150 Gallon Currently Malawi Tank

[armthehomeless]

Well, the inhabitants of my 150 gallon tank are pretty much set up. The current inhabitants are 6 Benthochomis tricoti, 10 Ectodus Descampsii, and one male brown BN Plecostomus. I haven't decided whether or not I'll add anything else - most likely I won't. I'd love to hear y'alls thoughts and suggestions though.

I recently put Italian vals into the pool filter sand. As usually happens to me when switching a plant from a nutrient-rich substrate to pool filter sand, a number of the older leaves die away, and it takes the plant a bit of time to come back. I've already got runners going after less than a month.

Full Tank Shot


Benthochromis tricoti


Ectodus Descampsii


It is interesting watching the behavior of the two types of fish. Initally when I added the Ectodus to the tank, they stayed at the bottom of the tank, while the Benthochromis stayed on the top half.  After several days, however, they have all started schooling together, with the Benthos slightly ontop of the Ectodus.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

I would add shorter/smaller flat limestone like you have at the bases of the towers you have now
Lay that far left rock down....like turn it clockwise from where it is now 1/4 turn and then add vals behind it.

again a lot of smaller pieces would make the tank look a bit softer..... it would look really good!



I like it though! love how the vals fit in so great with the tang tanks....

[armthehomeless]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

So what do y'all think? Should I add anything? If so, what?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

More Bentho's!

[armthehomeless]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

I had a few more... but two jumped out of a corner that I neglected to secure. :(

[armthehomeless]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

If anybody sees ant Benthos for a reasonable price, let me know. I would like to have another 3-6. :)

As far as rearranging the rocks, I may well do something along those lines. I originally stood all the rock up becuase I thought the Ectodus would be more of a sand-sifter than what they are doing.

[Zulaab]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

See Tim I am a little more your way... I like the simple look with the plants.. I know it does not offer a ton of hiding places.... but I still think it looks great..  I am sorry to hear of your loss...  Friday (between morning and night) I have a 1x1in opening that I didnt have secured, that one of my Leleupi found his/her way out...

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

Well, what I meant is small flat thin pieces like what you have there but much smaller to compliment what's there.


But its still good looking.....figured that you asked so I would chime in.

[armthehomeless]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

Thank Zulaab.

Ek, I appreciate it. I can see how doing that would make the aesthetics more desireable. I don't currently have any flat thin pieces, though. . Does anyone out there have some flat thin pieces of limestone?

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

Tim,

My Ectodus also spend most of their time near the top, but I think its because I am screwed up and cannot move my fish around just yet.  The Ectodus are in with the Trewavasae and actually seem to be doing well, but the Petros are rock hugging on me, and so the Ectodus just stay out of the way of the big lipped guys.

So you need Benthos now??  Is $18 each for 1-2" too much? I cannot remember how much they were at the ohter place.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

So will these guys hide in the sand when scared/startled?


From what I have read they are sanddwellers but closer to opthalmotilapia then xenos and if they are anything like my opthalmotilapia's they only come near the sand when they think there's food and when they are fighting. Also the rockpiles would give the females a place to seek refuge once they start holding for you which is about true for any mouthbrooder since the males will harass them regardless.

[armthehomeless]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

Geoff - $18 would be great ... but they are out... at least according to their list online.

Quoc - When they get startled (which happens quite easily still), they just go and hide in a dark corner. They don't go to the bottom. The only time is when there is NLS pellets on the sand bottom. I'll throw in a couple rock piles when I find some small pieces of limestone.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

Hmmm.....it would be really cool to see them hide cause from what I gathere they supposedly bury themselves when in fright.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

Tim,

I found some in the same size range for $26 each.

Old World also has them on the list and I bet for the same price from before.

[armthehomeless]

Re: 150 Gallon Tanganyikan Tank

Thanks Geoff.