Show us your aquarium!

Ford_Boy · 06-03-2007, 01:58 PM

Hey everryone. I have 2 Aquariums. One cichlid tank which is 4 feet long and 3 foot with low ph fish. My pride and joy is my cichlid tank. I have had it for about 2 years now, I think. It is so easy to maintain. I haven't done anything with the water in almost a year. The shells keep it clean and perfect. Ive had the water tested and everything is great.

The only thing with cichlids is you can't really have other types of fish because they are agressive and will kill them, I have learnt the hard way lol. Catfish are the best fish to be kept with them because they get along well and keep the tank clean. I haven't had any problems with my cat being in there.

Heres a picture of one side of the tank. I might put more up abit later. Please post up some pictures of your tanks people

kooky · 06-03-2007, 02:01 PM

I have a 2x2x2.5 foot column tank, unfortunatley no electronic pics, it's a full marine set-up with sump tank protein skimmer etc etc.

Currently rebuilding the lower cabinet and will be for sale soon ;)

Ford_Boy · 06-03-2007, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kooky

I have a 2x2x2.5 foot column tank, unfortunatley no electronic pics, it's a full marine set-up with sump tank protein skimmer etc etc.

Currently rebuilding the lower cabinet and will be for sale soon ;)

Sounds good, I'm planning to build a marine aquarium one day. i heard it's alot more work and i don't really have the time and money for that kind of set up. I love my cichlids but a good marine aquarium can't be beat for wow factor.

Ford_Boy · 06-03-2007, 02:16 PM

Heres a picture of the whole set up.

kooky · 06-03-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

Sounds good, I'm planning to build a marine aquarium one day. i heard it's alot more work and i don't really have the time and money for that kind of set up. I love my cichlids but a good marine aquarium can't be beat for wow factor.

Yes indeed on wow factor, nobody walked passed it without stopping to have a good look, they are expensive to set up, but once you have all the levels settled and you get the right additives and test kits you just have to keep an eye on it and it will largly look after itself.

Marine just cant be beat. I had near $400 of fish at one stage. sadly no pics

Yours looks very nice indeed

Ford_Boy · 06-03-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kooky

Yes indeed on wow factor, nobody walked passed it without stopping to have a good look, they are expensive to set up, but once you have all the levels settled and you get the right additives and test kits you just have to keep an eye on it and it will largly look after itself.

Marine just cant be beat. I had near $400 of fish at one stage. sadly no pics

Yours looks very nice indeed

Thanks, it's probably the closest I can get to having a marine aquarium lol.

People please post up some pictures of your tanks. It doesn't have to be tropical.

**Polyal** · 06-03-2007, 03:45 PM

Nice. Once I stop renting I will have a nice salt water setup happening. My mate has this crazy shrimp that kills things by spearing them which is kind cool. It knocks on the glass aswell.

Ive budgeted around the $1500 mark, but time will tell.

DJL351 · 06-03-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Ive budgeted around the $1500 mark, but time will tell.

I paid that for my Tropical Tank alone. :(

My Tank Type
I've got the Monarch 120. It's about 300L.

No pics right now..... I've got a White-spot and snail issue.

:

D

:

**Polyal** · 06-03-2007, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJL351

I paid that for my Tropical Tank alone. :(

My Tank Type
I've got the Monarch 120. It's about 300L.

No pics right now..... I've got a White-spot and snail issue.

:

D

:

Jesus thats nice, I was going to start off smallish..LOL

Ford_Boy · 06-03-2007, 04:39 PM

I was very lucky when I started out because my mates dad breed fish I was constantly getting things very cheap. the tank 25bux, the light was 25bux and the filter was 50 bux. Most of the decoration was free or only really cheap like 5 bux. i remember once I got about 50 free fish and I gave some to other mates and swapped some to have a larger variety. i have bought fish before. i used to own a jaguar which costed 60bux. It was my favourite fish but one year i found it knocked off the lid and was dryed up on the floor. it was the only fish I have owned in the past 3 years that I had a burial for. I can't remember where it is buried though lol.

