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25/10 2005
The tank, immediately after start. The "rocks" are modules from Back To Nature, in "Faxekalk" finish, and the substrate is coarse sand. The plants are Cryptocoryne Wendtii. The back glass is painted black on the outside. The setup is directed towards the keeping of Malawi cichlids, either, if kept as is, Haplochromines, or with inclusion of rocks (natural), Mbuna.
10/4 2006
The tank after app. half a year. Extra rocks have been added, partly for decoration and partly to protect the plants from beeing uprooted. The fish are Haplochromines from Lake Malawi; Aulonocare sp. "lwanda", Copadichromis trewavasae, Lethrinops cf. albus (Itungi), Lethrinops sp. "yellow collar" and Protomelas sp. "steveni taiwan" (Higga reef).
The tank after app. half a year. Extra rocks have been added, partly for decoration and partly to protect the plants from beeing uprooted. The fish are Haplochromines from Lake Malawi; Aulonocare sp. "lwanda", Copadichromis trewavasae, Lethrinops cf. albus (Itungi), Lethrinops sp. "yellow collar" and Protomelas sp. "steveni taiwan" (Higga reef).
21/9 2006
The two images above and below, show the tank immediately after conversion to Tanganyika cichlids. As their demands for decoration, are the same as for Malawi cichlids, there has, generally speaking, not been much need for changes, except for inclusion of some more rocks (natural granite), since there is a single species from a rocky coast biotope. Conversely, a couple of sand-species are also present, so a good deal of free substrate is also required. The added plants, Vallisineria gigantea, are purely included as a trial, for decorative reasons. The fish are: Callochromis macrops, Cyprichromis sp. "leptosoma jumbo" (kitumba), Enantiopus sp. "kilesa", Tanganicodus irsacae (Kapampa) and Xenotilapia sp. "ochrogenys ndole".
26/9 2006
The two images above and below, show the tank immediately after conversion to Tanganyika cichlids. As their demands for decoration, are the same as for Malawi cichlids, there has, generally speaking, not been much need for changes, except for inclusion of some more rocks (natural granite), since there is a single species from a rocky coast biotope. Conversely, a couple of sand-species are also present, so a good deal of free substrate is also required. The added plants, Vallisineria gigantea, are purely included as a trial, for decorative reasons. The fish are: Callochromis macrops, Cyprichromis sp. "leptosoma jumbo" (kitumba), Enantiopus sp. "kilesa", Tanganicodus irsacae (Kapampa) and Xenotilapia sp. "ochrogenys ndole".
26/9 2006
7/2 2007
The tank depicted 4½ months after the conversion. Gone are the plants, to give a more authentic look, and a couple of changes have been made to the stock, which now comprises; Aethiomastacembelus ellipsifer, Altolamprologus calvus, Callochromis stappersii, Cyprichromis sp. "leptosoma jumbo" (kitumba), Enantiopus sp. "kilesa", Ophtalmotilapia ventralis and Tanganicodus irsacae (Kapampa)
The tank depicted 4½ months after the conversion. Gone are the plants, to give a more authentic look, and a couple of changes have been made to the stock, which now comprises; Aethiomastacembelus ellipsifer, Altolamprologus calvus, Callochromis stappersii, Cyprichromis sp. "leptosoma jumbo" (kitumba), Enantiopus sp. "kilesa", Ophtalmotilapia ventralis and Tanganicodus irsacae (Kapampa)
19/3 2007
Some of the Malawi cichlids from the first setup, was still in My possesion, and had reached a size and form, that made them perfect showpieces. The plants are back, since the goal is purely decorative, with no intentions to emulate a natural biotope. the fish are: Lethrinops cf. albus (Itungi), Placidochromis electra and Protomelas sp. "steveni taiwan" (Higga reef). This configuration was voted "Tank of the month" May 2007 on www.cichlid-forum.com.
Some of the Malawi cichlids from the first setup, was still in My possesion, and had reached a size and form, that made them perfect showpieces. The plants are back, since the goal is purely decorative, with no intentions to emulate a natural biotope. the fish are: Lethrinops cf. albus (Itungi), Placidochromis electra and Protomelas sp. "steveni taiwan" (Higga reef). This configuration was voted "Tank of the month" May 2007 on www.cichlid-forum.com.
12/8 2007
As My interest for the Tanganyika cichlids took completely over, the need for space for these, grew to a point, where also the living room tank had to be included, so I converted it back again. This time, the decorative effect had priority (as evident, the decorative differences from the previous Malawi setup are very minimal). The fish are: Callochromis stappersii, Cyprichromis sp. "leptosoma jumbo" (kitumba), Enantiopus sp. "kilesa", Paracyprichromis nigripinnis and Tanganicodus irsacae (Kapampa)
As My interest for the Tanganyika cichlids took completely over, the need for space for these, grew to a point, where also the living room tank had to be included, so I converted it back again. This time, the decorative effect had priority (as evident, the decorative differences from the previous Malawi setup are very minimal). The fish are: Callochromis stappersii, Cyprichromis sp. "leptosoma jumbo" (kitumba), Enantiopus sp. "kilesa", Paracyprichromis nigripinnis and Tanganicodus irsacae (Kapampa)
14/7 2008
As seen in the images above, almost a year has passed, without much change, apart from natural maturing of a tank without too much messing around from the owner and occasional changes to the plant coverage. The fish has also matured, some of them to the point of being "over the hill".
As seen in the images above, almost a year has passed, without much change, apart from natural maturing of a tank without too much messing around from the owner and occasional changes to the plant coverage. The fish has also matured, some of them to the point of being "over the hill".
Immediately after conversion to South american fish. The large roots are the main change, since the rest of the decoration is permanently glued in, and the demands on the substrate is the same as before. One of the large (and welcome) differences from East african to South american stock, is the large selection of non-cichlids available. The fish are Corydoras arcuatus, Geophagus altifrons and Nematobrycon palmeri.
The Echinodorus plants have been removed, in order to give the fish more room for their natural feeding behavior.
No real changes, apart from the natural growth of the plants and fish.
