×
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

Altums

More
14 Jan 2013 22:22 #1 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
I'm re-arranging my Juwel Vision 180. I've got a big piece of bogwood standing upright in it (tree-like)and plan on covering it with Java moss and weeping moss. I plan on getting a lawn effect for the bottom and a few other feature plants, but here's my question...

I was thinking of getting a few Altum Angels for it. The idea is to have this be more of a "wow" tank than the other two i have; they have breeding convicts and firemouths in each. Are Altums easy to keep, has anyone had any experience with them? Ideally I DON'T want them to breed (cos of the usual cichlid-centric destruction that can follow) but I want something beautiful and serene. Is a 180 big enough for a few of them? And if not, can anyone suggest another cichlid I could keep in it either singly or in a small group without causing WWIII?

"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."

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:30 #2 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
only 1/2 people in the world has managed to get them breed, and I only know 2 people in Ireland that have managed to keep them alive for any period of time

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:42 #3 by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta)
Replied by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta) on topic Altums
how many were u going to keep

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:44 #4 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
Replied by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley) on topic Altums
3-4 tops. but obviously less, if recommended

"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."

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:44 #5 by davey_c (dave clarke)
Replied by davey_c (dave clarke) on topic Altums
sounds like ye need to investigate them more than you have. they require totaly different water conditions to the other 2 tanks and maintaining them conditions would be difficult for some people... then there's keeping them alive, ye could go through dozens to get any bit of luck with them, not trying to turn ye off them but i hope you are more successfull.
there is a member on here who was breeding his last year so maybe some f1's would be a better choice if they surface again.

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:46 #6 by davey_c (dave clarke)
Replied by davey_c (dave clarke) on topic Altums
also in a 180 you would only have room for 1-2 altums,

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:48 #7 by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta)
Replied by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta) on topic Altums
i keep them myself 5 in total 1200 l tank nice fish

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:50 #8 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
Replied by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley) on topic Altums
thanks for that. gonna knock that idea on the head then. any suggestions for another mid-sized relatively peaceful cichlid?

"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."

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:51 #9 by Tigger (Abe Bardez)
Replied by Tigger (Abe Bardez) on topic Altums
@lemonjelly...

Suggest you speak to igmillichip (ian) or arabu1973 (adrian) for proper guidance...

Cheers

Abe

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 22:56 #10 by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta)
Replied by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta) on topic Altums
the one i like is the uaru had them for years peacefull

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
14 Jan 2013 23:16 #11 by davey_c (dave clarke)
Replied by davey_c (dave clarke) on topic Altums

the one i like is the uaru had them for years peacefull


emerald can order in uaru's for ye. as for angels, why not go for peruvian scalare, another nice angel and not as soft.

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
15 Jan 2013 03:06 #12 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
Replied by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley) on topic Altums
i love the idea of the uaru but i think it's a bit big for my tank. as for the peruvian scalare (or any angelfish) maybe i should just get a few and hope they don't breed. i DID have a notion of getting Salvini cichlids a while back, but i wonder how tolerant a fish they are

"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."

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • stretnik (stretnik)
  • stretnik (stretnik)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
15 Jan 2013 03:47 #13 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Altums
Geophagus are cool Cichlids.

Kev.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
15 Jan 2013 11:58 #14 by davey_c (dave clarke)
Replied by davey_c (dave clarke) on topic Altums
i had a salvini before, lovely fish but just be carefull wat you put them with. i would only keep them in groups at the start and possibly in a larger tank to give them plenty of room. mine was prity aggressive on his own.

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
15 Jan 2013 18:08 #15 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
Replied by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley) on topic Altums
damn fish, always complicating our fishtanks. maybe when i get another tank i'll just put water and sand in it... of course, then i'd just call it a tank...

"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."

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
15 Jan 2013 18:58 #16 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Altums
A health wild scalare angelfish will beat the pants off a half-health Altum anyday.

In fact, a good healthy wild scalare angel may even beat the pants of a really healthy Altum for being 'stunning'.

2 key problems of Altums are:
Keeping them alive, and getting good ones in the first place.

Often they come in the country with one-foot in the grave....not a good start.

Even if you manage to secure good quality ones (and there have been good ones arrive), then the problem of water conditions is a problem.
The ideal water conditions are simply too close to being those of unstable oxidising water......and that doesn't take much to swing it to being lethal.

They can be acclimatised to less optimal but stable conditions though.

So...if you want angelfish.....I'd suggest wild or F1 Peruvian "altums" or any other wild (or F1 wild) angelfish......simply stunning.

As for other cichlids.....a few have been mentioned in the posts above this: Geophagus or Uaru (I love Uaru....great fish, but you need to take care when buying as there are some real mutts going around).

ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
15 Jan 2013 23:23 - 15 Jan 2013 23:24 #17 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
@leva star. would love to see your altums , any videos ?
Last edit: 15 Jan 2013 23:24 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland).

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
15 Jan 2013 23:28 #18 by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta)
Replied by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta) on topic Altums
try sort out vid no prob

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Jan 2013 03:21 #19 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
Replied by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley) on topic Altums
i think an uaru would be too big for my tank, at least eventually. are geophagus not kinda destructive where a planted tank is concerned?

"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."

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Jan 2013 18:25 #20 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Altums
Although Uaru are one of the biggest cichlids, if the tank is too small for Uara then it is too small for Altums :)

To be quite honest though, it is unlikely to get an Uara that will grow to max size.....many captive bred ones are pretty well stunted from young and would not reach the full size.

ian

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Jan 2013 18:50 #21 by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley)
Replied by LemonJelly (Johnny Cowley) on topic Altums
"To be quite honest though, it is unlikely to get an Uara that will grow to max size.....many captive bred ones are pretty well stunted from young and would not reach the full size."

I have visions of me getting one and someone saying to me in a few years time "Wow! I've never seen an Uaru reach 4 feet long before!" :woohoo:
Altums and Uarus are not an option then and niether are Geophagus, I think. The suggestion of wild Peruvian scalare is starting to sound good though. Either way, It's going to be another 4-5 months before I get anything, I think. I'm not in a hurry :whistle:

"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."

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Jan 2013 18:53 #22 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Altums
There is another problem with Uaru........they are addictive.
One of the nicest cichlids of all.

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Jan 2013 20:53 #23 by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta)
Replied by Ieva star (Ieva Fogta) on topic Altums
well said ian i had them for years

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Jan 2013 22:46 #24 by Tigger (Abe Bardez)
Replied by Tigger (Abe Bardez) on topic Altums

i had a salvini before, lovely fish but just be carefull wat you put them with. i would only keep them in groups at the start and possibly in a larger tank to give them plenty of room. mine was prity aggressive on his own.


hi davey

I had a salvini as well and it used to hold its own against a female jaguar and two oscars ... all larger than it...I figured it is an aggressive species...and eventually 're-located' all of them.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Jan 2013 23:28 #25 by clifford (Clifford)
Replied by clifford (Clifford) on topic Altums
I have 6 uarus at the momentand i think they are a great fish and very peaceful. most important is to get good quality fish.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.080 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum