New Geophagus tank

[Nikola]

Hi all!
Here is picture of my new Eartheater tank.As always,natural setup
At the moment,this tank is home to about 40 Geophagus steindachneri fry.They will be removed soon,and group of Geophagus sp. Areoes and pair of Guianacaras will take their place.
Supstrate is fine quartz sand (less than 0,5 mm ) and other decoration are stones and red moorwood.Oak leaves will be added soon

[Bas Pels]

Once I put oakleaves in a Geophagus tank, and after a while the leaves were covered with sand. A few weeks later ,I stirred up some sand, and ugly fumes came out of it: the leaves decayed and detoriated the substrate

I had to remouve all the sand, and as I did not know how bad the substrate would be for the fishe,s I had to remouve the fishes first. In fact I emptied the tank fully. A nasty job, because of the smell (and as the tank was in my work-room, where I spend 10 hours every day, I had to sit it out a lot longer)

Be carefull with oak leaves - or any leaves - in an eartheater tank. Dont let them be covered in the sand

[Nikola]

yes,I know that.There wont be much leaves,and Geophagus are still small.But tank looks nice with leaves,even in a beginning.
Leaves are primary here because of pH lowering.My tap water is 7,and this fishes need 6,5 or less.In my experience,Oak leaves are good thing for lowering pH.Also,tap water will be mixed with RO water.

[BrokenBoxJ]

Almond leaves lower ph more slowly and will not foul water. Ph lowers to about 5.5 over 6 weeks.
~Joe
BrokenBoxJ

[DRE]

Sounds like a very gppd setup. What Guianacaras are you going for?

[Nikola]

Well...this tank is now home to centralamerican cichlids.
Geophagus sp. Areoes ,Heros sp. Rotkeil and Guianacara geayi,are removed to another tank.They were to frightened in this one.Dont know why?It lasted too long and I didn't want to look my fish scared,so I removed them to another tank,and they are doing fine now.Centralamerican cichlids in this tank are not scared at all.
I will post pictures of new one soon,its similar setup to this one

[Piotr Koba]

Maybe they were scared of the low position of the tank?

[Nikola]

Maybe they were scared of the low position of the tank?

I thought the same thing in the begining.Cichlids who are now in the tank,don't have problem with that.And also I have few tanks at that position and cichlids are ok...
Anyway,eartheaters are doing fine for now in new tank,and they are quite relaxed.

[dorsalled]

Maybe they were scared of the low position of the tank?

I thought the same thing in the begining.Cichlids who are now in the tank,don't have problem with that.And also I have few tanks at that position and cichlids are ok...
Anyway,eartheaters are doing fine for now in new tank,and they are quite relaxed.

Glad to hear it. Are you planning to reintroduce them anytime in the future?

[Nikola]

New tank setup ignore the little "thing" at the top left corner of the aquarium, it is currently home to "Geophagus" steindachneri fry

[Nikola]

Few pictures of Geophagus
Can anyone help with ID? I thought they are sp. Areoes,but stripes on the tail... Abalios maybe??? Guianacaras are removed in another tank.They bothered Rotkeils while spawning