Love the videos, and your tanks. Please keep them up and I look forward to each one. Funny, that I was in the hobby for about 15 years and I never tested water ever before and never lost fish. I took about 15 years off and I’m getting back into it and I’ve still never tested. I’m going to get test kit this weekend and start understanding where all my parameters are. I started small with a 125 with mixed in Buna and a handful of peacocks. I really wanted to come out the gate with the 240 because of your peacocks. Once again you’re influencing my directions so thanks for your calm cool collected videos, love the personality meaning the comedy. And your delivery. From Phoenix Peace Larry
Once you showed the stands on the other tanks you also made, I’m like ok, this one gonna be amazing too haha. Good job and again, can’t wait to see it complete 🙌🏼
Awesome Dave!!! Youre the only one ive seen on RUclips to check to check their tap water source!! Nobody ever shows this! Next, you should get the api gh/kh test and test the tap water next. Not too many people check these kinds of things. Also TDS levels.
@@CichlidCharmer freshwater as well. It helps determine mineral content in your tap water which equals if your source water is soft or hard. Example, from my tap, m TDS is 65ppm which is soft and perfect for south american. My pH from tap is 7.2, so I use seachem American cichlid salt to raise hardness just a bit to raise the TDS to 160ppm or 7-8 GH. But GH/KH is just as important to know for specific fish depending on region as pH. But TDS levels can rise from excess nutrients such as overfeeding and fish waste. Too high of TDS in the tank from overstocking, such as a reading of 600ppm and up can actually cause issues like cloudy water and nitrite spikes. If allowed to build up that high in the tank. Took me awhile to understand TDS readings were just as important. Knowing what the TDS from tap also helps determine how safe your tap drinking water is also.
Nice go round of your tanks. Im slowly picking up recognition of the breeds but their colour changes as they grow its a challenge for me and not doing very well at it. I did do a LOL at Stellas introduction. My daughter has 4 x 4 legged short longs, also "S" names Sidney, Sophie, Stanley and Stewie. Thanks mate was good viewing. Tania in Aus.
Hi mate, I have my Africans at 8.0-8.2 always as I’m like you I just check it randomly as well. My tap water is neutral 7.0, 0 nitrates also, so I just have some crushed coral in one of my filters . Love the pets in the videos. I built my stand also and like the no doors look especially when you can see the sump in action. (I have 3 filters on mine ). If I’d had a sump I wouldn’t have doors either.But it does look more appealing with doors and a couple coats of paint.
David, Great video. I also check my ph in my tanks and mine is close to neutral. I have a water softener to. Salvinis are so cool. I have a male and he is about 4 inches he is so pretty and also pretty docile to. I hope he remains that way. My salvini has taken up a cave in one of my fake ship decorations. It’s cute to see him in it and when he squeezes out to come eat. I love CA SA cichlids. I also have a Firemouth they are pretty also with the reds and blues in their fins. ❤😂 I love the way your stands look. They look so pretty. I know San Quinton stand will look amazing to when you get to it.
San Quentin is inspiring. I’ve been thinking about getting into cichlids and am feeling a pull towards South American dwarfs and medium-sized (8-12”) Central Americans. I recently picked up an electric blue Jack Dempsey at an auction. After quarantine, I’m going to see if she will get along with my North American sunfish until I have the space for a large Central American tank.
@@CichlidCharmer An LFS about an hour from me had a mated pair of Nicaraguans for sale last month. I just stopped in to see the store for the first time since I found out they opened. I would have brought them home, but my parents are having health/care issues right now that can lead to me being away from my fish for a few days at a time, so I have decided I’m not adding anything else until they are settled. But I really want that pair.
Oh you're a dachshund guy too! Nice! I have two right now but I've had many over the years since I was a five year old kid. They rule! Sort of like dwarf cichlids of the dog world!
He does look pretty strange for a JD, but I also heard he was a she, and that was why. I got him from Imperial Tropicals, and they usually don't mislabel their fish. Interesting though! Maybe you're right
@@Tayscichlidshowroom never seen a female show that type of color as it isn’t a light color it’s a stripped patter across the top of her body either way looks really cool to me!
