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In
the battlefield
I
had problems to design this tank, because I wanted to create a
special "playground" for South American Cichlids without
using plants. Cichlids from the depth -like Cichlasoma- and plants,
as every chichlid-lover knows, aren't very compatible, because these
amazing and smart fish really enjoy to dig huge holes all over the
ground ( that's why I called this tank "In the
battlefield"! ). The problem was: how to create something
peculiar working only with rocks and woods? I started drawing few
sketches and the first thing I decided was to create a cave on the
left side. I started building it with mangrove wood and big lava
blocks, because I wanted the water to be amber colored. I have
hidden some lairs (made from a couple of broken flowerpots) under
brown-red rocks and I watched the fish behavior to understand if
they were feeling home. They liked it very much, but there was a
problem: with the dark brown color of the wood, the yellow color of
the water, the rust-color of the stones, the tank was totally dull,
lifeless. I needed a center of attention but what? Luky me, in these
days I was waiting for one of my retailers specialized in resin
items, and I found what I was looking for: white ruts reproduction,
very nice to watch and very comfortable for my fish!
Data:
Tank
: cm. 125 X 80 X 55
Temperature : 25° C.
Lights : 1 HQI suspended lamp 150 watt
Mechanical parts: 3 heaters 300 Watt, 3 pumps 1000 lt/h, 1
biological filter (50 lt.)
Plants: Cabomba caroliniana (not planted but born by chance
right down the surface)
Animals : 1 couple of Cichlasoma meeki, 1 couple of
Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum, 1 couple of Cichlasoma
nigrofasciatum var. white, 1 couple of Peckoltia tiger, 1 couple
of Peckoltia pulcher
Chemistry : KH= 3, pH= 7.0, GH= 6, NO2=
0, NO3= 0-10.0
Water change: every 3 weeks, 1/3 of the total.
Notes:
This is a great tank
because there's always a nice chaos inside, thanks to these very
nervous and aggresive fish! It is really a battlefield, everyday
there are fights to conquer the lairs... Cichlids are very funny
creatures ! |
