My First Tank Ever

[Infest]

Hey guys, had this tank for about five months. Seems to be going very well. African setup.

It's a 3ft tank with the following fish:

5 x Electric Yellow

3 x Electric Blue

3 x Red Peacock

2 x Bristlenose Catfish

Recently just changed the substrate to white (was mixed pebbles). Think it makes everything stand out alot nicer, including the fish.

Put pictures of both, so people can compare.

Fish don't seem to be fighting, getting along well together.

Also can anyone tell me when will the Blue's and Peacocks start showing colour? Only one of my blues is beginning to show a bit of colour.

Any comments or pointers would be appreciated.

Enjoy :-)

[noxious_nasties]

Hey there and welcome to the forums infest.

Your tank setup is looking good although I do have a few suggestions.

Make sure your rockwork is stable as you don't want to have any accidents.

Watch out with the driftwood as it can create conditions opposite to the water

chemistry african cichlids require (especially with such a big piece)

I'm presuming that since your electric blue is starting to show colour it can

only keep getting more and more intense within the next few months.

Cheers,

John

[Infest]

Hey there and welcome to the forums infest.

Your tank setup is looking good although I do have a few suggestions.

Make sure your rockwork is stable as you don't want to have any accidents.

Watch out with the driftwood as it can create conditions opposite to the water

chemistry african cichlids require (especially with such a big piece)

I'm presuming that since your electric blue is starting to show colour it can

only keep getting more and more intense within the next few months.

Cheers,

John

So from those pictures, would you take it that it is a boy? I'm hoping so, as I love their colours and find the females a bit plain

[antz]

love the driftwood. looks nice

[fosco]

its a boy and the white substrate looks a lot better good work on your first tank

[Infest]

its a boy and the white substrate looks a lot better good work on your first tank

If I wanted to know the sex of the other fish, what would I have to do?

[dogboy]

to tell the sexes you either wait till they get older and colour up or you can vent sex them but thats harder in younger fish, use google to find pictures of male vs female vents and how to do it.

i like the tank but would lose the drift wood, it looks fantastic but as others said will push your pH down and soften the water which africans dont like.

[Infest]

to tell the sexes you either wait till they get older and colour up or you can vent sex them but thats harder in younger fish, use google to find pictures of male vs female vents and how to do it.

i like the tank but would lose the drift wood, it looks fantastic but as others said will push your pH down and soften the water which africans dont like.

But if I put the necessary additives into the water, is that ok?

[dogboy]

you can try but it may still swing towards a lower pH, chuck some limestone or coral in there to help buffer the water

[Citypainter]

you can try but it may still swing towards a lower pH, chuck some limestone or coral in there to help buffer the water

A kilo of crushed shell grit will stablise your KH in a tank that small.

This will settle your Ph as well.

The fish look very healthy so I would keep the druftwood if you like it.