Dave how is your sand so clean, i just have a sand only substate but overtime it gets dirty, would you think earth eaters would help from moving thetop layers around and lifting up the cleaner sand 🤔
My African cichlid tank has really clean sand because of the way I have the wave makers positioned in the tank. They blow everything towards the filter intakes. San Quentin Sand only looks clean. If I stir it it actually is quite dirty. I need to sand vac the tank. It just doesn't look dirty because of the color of the sand.
Those are ultra aggressive. My blue Texas isn't as aggressive as those, and he might already be too much. Those are cool fish though. I do have a black nasty tank right now, and I'm just waiting for one male to take the lead, and then I'll have a solo nasty tank. They are mean like those fish you mentioned.
I have a Salvini cichlid. It is more on the blue side as of color than that yellow base color like yours. I have him in a tank by it self to grow out more before adding it to my 230 tank. Any idea on the coloration on it being more blue than yellow?
So of course, you're teasing me with your Sylvia knowing my Salvini is a dud, but you make it up with Stella, Hi Stella you're just too cute for words! How about" Emilio" for the Strigatus or" Ponch"-Poncherello every American girl's heartthrob from CHIPS though I liked Jon better lol! Funny all your tanks have the same PH which is a strange thing to keep chasing, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) gas changes it and it is hard to control, I use RO water for the Rams tanks other tanks I really don't care and all are doing great, oh other than a battle or 2 here and there but nothing like having that mean ManMan who is now terrorizing someone else's fish, sorry-not-sorry! Thanks for another great video, I know you will get to your new stand and finish it up to look awesome, people can just chill, you are one busy man, can't wait for those pictures when all done, nice! Thanks!
Haha, your poor little dud. Mine pales in comparison the Ben Ochart's though. So you think it's atmospheric CO2 doing the dirty work on my pH? Maybe that's it!
I bet the reason your thick skin cichlid is coloring down is because your Zebra Obliquidens is getting bigger and now challenging the dominance. That is what happened to my nyererei cichlid when my zebra obliquedens got bigger. Victorian cichlids don’t seem to do very well together IMO because they fight among themselves so much. I think your tank is large enough to keep the aggression level down though.
That's a good observation, Benjamin. The zebra is around three years old though and finished growing a while ago. Zeke (the zebra) is also one of the most peaceful "tough" fish I've ever owned. He never messes with Eduardo, and Eduardo never messes with Zeke.
What do you think of Sylvia? Any good fish names for the nameless inmates?
Look at lists of famous inmates at the real Alcatraz and San Quentin until something feels right.
Love the videos, and your tanks. Please keep them up and I look forward to each one. Funny, that I was in the hobby for about 15 years and I never tested water ever before and never lost fish. I took about 15 years off and I’m getting back into it and I’ve still never tested. I’m going to get test kit this weekend and start understanding where all my parameters are. I started small with a 125 with mixed in Buna and a handful of peacocks. I really wanted to come out the gate with the 240 because of your peacocks. Once again you’re influencing my directions so thanks for your calm cool collected videos, love the personality meaning the comedy. And your delivery.
From Phoenix
Peace Larry
Thank you! Good to hear your story 🤘
Once you showed the stands on the other tanks you also made, I’m like ok, this one gonna be amazing too haha. Good job and again, can’t wait to see it complete 🙌🏼
Thanks man! Eventually hahah
You should do a live feeding video
Great vid. I especially appreciate a good-looking tank with the use of rocks and sticks. That looong stick is perfectly placed!
Thank you! I really like that piece from aquadecor.
Ryan and I both have one now such an awesome fish!!! 💪
They really are!
@@CichlidCharmer might try and get a male and female 😳
Awesome Dave!!! Youre the only one ive seen on RUclips to check to check their tap water source!! Nobody ever shows this!
Next, you should get the api gh/kh test and test the tap water next.
Not too many people check these kinds of things. Also TDS levels.
Thank you, Dennis! Those are good ideas. Isn't TDS mostly for saltwater enthusiasts?
