The Wild Fishing Forum

I'm a big fan of biotope aquaria. Not sure I'm a massive fan of this tank though. It needs more hardscape. However you might find it interesting.

https://cefishessentials.com/blog/biotope-aquarium-101-an-authentic-rio-meta-biotope-for-ram-cichlids-more/

I'm pleased with how the roots cleaned up.

Checking the eggs today and made an amazing find. When I set up the tank five years ago I bought various fish, most of which I still have, amongst them was a couple of Khuli Loaches. After a few days they just disappeared, I assumed they were dead. Nope, there one was, right in the corner where the eggs are, buried under dead leaves beneath the filter

I gleaned some very nice old roots from a local wood today as well as a load of interesting pebbles and small stones from the beach. Just about to power wash them. 

Splurge and spend a few kid on some decent pieces of bogwood also. Don't worry id you see any kind of biofilm growing from it in the current weeks. This can be removed and is completely normal. Some fish may even eat it.

Fill the sand and add the hardscape and then arrange to your liking BEFORE filling. Trust me it's so much easier to do this way.

I'll nip down to the beach and get some pebbles to sprinkle about randomly on the surface to break up the uniformity. Even the odd bit of shell should not significantly change the water chemistry.

Back in the day we all used beach sand and gravel in the Malawi tanks. The bits of blue ad white  broken shell in it looked good as well as buffering the ph.

Quote from: Jon on Today at 10:02:59 AMIt will be easy to spot dirt with that colour and so easy to remove too.

Exactly what I thought.

That'll be fine. It will be easy to spot dirt with that colour and so easy to remove too.

Just to throw you a curve ball...

Also take a look at the closely related Brochis species. These look like 'big Cory's'. Here's an adult with youngsters.




In the meantime consider purchasing a white worm culture kit to feed sparingly. These are a great value high protein food source. And if you're thinking of breeding (not really your choice with Cory's) also look at culturing micro worms and brine shrimp to feed the babies.

Bear in mind that the different species cost the same to feed and heat. If you pick a rarer and more valuable species,  you'll have no issues selling the young or obtaining store credit when moving on the fish you've produced at home. Obviously pick fish you like the look of and want to keep and don't see it as a business. I'm simply mentioning this because I've seen so many people wondering what to do with their offspring. Rarer Cory's are not at all difficult to shift though.

Quote from: Jon on Today at 09:38:31 AMWhich sand have you actually ordered Fred? Is it one of the Unipac range?

This stuff. 4 x 10KG bags. Got 2 already the rest arrives Friday. It looks great grey/white and nice non-sharp texture

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amtra-QUARTZ-Aquarium-0-1-0-7-Quantity/dp/B071HBD228/ref=sr_1_5_pp?crid=YTIRL4SA4ZWQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PPGWzmAgJfZJSbEhBAHHHip46txklN16j3EHOW1jxS9OYSDgYmveyl2W9E4lrSGMR7RvN8ps7rpiWNhKmiJJdBdvsUlveGB_J_6QcvXSxRlhcQ76SNGKhPDQkkvnbRyrG-teRSvy3UH6nUnkwaSHmax-llkOdAZ7y8W3kjvR0ajIEVaTkrDkmJr4SUFb8kOWQCS2ItDdGn6rs5soIGqP-0JYz5JazB1_M4-x9-9a-YRvOnoywxSgF22lD9jhBSmvkxZGHYRUp6zuEK9E9FCKzNV4qvrehacDn5eXmgJeUqk.wzyc_WvK6QmOPD-DL-dFlVR-y4j4jsjveIWSSwplGwk&dib_tag=se&keywords=aquarium%2Bsand&qid=1715154047&sprefix=aquarium%2Bsa%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-5&th=1