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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

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27 Jan 2014 08:06 #1 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Hi :

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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27 Jan 2014 16:25 #2 by alan 64 (alan)
nice tank mate i havnt started cycling mine i was going to use ammonia how are u finding the organic aqua as that is another route i can take

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27 Jan 2014 20:13 #3 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Hi Alan :

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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28 Jan 2014 01:58 #4 by alan 64 (alan)
thats what i was thinking about weather u have to stick to the system but i dont think you would im sure ur filter will build up bacteria in time and let that take over

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28 Jan 2014 08:19 #5 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)

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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28 Jan 2014 10:27 #6 by hammie (Neil Hammerton)
I started a tank with OA some time ago and then reverted to "natural bacteria"
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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28 Jan 2014 13:03 #7 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Hi Hammie :

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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29 Jan 2014 14:43 #8 by ger310 (Ger .)
Lovely set up Santiago,very natural looking.......and any problems you were having with your fish seem to be behind you as they look great :)

Ger

What do you call a three legged Donkey?

A Wonkey....duh ha :)

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29 Jan 2014 18:34 #9 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Thanks Ger I am very happy with tank and fish are doing very well ... just waiting for some african onions and we good to go !

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29 Jan 2014 18:44 #10 by ger310 (Ger .)
Ah yeh now they will really bring it alive :)

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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29 Jan 2014 18:55 #11 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
The big ones are called "Large Land Snail Shells" I got them on ebay and they are good for caudopunctatus I think I have a pair in the 4 I got so hoping to have little ones, they also work for the similis but I think they like the scargot shells better

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29 Jan 2014 19:58 #12 by Homer (Kevin)
Same here, I hate Gimmicky rubbish but whatever is said a out OA, it does what it promises it will.


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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18 Feb 2014 13:34 #13 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Hi all

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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18 Feb 2014 18:57 #14 by paulv (paul vickers)
Hi santiago, great looking tank. Im running a 1300L tank on OA for 2 years now. Im wondering why you want to change from it as you say its already working very well for you. Your moving from monthly to weekly water changes.

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18 Feb 2014 19:17 #15 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Hi Paul

1300 lt !!! wow I could only dream on having a tank that big :-) have any videos to share ?

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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18 Feb 2014 20:27 #16 by paulv (paul vickers)
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.

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19 Feb 2014 00:05 #17 by irish-zx10r (James feenan)
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·

Something fishie going on here

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19 Feb 2014 07:54 #18 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)

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 :-( I live in an apartment

Cheers !

San

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19 Feb 2014 08:11 #19 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)

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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19 Feb 2014 09:37 #20 by Melander (Andreas Melander)
Very nice tank Santiago, love the rock work and how it stands out against the dark background!

Andreas

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19 Feb 2014 20:52 #21 by derek (Derek Doyle)
Very nice tank and the fish are looking well. The water clarity will improve when normal cycling takes over.

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish

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19 Feb 2014 22:48 #22 by Esoxluciouss (denis goulding)
Great looking tank

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20 Feb 2014 00:56 #23 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
Looking good Santiago. I Like the big open space and the rock work.

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03 Mar 2014 21:22 #24 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Fish are doing well and just waiting for water to start getting clearer, I got some leulepi to add some different color, hope they do not mess around.

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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04 Mar 2014 02:00 #25 by alan 64 (alan)
love the video mate its looking great

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04 Mar 2014 10:02 #26 by irish-zx10r (James feenan)
Once again fantastic and inspiring
Great setup and well finished your fish look fantastic

James

Something fishie going on here

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04 Mar 2014 15:34 #27 by Santiagovalcarcel (Santiago)
Thanks guys !

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04 Mar 2014 16:26 #28 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)

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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10 Mar 2014 19:22 - 10 Mar 2014 19:24 #29 by Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez)
Last edit: 10 Mar 2014 19:24 by Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez).

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10 Mar 2014 19:23 #30 by Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez)
Hey Santi

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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