Complete revamp

So..................

I am doing a complete revamp of my tank.
Stock and decor.

I have been getting increasingly frustrated with my tank over the past few months.
Been feeling more and more that it is a box with fish in it. Not the feature in my lounge that it is supposed to be. Love keeping the Rays. But annoyed with the Dollars, and not much else I can keep with the Rays. Cichlids always started pecking them. I think more out of curiosity than malice.
Algae was out of control. And any sort of decor that I did try got knocked over by the Fire Eel.
The whole thing just wasn't working for me.

After a lot of agonising, soul searching and discussing with friends, I decided it was time for a change. I have had the Rays for nearly 5 years, and thoroughly enjoyed having them. But it was time to move on.

So on Tuesday morning, I caught them, and took them to a lfs that has a lot of oddballs. Got credit for future spending. Could have probably got a lot more if I sold them privately, but with the current health crisis there is no way I was having strangers turn up at my house.

What am I going to be doing with the tank?
Well one group of fish that I have kept and bred as the odd species in the past is Lake Tanganyika Cichlids. But have never done a Tang community. It's something that has appealed to me.
And this is the route I am taking. My tap water is ideal - high KH and Ph.
My tank is a nice size. Don't plan on having the bigger species. Frontosa etc. It will be the smaller and medium species. Wish Jack Stone was around to advise re combinations. But the chap at the lfs is very knowledgeable and I trust his advice. They are getting a big shipment next week. With some interesting stock expected. In the mean time I have a few Neo brichardii just to keep the filter going.

Decorating my tank.
Well I am going to attempt something different. Inspired by @pierreschoonraad's shelly tank. I am going to try a tangle of wood. The hardness of the water should prevent tannins causing Ph swings. And plants. I am rubbish at growing aquarium plants. But want to have a go with some of the more forgiving species.
Piles of rocks didn't appeal to me.

Will keep everyone updated as the project develops

 

I'm definitely excited to see this. I miss my lake tangs. Enjoy it.

 

It was a privilege to keep them, but yes, it was frustrating. But anyhow. Things move on.

 

How big was your tank??
What species did you keep?

 

Sounds great, sometimes just nice to shake things up a bit. This vid was originally posted by @fux940510 and I loved the way they they used the wood. Then as you say, less or no rocks but some plants should look great!

 

The tank was a nano compared to yours 250L 4ft tank with a sump (300L total)

I kept brichardii in there they where a breeding group. Amazing to watch them raise there fry. Also kept a synodontis petricola. That was also a cool fish but they are escape artists. Also wanted neo leleupi but they where out of stock everywhere at that time.

Would like to do tropheus ikola one day but think they need speices only.

 

Tang tanks are usually decorated with stones / rocks.
But I don't see why I can't use wood as it doesn't affect the chemistry of the water.

 

I am starting to wonder if brichardii was such a good idea.
Apparently they breed like rabbits and literally take over the tank
Anyway, I will have to monitor the situation and if they breed to much and start getting too aggressive I will take them out.

 

They will breed for sure. Had mine for 3 months before they had there first fry. 3 months after that I had over 100 of them. Good luck. ​

 

I have a feeling I am going to have to play around with the stocking before I get the right combination of species

 

True but that's some of the fun of the new tank. Enjoy

 

I am pleased to hear it worked out. Am definately going to give wood a go.

How big was your tank and what did you have in there?

 

@Reedfish another example of wood imo used very effectively in a large tank.