@@CichlidCharmer freshwater as well. It helps determine mineral content in your tap water which equals if your source water is soft or hard. Example, from my tap, m TDS is 65ppm which is soft and perfect for south american. My pH from tap is 7.2, so I use seachem American cichlid salt to raise hardness just a bit to raise the TDS to 160ppm or 7-8 GH.
But GH/KH is just as important to know for specific fish depending on region as pH.
But TDS levels can rise from excess nutrients such as overfeeding and fish waste. Too high of TDS in the tank from overstocking, such as a reading of 600ppm and up can actually cause issues like cloudy water and nitrite spikes. If allowed to build up that high in the tank.
Took me awhile to understand TDS readings were just as important.
Knowing what the TDS from tap also helps determine how safe your tap drinking water is also.
So much to learn. Thanks Dennis!
@@CichlidCharmer hey we learn together brother
Nice go round of your tanks. Im slowly picking up recognition of the breeds but their colour changes as they grow its a challenge for me and not doing very well at it. I did do a LOL at Stellas introduction. My daughter has 4 x 4 legged short longs, also "S" names Sidney, Sophie, Stanley and Stewie.
Thanks mate was good viewing. Tania in Aus.
Thank you. Love the pup names!
awesome . . . well done 👍🙏💪
Thank you 🙌
Hi mate, I have my Africans at 8.0-8.2 always as I’m like you I just check it randomly as well. My tap water is neutral 7.0, 0 nitrates also, so I just have some crushed coral in one of my filters . Love the pets in the videos. I built my stand also and like the no doors look especially when you can see the sump in action. (I have 3 filters on mine ). If I’d had a sump I wouldn’t have doors either.But it does look more appealing with doors and a couple coats of paint.
Thank you! I will use some 1x6s and do some staining. I rarely notice the ugly stand now, because I'm so mesmerized by the tank and fish.
@@CichlidCharmer for me the fish are the main attraction and then the decor and everything else blending in
Sylvia is by far one of the most beautiful fresh water fish I’ve ever seen. Long live Sylvia; how big is she going to get?
Thanks! She's just about full grown now at just under 5 inches.
David,
Great video. I also check my ph in my tanks and mine is close to neutral. I have a water softener to. Salvinis are so cool. I have a male and he is about 4 inches he is so pretty and also pretty docile to. I hope he remains that way. My salvini has taken up a cave in one of my fake ship decorations. It’s cute to see him in it and when he squeezes out to come eat. I love CA SA cichlids. I also have a Firemouth they are pretty also with the reds and blues in their fins. ❤😂 I love the way your stands look. They look so pretty. I know San Quinton stand will look amazing to when you get to it.
I love hearing about your Salvini. They really are great fish, aren't they? Thanks, Jeremy -- good to hear more about your inmates
San Quentin is inspiring. I’ve been thinking about getting into cichlids and am feeling a pull towards South American dwarfs and medium-sized (8-12”) Central Americans. I recently picked up an electric blue Jack Dempsey at an auction. After quarantine, I’m going to see if she will get along with my North American sunfish until I have the space for a large Central American tank.
Thank you. If I could only have one type of cichlid. It would surely be these Americans.
@@CichlidCharmer An LFS about an hour from me had a mated pair of Nicaraguans for sale last month. I just stopped in to see the store for the first time since I found out they opened. I would have brought them home, but my parents are having health/care issues right now that can lead to me being away from my fish for a few days at a time, so I have decided I’m not adding anything else until they are settled. But I really want that pair.
I've wanted fish I knew I should wait on before. It's hard to be strong. I wish your parents the best.
Oh you're a dachshund guy too! Nice! I have two right now but I've had many over the years since I was a five year old kid. They rule! Sort of like dwarf cichlids of the dog world!
Excellent comparison lol
Ok thanks David
Welcome
I have the same issue. After the water gases off the ph goes to where it naturally is. Mine raises up about 1.0 and was messes fins up.
That Jack Dempsey looks like a hybrid fish (convict+JD) I’ve seen them before and think they are very cool but they also seem to be very rare.
