5Ft, low tech,planted - African Biotope Project

Any cichlid will decimate critters that will fit into their mouths

Im sure they're loving the live food selection there

 

Yeah this makes perfect sense, I don’t know why I thought they weren’t predatory/ proper cichlids. I’ve never kept them before in my African setups so I guess you live and learn.

they have also excavated the bank at the back of the tank and created a pretty impressive cave under one of the retaining rocks.. Guess we will have fry soon.

 

Great stuff! They tank will be packed with them in no time

 

I’m not winning with this SOBO canister though. They sent back the original one after the replacement one started leaking, the original one (now running after an impeller replacement) is now leaking.

I hate this thing.

 

So despite digging caverns, excavating rocks, redistributing half of my sand, the Kribs elected to lay eggs on the wood that was there all along..
Cool new behaviour to observe, I just hope they eat most of them

 

They're looking stunning!

 

Thanks bud ☺️

I’ve been really surprised by them in general, beautiful fish, loads of character and not too fussy.
Can’t imagine why I didn’t have them before.

The landscaping isn’t ideal but I actually kinda like it..

 

The landscaping helps keeps it an "authentic" African river

 

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking

it’s not meant to be a painting and I’m very happy for them to re-nature whatever they want.

Spotted one of the red crabs this morning, they moved in right at the outset, with the wild fish. Haven’t seen them for ages and just assumed they’d died quietly, apparently not !

 

Very nice tank bro !!

 

Thank you bud
Still a long way to go. Low tech is slow

 

I’ve been slow to update here..:

The eggs disappeared as quickly as they appeared, assume they were eaten.

Tank continues to develop slowly, kribs continue with their landscaping.
Sinodontis are growing nicely and the Congos are colouring up.
Will post livestock pics in due course.

still dealing with a lot of debris in the water column and tannins hence the internal filter.
Unfortunately, I am moving to a new place in May so the entire tank will have to be broken down, moved and reassembled.. can’t even think about it yet

 

They really have been a surprise package… great fish

I’m sure they will try again. Hopefully after my move and inevitable rescape ‍♂️

 

Been a while since I popped in. The tank is looking superb, well done.

 

High praise and much appreciated.

There had been further progress but I am kind of in limbo as I am moving at the end of the month.

Entire tank will have to be emptied and stripped and subsequently reassembled in the new location … terrified

 

I will also have to move sometime in the coming months. Not looking forward to it.

 

Looks like it may be sooner than expected, as early as next week.

bloody terrified:

My Kribs have of course chosen this time to spawn again. There are dry everywhere..