Paintguy's tanks

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75 gallon in my living room for the larger fish (lower ph). Slowly growing out those EBJDs. All the fish feel the need to swim through that hollow log and it is too big to defend.

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Office tank #1 50 gal. for Lake Tanganyika. The Leleupi are not shy at all ( got most of these fish from Sandnuka )

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Office tank #2 46 gal. Lake Malawai. (Peacocks and Haps) Not set on the rock arrangement yet, but they are happy.

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downstairs 35 hex... recently changing this to a live plant/hospital/future fry tank

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Some of my peacocks slowly turning color (October 10th, 2010)

Nice looking tanks and fish! Love the Aulonocara.

Are the leleupi still getting along okay? They are getting to the point where you might start seeing some aggression between them. Same thing with the Julies. They are at the age that they will start pairing up soon.

Have not had them very long, but so far they are doing ok. I am keeping an eye on them for pairing up and set up the rockery for maximum hiding places. Another reason to keep my 35 gal ready. Only one of the Julies looks to be a mature size of the group, I just have to keep them and the curious little cory catfish out of the built in sump on that acrylic tank.

LOVE THE TANKS! LOVE THE FISH!! seriously, just awesome setups!

Rocking the fishtanks Paintguy. You can always tell a good aquarist by the quality of their tanks and fish. Well done.

Thanks for the compliments. My next project is to make some interesting rockery with many caves out of foam insulation, silicon & cement. Like the custom tank backs, but this will be free standing.

you'll have to weigh it down with something.... THat styrofoam floats no matter how much concrete is poured on to them.

Crystal clear water.
Any secret method?

Maybe I will concrete some big rocks into my creation. It will be a fun challenge either way.

As for the water... I have a different system on every tank. I am not the best at water changes but do keep up on my filters and clean the glass. I have a Fluval 404 on my 75gal but I think it is tired as the flow has never been very good (after another re-plumbing and a new impeller ), so I am adding an HOB to help. Especially when those fish get bigger.

My latest adventure trying some Nerite snails failed again. This time they arrived in the mail alive. I added some of my tank water to them in a bowl and they never moved again. There were a few that I thought were DOA so I put them in a separate bowl, but still a "fail" & I have no idea why.

Paintguy wrote:.

My latest adventure trying some Nerite snails failed again. This time they arrived in the mail alive. I added some of my tank water to them in a bowl and they never moved again. There were a few that I thought were DOA so I put them in a separate bowl, but still a "fail" & I have no idea why.

where were they coming from? how many day in the mail? and did they put in a heat pack? and this was the second set right?

They came from Florida and I think 2-3 days in the mail with an ice pack. This was the 2nd set and most took off out of their shells when I put them in a bowl until I mixed a little of my tank water to acclimate them. Unless I know for sure what went wrong I am done trying the Nerites. Even had 4 conch snails in there too.

its believe its been cold that down that way? if they get to cold they will pass they can do fine in in a tad colder conditions but if there not packed right they will pass from the temp shock... i believe most of the mails goes though the upper mid west before getting here... how many do you need? i have a few spares and i can order some at a good price to i think 50 with now will cost you about 48 which includes shipping.. and its a west coast run should be 2 3 days tops last time they shipped me some they shipped on a mon and i had them in hand by wed at about 10am

Will get one from a local store to test before I try a bunch again. Was not crazy about snails, but my 50 gal has more light that grows the really tough green spot algae that a pleco can't clean.

ok let me know i do have a few olive ones but most of mine now are the fancy ones and you don't have to order 50 lol i was just giving an example.. i use them in about all my tanks there my little work horses good luck

BTW your tank look nice sorry to wonder you off subject and cant wait to see how your fake rock turn out

I may hit you up for a few icer.. just want to test one first. Maybe there is some copper in my rocks or something to mess with them.

i dont know i have a feeling it a shipping problem... the vinegar on the rock test is best test even for fish safe... im not seeing much shinny in the rock though

Paintguy wrote:Thanks for the compliments. My next project is to make some interesting rockery with many caves out of foam insulation, silicon & cement. Like the custom tank backs, but this will be free standing.

Thats my project for this winter, I got half the supply's already just trying to decide on how I want to make it look. Tired of fish injuring themselves on big rocks.

Your jd's are looking good and dont by lazy with your wc's!

HALP wrote:

Your jd's are looking good and dont by lazy with your wc's!

lol.. this coming from a obsessive water changer who has a faucet 15 feet away from all his tanks. My office requires 120 feet of hose to reach. BTW your catfish are doing great in the 75.

Hey paintguy, in your lake tang tank what other fish you got in there besides leleupi and julis?

The BN Pleco, a Butterfly Hillstream Loach, 3 small cory cats & 4 old Orange Barbs.

Betty was just telling me to watch for aggression when they pair up. I have been watching them closely today to notice 2 of the Julies are warding off one back corner of the tank.

A, the weather here has been ok for shipping but it has hit freezing recently in the states between us
B, keep a good eye on the lelupis, my pair ran a 4" black calvus clean out of the tank before they got their own tank.
C, those need to be moved asap, they do not match water with the main occupants and are both way to docile for a cichlid tank.

Paintguy wrote:a Butterfly Hillstream Loach, 3 small cory cats

D, very nice scaping you have in your tanks!

The little cleaners are doing just fine, but since going out for my sons soccer practice I am down 2 Leleupi due to a tough daddy cleaning house. Just moved them to their own tank, but in the mix I can't tell who the female partner is (they all look the same), so I have to wait until they settle down in the new tank.

Now to do a little water change and put all the rocks back in.