120 Gallon African Tetra Aquarium
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One final change to the layout. I removed the awkward piece of dragon stone resting on other rocks in the center and put a small piece of driftwood covered with Anubias barteri 'Coffeefolia' in its place. Also added a few small dragon stone chips at the bases of some of the other stones. Water is very clear now so will probably add fish toon.
Very happy with the GLA CO2 Reactor so I will most likely order one for my 100 gallon. I've been wanting to add a canister filter to that tank anyway because even though the sump works fine as a filter I feel like another filter with an intake pipe down toward the bottom of the tank would be helpful for removing small particles from the water. And even though the plants in that tank have been growing OK and are perfectly happy with a low tech setup the CO2 will definitely help them grow faster.
Final layout for 120 gallon aquarium by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
Very happy with the GLA CO2 Reactor so I will most likely order one for my 100 gallon. I've been wanting to add a canister filter to that tank anyway because even though the sump works fine as a filter I feel like another filter with an intake pipe down toward the bottom of the tank would be helpful for removing small particles from the water. And even though the plants in that tank have been growing OK and are perfectly happy with a low tech setup the CO2 will definitely help them grow faster.
Final layout for 120 gallon aquarium by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
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Was tempted to add the fish today but for I had such a busy week last week I was super tired today and not feeling motivated. Plus I did a water change on the 46 and cleaned the filter intake strainers and outflows so that took up all of my tank energy. Maybe tomorrow. Though a part of me thinks I really should let the plants grow in a a bit like I did with the 45 (actually I waited two and a half months on that tank. Not sure I have that much patience). Super busy with work so maybe I should at least wait until the weekend. Hmmm...what will I end up doing?
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Went ahead and added the fish! I'll post more details and video soon but for now a bit of a teaser. The female and dominant male Pelvicachromis kribensis 'Moliwe' are still in breeding color and instantly the female started displaying for the males. This short clip shows her with her bright pink belly displaying and the dominant male is more brightly colored than the rest of them and lacking the dark bar across his body.
I am interested to see how the kribs and Steatocranus and up setting up their territories in the bigger tank. Right now it seems to be a free for all while they case the joint and they all seem to be getting along OK but that will change if they lay eggs. I moved the female Steatocranus with 7 of her babies to this tank (the male is in a 20 gallon hospital tank being treated for HitH) and there are 6 kribs. This pair of kribs has had several unsuccessful broods the last just a few days before I moved them didn't make it past wriggler stage but maybe in the larger tank she will have better luck.
I am interested to see how the kribs and Steatocranus and up setting up their territories in the bigger tank. Right now it seems to be a free for all while they case the joint and they all seem to be getting along OK but that will change if they lay eggs. I moved the female Steatocranus with 7 of her babies to this tank (the male is in a 20 gallon hospital tank being treated for HitH) and there are 6 kribs. This pair of kribs has had several unsuccessful broods the last just a few days before I moved them didn't make it past wriggler stage but maybe in the larger tank she will have better luck.
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First look at all the fish in the 120. So nice to finally be giving them the room they deserve. I'll post some video soon.
New 120 gallon African tetra aquarium by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
New 120 gallon African tetra aquarium by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
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And finally a video of the fish in the new tank. Super excited to see how the A. brichardi will develop over time. They are still pretty young and there finnage and coloring is not fully developed. They should get longer fin extensions in their dorsal and anal fins and center tail streamer. I only have males so I am hoping that they will still develop their intense red and orange coloring without females present. From video I have seen it looks like the most dominant male will have the reddest coloring with each male below him less intense until it fades to orange. But mine currently only have the faintest of orange in their fins. I do love the pale iridescent green band above the dark lateral band on their bodies though.
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Was trying to get a good photo of the Alestopetersius brichardi with my Nikon but they swim back and forth too fast so this is the best I could come up with. I wanted to show how nice the iridescent green stripe is above their dark lateral band. You sort of get the idea here.
Young male Alestopetersius brichardi (red Congo tetra) by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
Young male Alestopetersius brichardi (red Congo tetra) by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
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Some big beautiful new leaves on my Aponogeton boivinianus and A. madagascariensis. They grow so fast. Especially now that they have CO2 supplementation. I've been trying to figure out how to position the power head on the other side of the tank so that these guys don't get beat down. I tried it out in a few different placements and angles earlier today. This is a little better than it was earlier.
Huge new leaves on Aponogeton boivinianus and A. madagascariensis by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
Huge new leaves on Aponogeton boivinianus and A. madagascariensis by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
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Fantastic looking tank, I really like the fish and plant / scape combo, only thing that would make it better is if it was a 180 gal 
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Yeah I really wish I had these particular fish in a larger tank. Unfortunately all I could afford now was a 120. The 180 would have been dramatically more. Especially since when I do get a 180 it will have a sump. I already had the filters I am using for this tank on hand so that saved me some money. My plan is to get a 180 next with angelfish and other South American fish and then down the road I want to get something even bigger. 300 maybe? And move my African fish to that. Then maybe use this tank for SE Asian fish like rainbows or something (or just have two African tanks since I love them so much).Fantastic looking tank, I really like the fish and plant / scape combo, only thing that would make it better is if it was a 180 gal
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Was trying to get a good photo of the Alestopetersius brichardi with my Nikon but they swim back and forth too fast so this is the best I could come up with. I wanted to show how nice the iridescent green stripe is above their dark lateral band. You sort of get the idea here.