**Fordman1** · 06-03-2007, 06:29 PM

Not a great pic but here is my baby below...

bob 351 · 06-03-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Not a great pic but here is my baby below...

i spose you feed it guppys lol

**Fordman1** · 06-03-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob 351

i spose you feed it guppys lol

No I feed it open water swimmers.....He he he

mcnews · 07-03-2007, 05:26 PM

Here are ours.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchive...Fish/index.htm

Inside four footer. This is maninly Cichlids, in one of the shots you can also see a couple of car show trophies on the top of the tank.

Outside six footer. Koi, goldfish, dozens of bristlenose, half a dozen yabbies.

One of the small inside tanks.Various small stuff.

ltd · 07-03-2007, 06:17 PM

I have a 4 foot by 2 x 2 foot marine setup, it's now basically a coral tank. It has the twin metal halide lamps, sump filter, protein skimmer, chiller and UV filter. The tank holds between 400-500 litres of saltwater and about 80kg of live rock. I'll get some photos of it up soon, the old photos don't have the tunze pumps in them which has greatly improved the health of the corals. It looks alot like the monarch 120 photo in terms of what's in it.

I was away a couple of months ago for just over 2 weeks and the sump ran dry, got an ammonia spike and killed everything, including a rare green and purple tipped goni coral that cost $900.00.
Polyal your mate has got what's called a mantis shrimp. They kill off live stock and are incredibly difficult to catch. Some people keep them as pets, most marine enthusiasts find them to be a serial pest. Many a Saturday I have spent with buckets and containers removing corals, and then bathing the live rock in ultra salty water in order to get the bugger to come out of his hole. Rotten things they can be.

I've now got fishtanks running out of my ears. I have an older 4 foot tank that is setup for marines as well, eheim pump and all and I'll put it on ebay I think, or does this sites for sale section cover aquariums?

Ford_Boy · 07-03-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnews

Here are ours.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchive...Fish/index.htm

Inside four footer. This is maninly Cichlids, in one of the shots you can also see a couple of car show trophies on the top of the tank.

Outside six footer. Koi, goldfish, dozens of bristlenose, half a dozen yabbies.

One of the small inside tanks.Various small stuff.

Your tanks are mad mate, Your cichlids are really colourful. nice job

Ford_Boy · 07-03-2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

I have a 4 foot by 2 x 2 foot marine setup, it's now basically a coral tank. It has the twin metal halide lamps, sump filter, protein skimmer, chiller and UV filter. The tank holds between 400-500 litres of saltwater and about 80kg of live rock. I'll get some photos of it up soon, the old photos don't have the tunze pumps in them which has greatly improved the health of the corals. It looks alot like the monarch 120 photo in terms of what's in it.

I was away a couple of months ago for just over 2 weeks and the sump ran dry, got an ammonia spike and killed everything, including a rare green and purple tipped goni coral that cost $900.00.
Polyal your mate has got what's called a mantis shrimp. They kill off live stock and are incredibly difficult to catch. Some people keep them as pets, most marine enthusiasts find them to be a serial pest. Many a Saturday I have spent with buckets and containers removing corals, and then bathing the live rock in ultra salty water in order to get the bugger to come out of his hole. Rotten things they can be.

I've now got fishtanks running out of my ears. I have an older 4 foot tank that is setup for marines as well, eheim pump and all and I'll put it on ebay I think, or does this sites for sale section cover aquariums?

Can't wait to see some pictures

Jason[98.EL] · 07-03-2007, 08:52 PM

i'm currantly setting up for tropical but after seeing the marine set ups i just might have to change my thinking

i have a 3 ft tank with just goldies in it to get the levels right then once that happens ill be going to tropical

jason

walker · 07-03-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

Hey everryone. I have 2 Aquariums. One cichlid tank which is 4 feet long and 3 foot with low ph fish. My pride and joy is my cichlid tank. I have had it for about 2 years now, I think. It is so easy to maintain. I haven't done anything with the water in almost a year. The shells keep it clean and perfect. Ive had the water tested and everything is great.

