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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

Beginer Cichlid Setup

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24 Jan 2010 20:59 #1 by roealdo (j)
Only just getting into fish keeping and looking for a new project (even if it is months and months away!)

Just wondering for a beginner what kind of setup would I need for Cichlid setup

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25 Jan 2010 01:29 #2 by JohnH (John)
Hello, answering your question is really dependent upon so many variables, foremost would really be what type and what sizes are your chosen Cichlids...when I say what size, I'm meaning what potential size. Cichlids range in size from the Peacock Bass, well over 2ft long down to a female Apistogramma Borelli - under 3/4" maximum size.

So, you can see, right from the outset the size of your tank would have a huge bearing on which Cichlids you might keep.

Other variables to consider will be the origins of the Cichlids too. Rift Valley African Cichlids come from water which is both high in Alkaline and Hardness value, where - for example - most South American Cichlids from Amazon basin will live in water with completely the opposite water values.

My suggestion, for what it's worth, will be for you to look around some shops, and in books and magazines...plus the ever-present web search engines and find the fish which take your fancy and then come back with suggestions of which Cichlids they are. Someone then will be better able to help with your enquiry.

You're heading in the right direction though, a Cichlid tank is by far the way to go, in my opinion, in our hobby.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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25 Jan 2010 06:52 #3 by roealdo (j)
I've been looking at getting a 180 l tank (possible slightly bigger) and I suppose I need to know what is suitable for that size tank.

I'd be looking to start of with a nice active yet hardy fish.

Any suggestions?

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25 Jan 2010 10:24 #4 by JohnH (John)
Then I would suggest you look at Rift Valley Cichlids, either the Malwais or Tangyanikans...purists would only keep one or the other (and no doubt will follow this with recommendations to that effect).

In the main Malawis are the more coloured Fish, but you can look and see which takes your fancy.

I'll hand over to those with more expertise on the subject than I, but will suggest that if you do go for these options you will be looking to buy rather a lot of rocks and be using Coral gravel for substrate as this will help to keep the water buffered to a higher pH level (alkaline) which is how the water is in Lakes Malawi and Tangyanika.

Derek will be the man to offer better advice - he's a bit of a guru on the subject (and most else too) although there are plenty of others here who'll be able to help too.

About my extent of knowledge on either is that they are VERY intolerant of increased Ammonia and Nitrite and will show their displeasure very quickly, so a perfectly cycled tank with tip top filtration is a must. And, of course, regular 20% water changes are too.

Good luck with your venture when you decide to start it.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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29 Jan 2010 14:01 #5 by roealdo (j)
Are fire mouths hard to keep? I like the look of them?

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29 Jan 2010 14:15 - 29 Jan 2010 14:21 #6 by JohnH (John)
No, they are one of the hardier types, as long as you give them good water conditions they are very easily kept.
Wild Firemouths can be a little 'iffy' but the ones mostly available here are from long-established tank-bred strains and are almost 'bullet-proof'.
In less-than-perfect water conditions, especially high nitrites (or any other scenario which causes high stress levels) they sometimes can suffer from Hole-in-the-Head disease, but this shouldn't occur under normal circumstances. A nice choice - good luck if you choose to keep them.
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.
Last edit: 29 Jan 2010 14:21 by JohnH (John). Reason: more info added

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29 Jan 2010 14:19 #7 by alkiely (alan kiely)
If ur lookin at a tank around 200L id go for south americans 200L is on the small size the africans, they will never quite reach full size. Africans need long space 3ft isnt really alot for them.

Im looking into setin up a tang tank in a few months ( waitin for permission of the boss ) but ill be looking at 4ft 5ft tanks 300-400L.

Derek and dubfish are the ones to talk to on the issue but good look.

Alan

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29 Jan 2010 14:25 #8 by roealdo (j)
What kind of tank set up would be suitable?

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29 Jan 2010 14:30 - 29 Jan 2010 14:32 #9 by alkiely (alan kiely)
Africans, some rock work for hide out as They are naturally territorial and aggressive, depending on what fish you want some are rock dwellers and some are open water.

1 male to 2/3 females and stock it heavily so the aggression is spread around.

If it was me id be looking at 250l min. Keep the ph and hardness up use coral sand ocean rock and you will be flying or if ur tap water is mine you should have a problem coz kh and ph is high.

Alan
Last edit: 29 Jan 2010 14:32 by alkiely (alan kiely).

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29 Jan 2010 14:39 #10 by roealdo (j)
For that size of tank what kind of stocking levels would you be talking about?

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29 Jan 2010 17:33 - 29 Jan 2010 17:39 #11 by alkiely (alan kiely)
Well what kind of africans do you wanna keep.........?

If ur gonna keep malawi mbunas in a 240l about 25+ adults to keep the aggression down.

Alan
Last edit: 29 Jan 2010 17:39 by alkiely (alan kiely).

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29 Jan 2010 18:30 #12 by roealdo (j)
I was looking at firemouths possible

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29 Jan 2010 18:36 #13 by alkiely (alan kiely)
Wouldnt really no then sorry

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