Aquarium Hobbyists

The biggest problem with having a large tank is it’s going to be expensive to fill. The pet store told me I needed at least 50 starter fish, no problem 16 cents each. I’ve probably got more like 100 in there and it makes me want at least 75 cichlids.

 

You'll use more water flushing the toilet. Lol
What type of African Cichlids are you going to get? Lake Tanganyika cichlids are my favorite.

 

I’m not talking about expensive to fill with water I’m talking fish.

 

I mix them up. Not really sure what lakes to be honest. I just get the ones I like best that can live together.

 

I’ve already got over $100 in snails and another $100 in plants. Fish will likely be at the least $500

 

I want it to be this full with cichlids

 

I think a nice little touch

 

So I think my starter fish have pretty much done their job. I’ve been dead set in cichlids but now that I’m starting over with live plants and lots of other things I haven’t done before I’ve been thinking. Does anyone have experience with Discus? I’ve always wanted to have them, they are expensive. My drawback has been the word that they are hard to keep. I read up a little earlier and it says that the captive bread ones are a little easier. I’ve tried angel fish a long time ago and didn’t really have much luck. If anyone has experience with the discus though I’d like to hear it.

 

I’ve learned to just run aquariums at room temperature. I had a heater on my tank that hung up and cooked all my fish. No need for heater or thermometer

 

Anyway, I just ordered $600 worth of discus fish. I really hope I do well with them.

 

Hot damn, I never looked into them. How many discus did that end up being?

 

30

 

Discus need warm, soft, acidic water. I've never lived in a place where the water wouldn't have needed a lot of adjustment to get it soft and acidic. You are likely going to need to heat that tank unless you keep your house at 85 degrees!

 

That’s what I read about the caught vs captive bred. The captive bred are supposed to be a little easier.

 

I've done discus for a long time. Weekly water changes and 78-80 degree water at 6.5 pH.

 

I have always wanted Discus, but I can't stay consistent with weekly water changes, monitoring the water, etc. Way too difficult in my opinion. Also, i would need an RO unit and really don't have the space for that. I have been keeping Cichlids for about 15 years and have no complaints at all. Actually thinking about starting fresh again with some new Cichlids.

 

Some reef shots. I have the lights programmed to come on softly for the first and last hour of operation. Because it takes a while for your corals to "bloom" these pics were taken at the end of the night.

 

The place where I put my order in says the address attached to my card that I used doesn’t match my actual address so they canceled my order, doesn’t make sense to me the address should be the same. Anyway I think it’s a sign and I will just go back with cichlids. I really like the discus but will admit I was starting to get cold feet. I’ve always had cichlids and they are pretty easy to keep.

 

Those are too cool.