HI from Ian

**IanR29** · 07-13-2012, 06:19 PM

Hello all. New to the sight not new to cichlids, well not new to mbunas. Currently running a 55g mostly mbuna tank. Pseudotropheus Acei, pseudotropheus Demasoni, melanochromis johanni, a few bristle nose plecos, a hiring spotted pleco, a Raphael catfish and finally a African dwarf frog. Filtration is a fluval 305 and an aquaclear sponge only filter. Couldn't tell you the size but it's kind of huge. A beige sand substrate with lava rock as the rock formations. A few ferns and anubias as well in there. 3 pieces of drift wood for the plecos. Normally change a third of the tank water every 2-3 days. It's normally how much water that comes outgo get all the nasties they leave on the bottom. Now I got lucky with the water supply I have where I live. I have a well that's dug through sandstone so the water comes out at around 8.1 ph and is a hard water. It is filtered for drinking water with no additives. The only problem I have is the algae, or lack there of. Seems nothing I can do to get it to grow at all, on anything. Nitrates stay around 10 and that's more than likely due to the changes and plants.

Have currently a Lab and an Acei carrying. Actually stripping them is something I'm new at. Normally let them spit in tank. It recently I've been pulling them out.

Currently in the market for atleast a 75g. Have a 40g breeder that's not set up. I let my kids have a tank but I end up taking over for them cause they like to mix and match the prettys. Example being son (4) has a 14 g with bricardis and convicts with a bristlenose, 2 ghost shrimp and a snail. All his pickings. Will more than likely be moving them to the 40g breeder. Daughter (7) has a 14 with long fin danios, glow fish, a gold fish, a Raphael catfish and 2 guppies. Can't do more than the 3 tanks cause of the better half won't let me.

That's pretty much it. Any questions feel free to ask.