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South American Dwarfs - environment height

MarkPT

New Member
Messages
21
ON average for German Rams/ Apisto's, what do people find is the optimal or used environment height?

I currently have a 1 metre length tank with about 5 bits of 'good' bogwood, roughly 4inches high - each has 'cave' like or bridging areas with plenty of plants around.

Was thinking about stacking some more on top to create second level almost, and additional crevices and caves .... would these get used or do these fish realistically just use substrate level?

Have 2 female Rams and 2 male apisto's so just further trying to break it up and give cover to all, but not sure if they'll go that high/use?!
 

MarkPT

New Member
Messages
21
Thanks - yeah I've seem them swim 'above' the current bogwood line, so was just wondering whether it's worth 'layering' any more on top for additional 'hideouts' and crevices/caves etc?

Can I ask for your opinion on my setup above please Mike?
 

dw1305

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
2,755
Location
Wiltshire UK
Hi all,
Thanks - yeah I've seem them swim 'above' the current bogwood line, so was just wondering whether it's worth 'layering' any more on top for additional 'hideouts' and crevices/caves etc? Can I ask for your opinion on my setup above please Mike?
You can create much more complex layouts with layered bog wood, particularly if it's "branchy", and the cichlids will then make use of the higher levels of the tank. I also always have floating plants, and these are also utilised by the fish (especially juveniles).

This is the tank I use as a quarantine tank/unexpected fish/plant storage tank. At this point it had spare Copella arnoldi and Apistogramma agassizii grow outs in it. The whole tank was like this, there weren't any large open spaces.

copella_arnoldi1_zps297ebb6f-jpg.20950
Can I ask for your opinion on my setup above please Mike?
I'm not sure what Mike will say, but I'd like lots more plants and cover (these are Dicrossus maculatus).

dicrossus_clup1_resize-1-jpg.41359


From above
top_view-jpg.41358


I don't mind if I can't see the fish, I'm going to work on the theory that if they have a good diet and a good environment they are going to get on all right.

I should also say that in all three of these cases within a year of taking the photo's I'd lost all these fish (the Dicrossus bloated, Copella fell victim to a heater malfunction and all the Apistogramma fry turned out to be males).

cheers Darrel
 

MarkPT

New Member
Messages
21
Hi all,You can create much more complex layouts with layered bog wood, particularly if it's "branchy", and the cichlids will then make use of the higher levels of the tank. I also always have floating plants, and these are also utilised by the fish (especially juveniles).

This is the tank I use as a quarantine tank/unexpected fish/plant storage tank. At this point it had spare Copella arnoldi and Apistogramma agassizii grow outs in it. The whole tank was like this, there weren't any large open spaces.

copella_arnoldi1_zps297ebb6f-jpg.20950
I'm not sure what Mike will say, but I'd like lots more plants and cover (these are Dicrossus maculatus).

dicrossus_clup1_resize-1-jpg.41359


From above
top_view-jpg.41358


I don't mind if I can't see the fish, I'm going to work on the theory that if they have a good diet and a good environment they are going to get on all right.

I should also say that in all three of these cases within a year of taking the photo's I'd lost all these fish (the Dicrossus bloated, Copella fell victim to a heater malfunction and all the Apistogramma fry turned out to be males).

cheers Darrel
Thanks Darrel - appreciate that!
Yes I've got almond leaves on way, and the planted tank is still quite young, so lots to grow out!
Since the post I've got some more bogwood and added Java Moss too , so should have a LOT of closed spaces, so I think things will go well ...... thanks again for your time, I appreciate it!
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
I don't have any community tanks at the moment, only breeding tanks. My tanks are much darker with few plants (mostly Java Moss and a thick layer of Salvinia at the top). Structural boundaries vary with the species, but fairly open so I can see if the fish are behaving themselves. This is one of my 20L breeding tanks for a pair/trio of A. sp. (aff. luelingi) Cristal.
upload_2018-9-27_9-51-1.png


This is one of my 20H grow-out tanks. Believe it or not there are about 15, 1"/2.5cm Cristals in it.
upload_2018-9-27_9-58-9.png


Not pretty, but functional.

As for a layered bottom, all I can suggest is that you try it and let us know how it works.
 

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