Bigstick's 55 gallon Cichlid Tank-Update-9-22

**bigstick120** · 07-25-2005, 02:29 AM

I wanted to show the evolution of my tank. I have learned so much form the folks on here and apperciate all of the insperation and info that you all provide. This is such a fun and rewarding hoddy when you get going. So here is the evoultion of my tank.

Stated out with a ton of rockwork and few plants

The tank was doing ok but I wanted it to really take off. I took out lot of rocks and added alot more plants. This is prior to pressurized CO2.

After CO2 the tank is great, I can grow almost any plant that I want to and I am starting to get sick of the weekly trimming

But the reward is great, the fish are happy and breeding like they never did before and a real joy to watch.

And a few of my favorite fish

I am still changing alot, moving plants and trying to get it to look its best. I think that it lacks a little depth but some plants are still filling in and I have some things that I want to do yet. If you have any layout suggestions that would be apperciated. Thanks for looking

Jdinh04 · 07-25-2005, 02:35 AM

Not bad, love the fake rocky background. So far has there been any damage to your plants?

**bigstick120** · 07-25-2005, 02:38 AM

A little, its a trial and error thing, but they pretty much leave everything it there alone. They are starting to dig and that is what really get me POd. But they are to pretty and to much fun to watch to get too excited about

**bigstick120** · 08-07-2005, 06:57 AM

A little update added some dwarf sag, a good trimming and started EI today. So we will see how it progresses. Some plants are still filling in

Safado · 08-07-2005, 07:50 AM

Your tank is looking awesome!!! It's a temptation at trying my luck with them.

**bigstick120** · 08-08-2005, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safado

Your tank is looking awesome!!! It's a temptation at trying my luck with them.

Thanks alot, I see that your tank is comming along well too

Cichlid Junkie · 08-08-2005, 08:46 PM

That's an awsome tank. I love to see Cichlids in a planted aquarium!

**bigstick120** · 08-31-2005, 01:44 AM

Just to keep my journal going this my tank after about 1 month of EI. Everything is growing very well. I still have some spot alage but I am pleased at how everything is filling in.

Let me know what you think I could do to improve the design

**scolley** · 09-07-2005, 01:48 AM

That's great progress! You should be proud!

With all that color, I need to go get my wife to see it... she's wild for that! Good work!

jart · 09-07-2005, 03:13 AM

Ummm, am I missing something here? Why are the fish not uprooting your plants? Are you feeding them lots of veggies? That is one great looking tank, very well done. I know it is a lot to ask, but can you list the flora/ fauna you have in there? Very clear pics.

That tank wants me to get rid of my gigantic java fern...

**bigstick120** · 09-07-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jart

Ummm, am I missing something here? Why are the fish not uprooting your plants? Are you feeding them lots of veggies? That is one great looking tank, very well done. I know it is a lot to ask, but can you list the flora/ fauna you have in there? Very clear pics.

That tank wants me to get rid of my gigantic java fern...

Thank you for the comments.

As far a uprooting the plants.... I guess I'm just lucky. It is so against the "norm" to have a planted cichlid tank. Let alone a so far successful one. I was thinking the other day that it might me the diet, the cichlids in this tank are Peacocks and cichlids from Lake Tanganyika these cichlids are not herbivores like Malawi Mbuna cichlids (a few are these type, the yellow ones). I feed these cichlids New Life spectrum food and that my be part of the reason, and I feed twice a day so the dont feed on the plants. Also they have destroyed a few of the plants. It trial and error when introducing new fish and plants to the mix. But the fish are so fun to watch interact with each other.

I will list the flora when I get a chance

VWD · 10-09-2005, 05:17 PM

Great looking tank

Buck · 10-09-2005, 10:13 PM

Very colorful, nice healthy looking plants... great job !

I really like the black and white striped fish, what are they ?

**bigstick120** · 10-09-2005, 10:55 PM

Thanks for the commets, I need to update it a little has changed. The black and whit stripped fish is a Cyphotilapia frontosa (aka: frontosa/front). They will out grow my 55 gallon, but I didn't know any better when I bought them and neither did the fish store. They are a cichlid from Lake Tanganyika

eds · 10-09-2005, 11:59 PM

Very nice looking tank.
Love the reds in front.
Usually I'm not a big fan of printed backgrounds, but I think you are making yours work.
Will you be keeping it high on the sides and low in the middle?
If so, will the middle grow to hide the heater?
I think the heater is a little distracting presently.
One thing I'd suggest to think about is creating a focal point.
I think things almost look too busy, with the wild profusion of various healthy plants.
55s are tough to scape well - I think you are well on your way.
A little tweaking here and there will make tremendous difference.
Thanks for sharing.

