..  Jr just hangs around.. NO fake plants as they dont' like them.. NO deco at all really as they wil tear them up.. pH: 7.4  GH: 6= 107.4ppm KH: 4= 71.6ppm.. GIVE or take..  Natural brown med gravel. 2 Emperor 400 filters.. A Titanium heater as DADDY midas likes to play with the glass ones.. NOT good.. Set at 76F..
[b]75 gal Bottom tank [/b] Adult Breeding Crytocara Moorii Dolphins.. Two pairs and some added in new females.. Divided tank.. rock caves some fake plants.. pH 8.4 GH: 9= 161.1 KH: 7= 125.3ppm Give or take.. Natural brown gravel med/small mixed.. Two Emperor 400 filters, one on each side.. heater set at 78F..

[b]125 gal tank [/b]  Several Adult Malawi cichlids species.. 8 Red Zebras, 8 or more Dolphins,  7 Kenyi or more, 4 Cobalt Zebras, 5 or more  Red Top Zebras, 3 White Zebras, 1 male Electric Yellow, and some baby Red Top and Kenyi that missed my net for the grow-out 55 gal last week.. pH 8.4 GH: 9 = 161.1ppm  KH: 7= 12.3ppm GIVE or take.. substrate is Lake Malawi gravel and crushed coral with some natural brown gravel mixed in for color contrast.. Smaller black Mexican rocks scattered here and their.. Large Texas holey rock.. Red hard rock in different sizes and shapes, LOTS of fake house plants to set it off and help the females while they hold...

dang. I am tired of typing.. I think that is all.. O and three 10 gal with NOTHING in them!! AND that is a GREAT deal!! these are my sick tanks.. IF the others smaller tanks are empty..  

im sorry but im the runt of the litter with 2 tanks!  so here goes for some short reading 
TANK 1: 3 GOLD LABS, 3 KENYI, PLECO, A BABY JAGUAR, A BLACK GHOSTKNIFEFISH AND  A  DOJO LOACH.
FILTRATION: PENGUIN 150 AND H.O.T. MAGNUM 350
SUBSTRATE: I USED 2" BLACK MEXICAN BEACH PEBBLES

TANK 2: 2 TIGER OSCARS, 2 GOLD SEVERUMS, PLECO, DOJO LOACH
FILTRATION: EMPEROR 400 & FLUVAL FX5(THE BEAST )
SUBSTRATE: "T" GRADE BLACK 3M COLOR QUARTZ AGGREGATE

HERE IS MY 150 MINUS DRIFTWOOD

Like Barb I can't type all day either  but my main tanks


My tanks are all in my basement either "out of the way" or where I can go and close the door, whichever way you want to look at it.

75 gallon tank- Wild pair of Vieja synspilus - some pots,natural colored gravel  - Biowheel 400 , 2 hydrosponge 3's

75 gallon tank -group of  Herichthys pantostictus - some pots,natural colored gravel  - Biowheel 400 , 1 hydrosponge 3 , 1 hydrosponge 5 and 2 normal sponge filters (by normal I mean the triangle or squares)


75 gallon tank - Pair of Amphilophus chancho - some pots,natural colored gravel  - dynaflow (forgot the #'s comparable to an AC 500) ,  3 hydrosponge 3's and 3 normal sponge filters



75 gallon tank - Pair of Amphilophus  citrinellus ("standard" barred midas) - some pots,natural colored gravel - Biowheel 400 ,2 hydrosponge 3's


75 gallon tank - Pair of Amphilophus  citrinellus ("colored" barred midas) - some pots,natural colored gravel  - Whisper 4 ,2 hydrosponge 3's and 3 normal sponge filters



55 gallon tank -  Pair of wild Amphilophus sagittae  ( barred type) - some pots,natural colored gravel - 2 hydrosponge 3's and 2 normal sponge filters


50 gallon tank -  Pair of Amphilophus labiatus  ( barred type) - some pots,natural colored gravel - HOT magnum , 1 hydrosponge 3 and 3 normal sponge filters


125 gallon tank -group of  Amphilophus amarillo ,pair of Cryptoheros sp."rio monga"- lots of pots,natural colored gravel(only a little gravel) - 1 millenium ,8 hydrosponge 3's , 2 hydrosponge 5's and 5  normal sponge filters


40 gallon - Pair of wild Cryptoheros cutteri,no gravel, 1 plastic plant, few pots - Biowheel 330,1 normal sponge filter


60 gallom - 4 Amphilophus "ESU" costa rican barred midas, no substrate,some slate ,4 hydrosponge 3's and 2  normal sponge filters

80 gallon - (around 40) growout amarillos - some slate - whisper 5 ,1 hydrosponge 3 , 2 normal sponge filters, constant drip water change.