He does look pretty strange for a JD, but I also heard he was a she, and that was why. I got him from Imperial Tropicals, and they usually don't mislabel their fish. Interesting though! Maybe you're right
Definitely just a regular female jack Dempsey showing light colors
@@CichlidCharmeryeah definitely just a female jack Dempsey no hybrid
I think she's pretty even though males are prettier. Thanks!
@@Tayscichlidshowroom never seen a female show that type of color as it isn’t a light color it’s a stripped patter across the top of her body either way looks really cool to me!
Great video David. By the way the larger fake stones. Where did you order those. I'd like to get a few for the new aquarium.
Thank you! The fake rocks are from aquadecor. So are the branch and roots. I have a full video on them.
Dave how is your sand so clean, i just have a sand only substate but overtime it gets dirty, would you think earth eaters would help from moving thetop layers around and lifting up the cleaner sand 🤔
My African cichlid tank has really clean sand because of the way I have the wave makers positioned in the tank. They blow everything towards the filter intakes. San Quentin Sand only looks clean. If I stir it it actually is quite dirty. I need to sand vac the tank. It just doesn't look dirty because of the color of the sand.
Stand building video when you get around to it?
Already made one 😁. It's been out for about five months.
Can we add dovi, jaguar and yellow jackets together with all those other cichlids in tank your size?
Those are ultra aggressive. My blue Texas isn't as aggressive as those, and he might already be too much. Those are cool fish though. I do have a black nasty tank right now, and I'm just waiting for one male to take the lead, and then I'll have a solo nasty tank. They are mean like those fish you mentioned.
Steve for the strigatus
Ooooo that's nice
I have a Salvini cichlid. It is more on the blue side as of color than that yellow base color like yours. I have him in a tank by it self to grow out more before adding it to my 230 tank. Any idea on the coloration on it being more blue than yellow?
Yep! You've got yourself a male. The females are yellow black and red.
So of course, you're teasing me with your Sylvia knowing my Salvini is a dud, but you make it up with Stella, Hi Stella you're just too cute for words! How about" Emilio" for the Strigatus or" Ponch"-Poncherello every American girl's heartthrob from CHIPS though I liked Jon better lol! Funny all your tanks have the same PH which is a strange thing to keep chasing, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) gas changes it and it is hard to control, I use RO water for the Rams tanks other tanks I really don't care and all are doing great, oh other than a battle or 2 here and there but nothing like having that mean ManMan who is now terrorizing someone else's fish, sorry-not-sorry! Thanks for another great video, I know you will get to your new stand and finish it up to look awesome, people can just chill, you are one busy man, can't wait for those pictures when all done, nice! Thanks!
Haha, your poor little dud. Mine pales in comparison the Ben Ochart's though. So you think it's atmospheric CO2 doing the dirty work on my pH? Maybe that's it!
@@CichlidCharmer Nah it's the osmosis, line up of the moon and stars, haha I have no idea, but I think Sylivia is just as gorgeous as Ben's.
Well I'll pass that on to her. She'll definitely like you
@@CichlidCharmer Thank you!
How about Bart for the Strigatus, after Bartholomew Roberts, a famous one-eyed pirate?
Nice. Blind Bart. Cool name 😎
I bet the reason your thick skin cichlid is coloring down is because your Zebra Obliquidens is getting bigger and now challenging the dominance. That is what happened to my nyererei cichlid when my zebra obliquedens got bigger. Victorian cichlids don’t seem to do very well together IMO because they fight among themselves so much. I think your tank is large enough to keep the aggression level down though.
That's a good observation, Benjamin. The zebra is around three years old though and finished growing a while ago. Zeke (the zebra) is also one of the most peaceful "tough" fish I've ever owned. He never messes with Eduardo, and Eduardo never messes with Zeke.
Sounds like you have a good amount of CO2 in your water and once it evaporates after sitting raises to your true PH
Nailed it.
Half the name. New pic. Still me. Still saying root and not rut over here 😊
Lol it's good to see.you, Paul. I don't even care if you pronounce root incorrectly 🤣
@@CichlidCharmer😂😂