07-25-2005, 02:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
bigstick120 Algae Eater (View User Tanks) PTrader: (137) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,417	Bigstick's 55 gallon Cichlid Tank-Update-9-22 I wanted to show the evolution of my tank. I have learned so much form the folks on here and apperciate all of the insperation and info that you all provide. This is such a fun and rewarding hoddy when you get going. So here is the evoultion of my tank. Stated out with a ton of rockwork and few plants The tank was doing ok but I wanted it to really take off. I took out lot of rocks and added alot more plants. This is prior to pressurized CO2. After CO2 the tank is great, I can grow almost any plant that I want to and I am starting to get sick of the weekly trimming But the reward is great, the fish are happy and breeding like they never did before and a real joy to watch. And a few of my favorite fish I am still changing alot, moving plants and trying to get it to look its best. I think that it lacks a little depth but some plants are still filling in and I have some things that I want to do yet. If you have any layout suggestions that would be apperciated. Thanks for looking __________________ My Photography site See the evolution of my 55 gallon My 29 Gallon Last edited by bigstick120; 09-23-2007 at 04:05 AM.

07-25-2005, 02:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jdinh04 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (67) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 2,515	Not bad, love the fake rocky background. So far has there been any damage to your plants? __________________

07-25-2005, 02:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
bigstick120 Algae Eater (View User Tanks) PTrader: (137) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,417	A little, its a trial and error thing, but they pretty much leave everything it there alone. They are starting to dig and that is what really get me POd. But they are to pretty and to much fun to watch to get too excited about __________________ My Photography site See the evolution of my 55 gallon My 29 Gallon

08-07-2005, 06:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
bigstick120 Algae Eater (View User Tanks) PTrader: (137) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,417	A little update added some dwarf sag, a good trimming and started EI today. So we will see how it progresses. Some plants are still filling in __________________ My Photography site See the evolution of my 55 gallon My 29 Gallon

08-07-2005, 07:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
Safado Still a Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 503	Your tank is looking awesome!!! It's a temptation at trying my luck with them. __________________ 10g with shrimp 55g First true attempt at a planted tank.

08-08-2005, 08:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cichlid Junkie Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 53	That's an awsome tank. I love to see Cichlids in a planted aquarium!

08-31-2005, 01:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
bigstick120 Algae Eater (View User Tanks) PTrader: (137) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,417	Just to keep my journal going this my tank after about 1 month of EI. Everything is growing very well. I still have some spot alage but I am pleased at how everything is filling in. Let me know what you think I could do to improve the design __________________ My Photography site See the evolution of my 55 gallon My 29 Gallon

09-07-2005, 01:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
scolley Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: connecticut Posts: 3,190	That's great progress! You should be proud! With all that color, I need to go get my wife to see it... she's wild for that! Good work! __________________ steve You wanna know what I really think? You can see at www.wetplantlogic.com. 180g high tech, "generally" low maintenance, planted discus tank

09-07-2005, 03:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
jart Algaephilus relucticans (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NS Canada Posts: 913	Ummm, am I missing something here? Why are the fish not uprooting your plants? Are you feeding them lots of veggies? That is one great looking tank, very well done. I know it is a lot to ask, but can you list the flora/ fauna you have in there? Very clear pics. That tank wants me to get rid of my gigantic java fern... __________________ 45 gallon, XP-3, pressurized CO2, external reactor, 3 x 30 watt fluorescent tubes (2 are 4x ODNO), 80% Flourite, Hydor heater, 1 oto, 5 harlequins, 3 "copper" rasboras, platy, 3 dwarf neon rainbows, 8 cory cats, 6 pristella tetras, betta. Rena pimp #15.

10-09-2005, 05:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
VWD Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wichita KS 67212 Posts: 11	Great looking tank __________________ Vince

10-09-2005, 10:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Buck Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon, CT Posts: 4,939	Very colorful, nice healthy looking plants... great job ! I really like the black and white striped fish, what are they ? __________________ Buckmanshome.Com

10-09-2005, 10:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
bigstick120 Algae Eater (View User Tanks) PTrader: (137) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,417	Thanks for the commets, I need to update it a little has changed. The black and whit stripped fish is a Cyphotilapia frontosa (aka: frontosa/front). They will out grow my 55 gallon, but I didn't know any better when I bought them and neither did the fish store. They are a cichlid from Lake Tanganyika __________________ My Photography site See the evolution of my 55 gallon My 29 Gallon

10-09-2005, 11:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
eds Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,410	Very nice looking tank. Love the reds in front. Usually I'm not a big fan of printed backgrounds, but I think you are making yours work. Will you be keeping it high on the sides and low in the middle? If so, will the middle grow to hide the heater? I think the heater is a little distracting presently. One thing I'd suggest to think about is creating a focal point. I think things almost look too busy, with the wild profusion of various healthy plants. 55s are tough to scape well - I think you are well on your way. A little tweaking here and there will make tremendous difference. Thanks for sharing. __________________ 55gal - Coralife 4x65w cf, xp3, flourite, Hydor ETH300w, pressurized CO2 w/ rex(TM) reactor! 30gal - 55W AH, ecco 2232, flourite/gravel, DIY CO2 w/ Hagen ladder 3gal - endlers/cherry shrimp 4W cf, Red Sea deco nano, flourite

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