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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
New Tanganyikan Tank set up
- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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This is a custom made seahorse tank 105cmX60cmx60cm with a sump. It is a week old and started with Aqua Organic and hope tank starts cycling naturally after the Aqua Organic wears off
Thanks to Derek for coming to the rescue !
Water is not too clear and missing plants, thinking on getting crinum natans, I have not seen in store yet so will wait or if you have a couple let me know

List of fish :
19 Cyprichromis leptosoma ( all juvies )
04 Neolamprologus caudopunctatus
06 Neolamprologus Similis
02 Gold head compressiceps
02 Altolamprologus calvus black
04 Xenotilapia flavipinnis
03 Small Bristenose plecos
03 Synos
Regards,
Santiago
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- alan 64 (alan)
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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Aqua Organic is great and it is working perfectly, I have fish since day one and for a week and so far so good.
A good friend came to help as the first time it was not used properly and fish did not look happy, he did a second dose and did it properly and fish literally came back alive and started eating and doing their regular chasing. So far so good, and as understood you could go back to natural bacteria.
I want to have natural bacteria and used aqua organic to quick start, hope I am not mistaken. I am sure members of this forum have experience with this product too.
Cheers !
Santiago
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- alan 64 (alan)
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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thats what i was thinking about weather u have to stick to the system but i don't think you would im sure ur filter will build up bacteria in time and let that take over
A friend who used Aqua Organic explained that there is natural bacteria growing right now as the Aqua organic gradually wears off, just need to keep an eye and not feed too much once I do the first water change and then monitor it. I put loads of micromec in the sump and hope natural bacteria grows without a problem. Will definitely update this thread when I do first water change

Regards,
Santiago
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- hammie (Neil Hammerton)
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It took a few additional water changes and a few weeks of light feeding to keep the water parameters good
but its going well since.
No issues at all!!!!!
Tank looks well!
good luck with it
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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Thanks for info that really confirms OA work to start a tank and then decide if you want to keep using the product.
Cheers !
Santiago
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- ger310 (Ger .)
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Ger
What do you call a three legged Donkey?
A Wonkey....duh ha

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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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- ger310 (Ger .)
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Can I ask what the larger shells are? surely not Escargot,maybe Apple snail shells? thanks
Ger
What do you call a three legged Donkey?
A Wonkey....duh ha

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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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- Homer (Kevin)
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Kev.
The Glass is always greener on the other side.
It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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After a month with OA I did my first 20% water change last Friday and I will do another one today after finishing work.
Following advise of reducing feeding, and all looks good and fish look happy and super hungry. OA worked perfect and the switch over doesn't seem to be a problem.
I added a couple of plants and still have the air stone just to provide more movement to water but will take it out when I see tank looks ok
When do you think it is ok to start testing? I understand there is still some OA in the water that could give wrong readings
Best Regards and thanks in advance for advice
Santiago
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- paulv (paul vickers)
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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1300 lt !!! wow I could only dream on having a tank that big

I wanted OA to start tank with fish right away but besides that, I am used to doing the water changes, checking parameters, and keeping myself busy.
Changing 10-20% weekly is not too bad on my tank, but I understand if you have to do it on the 1300lt that could be a challenge for me

Thanks for your kind words and share video or pics of your tank ... maybe someday ...

Cheers !
Santiago
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- paulv (paul vickers)
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- irish-zx10r (James feenan)
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is there a minimun size tank needed. love the rocks what are they and where did u buy them?
i only use texas hole rock so a new setup is needed for a changeĀ·
Something fishie going on here
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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Having a large tank is not such a big dream. Lots of big tanks out there over 7ft second hand. All yoj need is floor space and a dream. Check out my page in members profile for some pics.
Hi Paul :
Floor space is the problem

Cheers !
San
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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fantastic tank i have been thinking of doing a setup with these cichlids
is there a minimun size tank needed. love the rocks what are they and where did u buy them?
i only use texas hole rock so a new setup is needed for a changeĀ·
The big rocks are called Ryuoh Stone got them in Seahorse and teh Black & White Rock, I got them on Ebay and believe it or not was cheaper than LFS
I think on the size it depends on which Tangs are you planning on keeping, if it is only shell dwellers you may not need too much of a big tank. I used to have them in a RIO180ltr tank an they were fine, had two filters running though
Cheers !
Santiago
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- Melander (Andreas Melander)
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Andreas
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- derek (Derek Doyle)
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30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
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- Esoxluciouss (denis goulding)
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- platty252 (Darren Dalton)
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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I added some plants, and changed layout to give more room for the sand-sifters to hang out, a male Caudo has been busy working on a shell and trying to attract the females, not working but I guess eventually they will come around.
Catfish are busy as well I have two female petricola I believe, and the big male ... I am not sure what it is, I remember being sold to me as wild caught syno but not sure now LOL. if anyone has idea please let me know, you will see it in the video pretty fast but the biggest fish I have in the tank at the moment.
Cheers!
Santiago
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- alan 64 (alan)
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- irish-zx10r (James feenan)
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Great setup and well finished your fish look fantastic
James
Something fishie going on here
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- Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
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- LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
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Once again fantastic and inspiring
Great setup and well finished your fish look fantastic
James
have to agree. It's a nice, simple setup and works really well
"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you.They're freeing your soul."
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- Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez)
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- Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez)
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What a coincidence! Remember we were talking today about which catfish I had? well I am almost sure is that the petricola is the catfish I have, just that mine is completely black and white (with a bit of dark grey).
so I think he will suit your tank so if you want it when I will shut down my tank he is yours! I will be happy to see him go to a good home
PS: The tank looks fantastic! Fish look very happy as well!
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- Forum
- Tropical Aquariums
- Cichlids
- African Cichilds (Tanganyika, Malawi, etc...)
- New Tanganyikan Tank set up