These look exactly like mine ( Well, I have one left now after that ich debacle. Need to get some more). These fish are so beautiful-- rival any other freshwater fish out there.
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Amazing shot! I wish I had your talents for photography!Some big beautiful new leaves on my Aponogeton boivinianus and A. madagascariensis. They grow so fast. Especially now that they have CO2 supplementation. I've been trying to figure out how to position the power head on the other side of the tank so that these guys don't get beat down. I tried it out in a few different placements and angles earlier today. This is a little better than it was earlier.
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Oh I wish I was much better at it. I just take a lot of photos and sometimes I get lucky. My biggest issue now is that since I have tanks all over the room the other tanks often reflect in the photos. So I have to get creative with my angles and I have the lights off time staggered so I can take pictures later at night. I am looking into getting some sort of big black backdrop screen to help with this issue.
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My latest dominant pair of Pelviachromis kribensis 'Moliwe' bred a few times in the holding tank they were in but were never successful. The one time they had free swimming fry the timing was awful with their rival cichlids, Steatocranus casuarius, having free swimming fry the next day. The Steatocranus came out on top of that battle.
From the moment I moved all the fish to the new 120 the female has been chasing the male around and trying get get his attention. Sometimes he returns the favor but neither seemed that serious about setting up a spawning site.
It seems they finally have chosen one of the half coconuts in the tank to start a family. Since the tank is planted I was very specific about how I set up the hardscape hoping to prevent the kribs and Steatocranus from unearthing plants. All the rooted plants are at the back of the tank with a wall of dragon stone and driftwood separating the two areas. Half coconuts were set up in front of the driftwood near the shallow sand at the front of the tank in hopes they would find these suitable and not go digging around at the back.
It worked! They have been moving sand around since yesterday and today seem to be in the act of laying eggs. Going in and out of the cave, flaring at each other, and pushing around more sand. Hopefully babies to come and they have better luck this time now that there is plenty of room for the other cichlids to be able to keep their distance and the tetras too far above them to be any threat.
Pelvicachromis kribensis 'Moliwe' courtship by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
A bit of video of their courtship to come soon.
From the moment I moved all the fish to the new 120 the female has been chasing the male around and trying get get his attention. Sometimes he returns the favor but neither seemed that serious about setting up a spawning site.
It seems they finally have chosen one of the half coconuts in the tank to start a family. Since the tank is planted I was very specific about how I set up the hardscape hoping to prevent the kribs and Steatocranus from unearthing plants. All the rooted plants are at the back of the tank with a wall of dragon stone and driftwood separating the two areas. Half coconuts were set up in front of the driftwood near the shallow sand at the front of the tank in hopes they would find these suitable and not go digging around at the back.
It worked! They have been moving sand around since yesterday and today seem to be in the act of laying eggs. Going in and out of the cave, flaring at each other, and pushing around more sand. Hopefully babies to come and they have better luck this time now that there is plenty of room for the other cichlids to be able to keep their distance and the tetras too far above them to be any threat.
Pelvicachromis kribensis 'Moliwe' courtship by Kaveh Maguire, on FlickrA bit of video of their courtship to come soon.
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Cool! Those are beautiful cichlids!My latest dominant pair of Pelviachromis kribensis 'Moliwe' bred a few times in the holding tank they were in but were never successful. The one time they had free swimming fry the timing was awful with their rival cichlids, Steatocranus casuarius, having free swimming fry the next day. The Steatocranus came out on top of that battle.
From the moment I moved all the fish to the new 120 the female has been chasing the male around and trying get get his attention. Sometimes he returns the favor but neither seemed that serious about setting up a spawning site.
It seems they finally have chosen one of the half coconuts in the tank to start a family. Since the tank is planted I was very specific about how I set up the hardscape hoping to prevent the kribs and Steatocranus from unearthing plants. All the rooted plants are at the back of the tank with a wall of dragon stone and driftwood separating the two areas. Half coconuts were set up in front of the driftwood near the shallow sand at the front of the tank in hopes they would find these suitable and not go digging around at the back.
It worked! They have been moving sand around since yesterday and today seem to be in the act of laying eggs. Going in and out of the cave, flaring at each other, and pushing around more sand. Hopefully babies to come and they have better luck this time now that there is plenty of room for the other cichlids to be able to keep their distance and the tetras too far above them to be any threat.
A bit of video of their courtship to come soon.
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Bummer man. I placed an order with the wet spot for another 8 Bathyaethiops breuseghemi (red cap moon tetras) to go along with the 3 I have had for several years but they said there is a problem with them so they can't ship them. They must just be a really delicate fish that ships poorly because this is the 4th time I have tried to order them and there has been a problem. In fact the reason I only have 3 is the first time I tried to order 6 there were only 3 healthy enough to send. Hopefully I will be able to get more at some point in the future.
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The tank looks great and the fish are beautiful. I'm a big fan of tetras also.
Thanks for labeling your plants. I'm always looking for something different and when I see a plant I like it's hard to match the name from a plant in a tread. I guess I could always ask.
Enjoying your tank build, will continue following along.
Thanks for labeling your plants. I'm always looking for something different and when I see a plant I like it's hard to match the name from a plant in a tread. I guess I could always ask.
Enjoying your tank build, will continue following along.
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Hope everything arrived healthy and happy. Those Cichlids above are absolutely stunning. Very nice shot!
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