MR TANK DONATION FOR SCHOOL:the build

[yah-the submariner]

hey! Previously i came to the MR community for a donation of a tank and any supplies for an opportunity to create an aquatic habitat for the students(and teachers it seems).i wasn't exactly sure what the approach should be but i decided africans and just work with what supplies i got. well,MR CAME THROUGH! i did invest some of my own funds but largely just about all i got was donations. the offering of advice and parts was more evidence of how awesome this site is. my of the teachers found it hard to believe a community of fishkeepers would go through so much trouble and be willing to part with expensive equipment-but that's exactly what happened.
i took pictures with may camera but i seem to have misplaced the battery charger :screama: it's not as amazing or extensive a build as i've seen on here but i went with what i could.
i will post pictures from my phone,it has a pretty decent cam,so you guys know where everything went.I appreciate everyone and if there is anymore tips,suggestions, advice,equpiment additions please feel free as it is a work in progress. thank you. Yahya aka yah

 

[yah-the submariner]

First acknowledgments: {Manhattan Reefs} this would have been impossible without you guys!
My wife for patience, support and inspiration n the build and my 6 month old son for his patience and continued interest as the build went on-definitely a next gen MR reefer.
Rodney from Total aquariums- contacted me and put me in contact with a great and generous gentleman(i will edit in his info when i get the ok) who donated a 90gal,stand,LOTS of saltwater, previously LR(now freshwater/brackish LR). great guy,great family.
andrew aka 45acp- donated a rena xp3(which runs like a dream.first one i've ever used-i'm a believer) with media and tubing.48 fl light fixture.and a bunch of great plastic plants.cool guy,cooler car.
steve spacernyc, S1024L and AR0026: for pending pick ups, constant contact and patience.
honorable mentions: stbarnabas, jerl77, 4fish-skene, camanuch, aqua pro builder and cryptics.
all for offering when they in no way had to.

 

[yah-the submariner]

this is what come of washing and curing the LR for several weeks. This is why i has taken so long to start the build.after placing in the tank there was still a little die off so i set the rock work and and let the tank run for another week or so. here are some images from my camera phone. still looking for the battery so i can take the images off of my digital camera.

 

[yah-the submariner]

http://youtu.be/6qA97zDDgQc

 

[bigbris1]

Very nice. Africans can be very territorial/aggressive so you may do well to research the types of rock you can use and then try to go and find some (like in a park) so as to create more "territories".

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

Hey man I wish I could help more but I don't know didaly squat about Africans. Lol.

 

[bizzarro]

Very nice. Africans can be very territorial/aggressive so you may do well to research the types of rock you can use and then try to go and find some (like in a park) so as to create more "territories".

+1

Not they can be, they will be. More rocks are needed.

Maybe some rocks like these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvGEYHUmmyU

 

[yah-the submariner]

Bris i absolutely agree. i am working on collecting more rock work. i've already added a few more plan on muuch more eventually. thanks for the input. always looking for ways to improve :spin:

 

[cowfish]

Use "Texas holey rock" - will help buffer the aquarium water, looks nice and will provide numerous hidey holes and territories.

 

[yah-the submariner]

LOL,Camanuch it's cool. Biazarro,i know. i have a mixed cichlid tank at home(not africans) so i know about the need for rock work. i like that tanks rock work. i've been looking at A LOT of different rock work.so i plan to add a lot more

 

[yah-the submariner]

cowfish you're right. you read my mind,i just looked at some in a lfs and plan on picking up a few. Always on a budget though,lol

 

[yah-the submariner]

upgrades

 

[yah-the submariner]

new editions: red claw crabs-3,Malawi-9,algae eaters-2, also some green quartz rock for color. hoping to add honey or lava rock! THE KIDS LOOOVE THESE GUYS!! BUILD CONTINUES,THEY GIVE MANY THANKS TO MR!!

 

[yah-the submariner]

upgrades

 

[yah-the submariner]

africans..

 

[bigbris1]

What would be a great project would be to get the kids together and go rock hunting, pick up some shale also. Then get together and build a rock wall background for the tank.

Search for "DIY Rock Wall" it can be done on a tight budget.

some ideas:

 

[sillysidewinder]

Loving those rock walls

 

[yah-the submariner]

What would be a great project would be to get the kids together and go rock hunting, pick up some shale also. Then get together and build a rock wall background for the tank.

Search for "DIY Rock Wall" it can be done on a tight budget.

some ideas:

Yup,that definitely looks awesome and worth looking into!!

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

ok already you have a BIG problem M. Auratus..the yellow ones w/ the black stripes. They will get big, UGLY and extremely mean. By the selection of fish I see it looks like you probably got them at a petland discounts or chain store they are the cheapest and most common. The orange ones (Red Zebra) are not too aggressive and the purple ones (Kenyi) if you have too many males they will change color and turn into males which are yellowish pink and will get ugly also. Try to keep more females than males of any type of fish. Plus they will breed and you will likely have some survivors and interesting mixes. I would get those Auratus out. Bring them back to the store maybe trade for something else if possible or store credit for filter materials/food etc. Also I would not buy fish from chain stores they usually do no acclimate their fish and they get ich CONSTANTLY. I once bought some africans from a petland discounts and the ich wiped out my whole tank. I lost a good thousand dollars or so worth of fish Including a 8" Royal pleco which goes for $150+ itself. Some great species to look into are the rarer more expensive ones they are definitely worth the money for their personality and individuality. Calvus,Aulonocra (Peacocks), any Tropheus, Julichromis, Neolamprologus Brichardi, Duboisi. Those are your best bets to have a gorgeous tank w/ fish that are not super aggressive and stay pretty small. You can google those names and see what type of fish I am talking about and if you need help finding them I can check w/ a few places I know and pick them up for you. In all my years of cichlid keeping these are my favorites. I have some pics of my cichlid setups in my album if you want to see. Lava rock is what you want for your setup. That is what buffers your PH.

 

[yah-the submariner]

Triggerman thanks for the info. yes the first few i got were from petland,but i wised up and have been hand selecting fish from lfs. new world ect. but Africans are not my specialty so i would not attempt to act like i have it all covered.working it out,man. working it out.i've been studying up constantly,i'm going to look into those guys and try to add them to the tank. thank you for caring enough to give me a heads up.