The only thing with cichlids is you can't really have other types of fish because they are agressive and will kill them, I have learnt the hard way lol. Catfish are the best fish to be kept with them because they get along well and keep the tank clean. I haven't had any problems with my cat being in there.

Heres a picture of one side of the tank. I might put more up abit later. Please post up some pictures of your tanks people

That sh**'s alover mine not even ganna post a pic...
That looks awsome, I bet a fair few $$$$'s in there, well the trial and error bit anyway

Ford_Boy · 08-03-2007, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walker

That sh**'s alover mine not even ganna post a pic...
That looks awsome, I bet a fair few $$$$'s in there, well the trial and error bit anyway

Post them up mate, no one is judging. It just abit of fun

I have been fiddling around with aquariums for the past 3 years now. Most of the money I have spent over the years was with fish dying from either jumping out of tanks, being slaughterd by other fish or not having right PH levels.
It's alot of trial and error but once you gain the knowledge then you know exactly what your doing and if somthing goes wrong it's easily picked. Also you have to know the market value of some things and don't be afraid to try second hand. I got my 4 foot tank for just 25 bux .a tank like mine would cost 300 plus. then theres the filters, heaters, environment, lighting. Ive been fortunate to have had people around who would help out and I know people when it comes to deals so I would have saved hundreds over the years.

Anyway good luck with your tank and if you have any questions about it at all just pm me. Its good to find other people with similar interests.

ltd · 08-03-2007, 02:05 AM

Do you use seachem ph buffer? When I had freshwater I found the seachem brand to be the best, far better than the Red Sea ph buffer. Also, do you use a UV sterilizer?

Ford_Boy · 08-03-2007, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

Do you use seachem ph buffer? When I had freshwater I found the seachem brand to be the best, far better than the Red Sea ph buffer. Also, do you use a UV sterilizer?

No I havn't tryed those brands before. Too be honest it has been so long since I have done anything with my cichlid tank. All I do now is top it up when water levels get low. The combination of shell grit and coral has given a great balance of PH levels. I had my water tested by my local Fish store and the lady said I have no trace of harmful elements and that my Ph leve is perfect. I have a test kit but never use it. The brand of bi carb I use I can't even find it lol. It just seems I was lucky with that set up.

I don't use a UV sterilzer. I just have a normal light. It may be a UV globe but i have no idea. It does have a tinge of purple but I'm not sure how my light actually works. MY other tank just has a regular fluresent light. The cichlid tank seems to have a more natural looking colour and the fish seem to show alot more colour.

ThoR_ · 08-03-2007, 02:23 AM

Ford Boy that looks wicked! We had an axolotle that weighed almost 1kg. Bit grumpy bastard. We sold him to the pet shop and the guy was to affraid to put his hand in the eski we had him in. Everyone was like IS THAT THING REAL! He was that vicious we fed him on a coat hanger with steak! He grabbed the coat hanger for a good 10 seconds thrashing around in the tank. I put a yabbie in there but he ate it.

Shame we didnt get pictures. When we took him to the pet shop they put him in with the mexican walking fish and he started fighting them and pushing them around me and my Dad were like AHAHAHA thats our boy.

What a great over growen grumpy old fish.

MITCHAY · 08-03-2007, 03:09 AM

What a different and interesting topic

Anyways I'm going to have a **** off aquarium one day. I used to have hell old goldfish (9-10yrs old) but had to give them up because we dug up our pond and didn't have the space to put them in a tank.

xe351 · 08-01-2009, 01:02 PM

yeah i know, thread miner, anyway, don't have pics of ours tanks atm, but will try get some one day. Does anyone here keep catfish/plecs?

bafel · 08-01-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

The only thing with cichlids is you can't really have other types of fish because they are agressive and will kill them, I have learnt the hard way lol.

yeah my brother had a few of them, they are pretty awesome fish, especially at feeding time, just chuck a goldfish in there

Keep an eye out for any that become preganant one, because the others can attack them.

i'd say you will lose more fish as your cichlids are still small