Week 4 cycling 75 Gallon freshwater

So I’m in the middle of week 4 of cycling. Plants have roots showing, growing new baby leaves. Rinsed off sponge filters they were quite mucky, didn’t touch the carbon slides. Added a different filter tdl 110. Love it. Fits and really is quieter than the last. Since it’s only been about 5/6 days I’m not touching it. Added a few more cichlids. 2 electric yellows and 2 electric blue cichlids. So I’m currently at 3 bovian rams, 2 kuhli loaches, 2 Singapore shrimp (love their pompoms). 2 ghost shrimp, 3 cat fish and the original 6 tetras. I have a few plants with a little white algae but nothing of concern. My wood has shed most of the white fungus. All fish are getting along well. My only gripe is the amount of water changes lol I’m still at 25% but scaled it back to every 3 days now. Ammonia registered 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 5. I also added the flourish tabs in my substrate earlier this week. I want to add double red cichlids and I think that will be it. The light I may tweak next week as I have it on the default settings. Red light morning and evening for sunrise sunset, daylight bright during the day and blue at night. Lol I don’t recall having to wipe down my glass so often with a salt water tank. And this wood I’m always ready to see what items that will remove the brownish tinge it adds to my water. Lol. Thanks all for your input

 

Ok nice looking set up. But the cichlids you’re adding I do believe are African cichlids. They are hard water fish and are aggresive. Most cichlids will eat your shrimp and tetras. The Bolivians are fine but the yellow and blue guys may not be. Unless they are Rams? Not sure what a super red is but I don’t think it will be good either.

 

The electric blue and yellows will grow 3.5 -4 inches have a few years to go for them... The Tetra were added to cycle my tank faster .99 cents hard to pass on. I was reading as long as my shrimp are an inch plus in size the cichlids won't bother them... they usually go after the smaller kind like cherry's. Plus, the more plants and hiding places the better the temperament. The double red cichlids are dwarf, so they won't get more than a few inches (Apisogramma cf. agassizii). and Thanks It's been awhile since I had a tank.. and I enjoy taking a break from the stress to watch em.. lol

 

What type of fish are the yellows and blues. Can you put up pictures?

 

What type of fish are the yellows and blues. Can you put up pictures?

Sure. Also added my pompon shrimp. He’s like nearly 2 inches. The Blue I believe is actually a Pseudotropheus demasoni. Max length is just under 4 inches... figured if I can keep them small enough i can comfortably have a few more fish in the tank..

 

Ok the thing is those fish shouldn’t be with the other types you have. I’m kind of surprised your store sold those to you. What is the ph of your tank? Those fish are known to be very aggresive and people who keep them keep lots of them to spread out the aggression.

 

Those are both Mbuna...the actual species doesn't matter, but it is a demasoni and either a sulosi or a yellow lab....regardless, they will eat the plants, and the shrimp, and the rams fins. Just a heads up.

Are there more than those 2 in there?

They should get close to full size in 5-8 months based on how they look right now.

Don't feed them alot of crude protein they can't digest it very well and they can bloat up and die (that's another reason i would advise against the shrimp) they require a primarily veggie based diet. Stay away from bloodworms!

 

Yes, they are plant eaters and I've been watching them. They haven't bothered any of the shrimp, catfish, loaches, or tetra's as of yet, and haven't really messed with my plants, (I will be adding more plants). They have been quite social thus far and haven't had any aggression... In actuality the Rams were more aggressive when it was them and just the tetra and they sectioned off the tank between the 3.. now the rams have been less territorial. There are 2 electric Yellows and 2 of the demasoni and are on the much smaller side. I'll keep an eye out for aggression, but again doesn't the more plants and rocks lessen the aggression since there is more places to hide and shortens the line of sight? I'm also not adding any more fish until middle of March and that would be the last of the planned addition of fish.. the speices of African cichlids that I purchased are often on the less agressive side. Well, the Demasoni not so much, I guess I may need to get a separate tank for them if they start to show their aggression. and to answer an earlier question... ph is at 7.5 7.6. Water temp is at 78

 

Those are both Mbuna...the actual species doesn't matter, but it is a demasoni and either a sulosi or a yellow lab....regardless, they will eat the plants, and the shrimp, and the rams fins. Just a heads up.

Are there more than those 2 in there?

They should get close to full size in 5-8 months based on how they look right now.

Don't feed them alot of crude protein they can't digest it very well and they can bloat up and die (that's another reason i would advise against the shrimp) they require a primarily veggie based diet. Stay away from bloodworms!

Thanks for your input all, after researching this I do believe I will take the Demasoni back as im not finished stocking my tank and would hate to have it come back and bite me..

 

Update. after a few hours of wrangling up the african cichlids, I finally got them, placed back in bags, and back to the store to return. Went to another Aquarium shop and got 2 Fire Red (Apistogramma) and 3 Blue German Rams.... waiting until next month to get the double reds and maybe some electric blue dwarfs then I'm done.