45 gallon -12 (tiny) Xiphophorus montezumae (swords),  no substrate,5 plastic plants, a few rocks - covered on all 4 sides, no lighting - 4 hydrosponge 3's

50 gallon - divided - Pair of Amphilophus  citrinellus ("standard" barred midas) - two pots,no substrat- on a central wet/dry with some grow out tanks.


few other tanks scattered around the basement.
couple pools and/or ponds outside (all closed for the year but 1)
I think that about covers it 

Also runt however here I go....
55 gallon 4 discus (Blue Diamond, red scorpion, 2 moe blues) This tank has natural lake bottom and a few Nolichucky River rocks. Im waiting on my blue actinics to be fixed ,and the floating plants are on thier way. Filter is a Rena xp3, heater, air pump

110 gallon (tall) 15 inch colombian catfish, * inch Peacock Bass(cichla ocellaris) and a 13 inch clown knife. This tank has black sand for my soon to be stingray, and a large flat rock for the knife and some Nolichucky River rocks. Large root system on the way for more cover. Filter Fluval fx5 smart filter, 2 heaters and air pump (powerful)

Alrighty, some discus, some pictures please! Not so many people are brave enough to take care of discus, I've never had any personally, are they as sensitive as their reputation, takes a lot of work to maintain optimum conditions?

I'll do my home tanks, and a couple of big ones at the shop. (there's around 250 tanks.. )

Smallest is a 1' tank, so maybe 30 litres? No filter, light coloured 3mm gravel, plastic plant, a rock, some shells and a no fishing sign. I have Will Smith in there, he's my blackmoor goldfish. I did have an oranda and a ranchu, but they unfortunately had dropsy.

Next is 4 feet....So I'm going with 160 Litres. 3mm dark brown gravel, undergravel filter, external cannister filter. Both bio although Carbon is in external, water was too hard. Umm, Few terracotta pots, 150w heater. 4 10-12 inch oscars. 2 7-8 inch clown loaches.

6 foot tank. 220 Litres. 3mm course brown gravel. undergravel filter, 2 internal power filters, 300w heater. One fish, [i]vieja fenestratus[/i] few pots and plastic plants. He's happy,

6 foot tank again. 3mm brown gravel. hollow car, anchor, lots of moon rocks, lots of bog wood, lots of slate, lots of normal rocks, lots of plastic plants, a terracotta pot bit to hide in. 150w heater, 2 internal power filters, air tube stone, 2 air pumps for it.
Featherfin catfish, elephant nose, butterfly fish, 3 ocellatus, 1 angel fish, gold spot plecostomus, 2 bristlenose catfish, 5 clown loaches, 6 silver sharks, 6 venustus, 6 hongii,

30 L marine tank, 2 blue chromus, scooter blenny, crab, blood shrimp, 1 anenome, some live rock, 2 clown fish

270 L tank, underground filter. shovel nose catfish, eeltail catfish(tandannis), giant gourami(itola), sailfin pleco. Limestone and bogwood, 4mm course gravel.
270 L tank, UGF, giant gourami(clare), tyre track eel, 2 alligator gars(Horatio and hackeysack[he has a herniatus, looks like a hackey sack]), 3 or 4 catfish which I can't remember the name of, a bumblebee catfish
270L tank, mixed cichlids and catfish, all fully grown, maybe 30 - 40 fish. Hertweigi, brasiliensus, texas, convict, electric yellows, blues, blue dolphin, venustus, rostratus, parrots, peacocks, assorted catfish, silver sharks, black sharks, red tail sharks...Many many fish, don't remember what's in there.

then there's the 250 other tanks to look after which all have undergravel filters, power filters for tanks with dirtier fish, strips of non-toxic green plastic tied to rocks for aggressive fish. assorting from 60 L as the smallest to 300L as the biggest. Kept in an insulated shed. Not going to list all the fish we keep lol.

My favorites are probably Clare's tank and my 6 foot at home with the featherfin.

Wow, you guys make me smile. My (Jim's) ex thought I went nuts back when I really got into fish keeping and had a 75, two 55s, two 29s & two 10s all over our little townhouse. Now I just have the one 55 housing a sole oscar, inheritor of all my best hardware including an Emperor backhanging filter with biowheel and Marineland canister filter with pre-sponge and loaded with bio-media. I also have an aqua-tech double waterfall mechanical filter I got in the Walmart 55 gallon kit I had to purchase recently when my 20 year old 55 began showing signs of immanent demise. My new wife, Debbie, is concerned I'll repair the old 55 and put it on the bottom of my old steel stand and start in adding more fish. Naw, as long as I have my oscar I'm happy :-)

She has good reason to fear , j/k but it can be tempting i'm sure....at one point i couldn't pass up a good deal for a new aquarium and had to get it....so had a couple 10g with small stuff, some 25g, and 30 or 45g , a 55g, the 66g but then I just had to get like an 8foot long 250gallon or so, don't know exact but was huge at 8feet or more length and like two feet or more wide etc...but then moved to a small condo and the fun was over.....well one benefit was saving a couple hundred dollars on electric bill due to all those 300W heaters