Cichlids

The algae eaters are chine algae eaters if Im correct, here is a pic of one of them.
Would you suggest getting rid of the plecos and maybe getting two or three more clown loaches?
I do a 20-35% water change weekly. My loaches are all on their own, they never swim with the barbs.

 

@oscar freak

Would you say I can add more clown loaches?

 

I'm no expert on clown loaches but with your size tank I would be hesitant about adding more big fish,chinese algae eaters are apparently aggressive as we'll,I don't wanna tell you how to stock your tank its up to you at the end of the day.I'd suggest u read up on some the fish and then go on from there.

 

@oscar freak

Well I'm here to learn from you guys, so any advice is great. Ill keep an eye on the algae eaters and make sure to do something if they start harassing my othe fish.

Would you say i should move away from the plecos and algae eaters?

I want to get another 2 male kribs and one more female? Will this be fine?

 

The thing is you have to ask yourself what kind of setup do you want.because not all fish are compatable and some fish are not suitable for planted tanks its best to sort that out before you stock the tank.but because we past that stage we have to make another plan.1st I'd say your tank is a bit overstocked and if it doesn't seem that way now just wait until some of those guys get going.there's no problem having a mixed community tanks from different areas provided they prefer similar conditions as you heard about the malawies earlier on.I prefer south american fish which generally prefer acidic soft water,I'm not to sure about the asian species you keeping.I'm typing on my blackberry and its very painful so sorry for the short replies sometimes will be better tomorrow from my pc

 

About the kribs they nice fish but get aggressive during spawning.up to you about the plecos and cae,there are better alternatives but it all depends on the setup you want to have.all this is just my opinion I'm sure there's other guys here who have a different opinion.

 

@oscar freak

What alternatives are there to replace the plecos with?

I am aware the Kribs become aggressive, but if they spawn wont they stay at their "area"?

 

They tend to move the fry around and aren't scared to defend what they see as their territory.ancistrus are miniature versions of plecos basically and more suitable for a planted tank

 

@oscar freak

I will have a look at findig the minature plecos, so I will then just get a male for my female krib?

Where will i find the miniture plecos?

So if i get rid of the plecos and algae eaters,would you say this is good?

 

@oscar freak

I have a big pieceof drift wood that i use to use in my 80l tank, will it be a good idea to put it back in the tank? How will it effect the plants once i plant them in the tank?

any replies will be appreciated.

 

the driftwood is fine and wont affect the plants,driftwood is a big part of most planted tanks.

 

Not to butt in but the plecos you are looking for are called Ancistrus. Google them and find the type you like as there are hundreds of different ones. Some are seriously expensive so ask on the site when you have a few you like. The driftwood will release tannins into your water making it tea coloured. It is actually beneficial to your fish but you can add Seachem Purigen to your filter to remove it.

 

Chinese Algae Eater Profile Facts and Care Information Scientific Name : Gyrinocheilos aymonieri
Common Names : Chinese Algae Eater, Indian Algae Eater, Sucker Loach, Sucker Fish, Golden Algae Eater
Chinese Algae Eater Care Level : Easy to Medium
Size : Up to 11 inches (28 cm)
pH : 6.5 - 7.5
Temperature : 75°F - 80°F (24°C - 27°C)
Water Hardness : 8° to 12° dH
Lifespan : 5 - 10 years
Origin / Habitat : Asia
Temperament / Behavior : As a juvenile it should be ok in a community tank but as it matures it can become a pest and should be removed from community tanks. It's probably best not to get them for community tanks in the first place. There are better algae eaters available for community tank setups.
Chinese Algae Eater Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : Difficult to breed in the home aquarium.
Tank Size : 55 gallon (208 liters) or larger.
Compatible Tank Mates : As adults, they may attach to the sides of larger flat bodied fish such as Angelfish and damage scales.
Fish Disease : Freshwater Fish Disease
Diet / Fish Food : Mostly algae but reported to eat algae less as it matures. Supplement with algae wafers.
Tank Region : Mostly on the bottom and sometimes on the tank walls and plant leaves.
Gender : Very difficult to determine difference between male and female.
Similar Species : Catfish
Fish Lore Forum : Chinese Algae Eater Forum


courtesy of fish lore

 

If possible, look at replacing the Chinese Algae Eaters with true Siamese Algae Eaters when the CAE get too big. Maybe look for ottocinclus - They are another type of algae eater.

 

Plecostomus is also a synonym of the genus Hypostomus and the genus Loricariichthys. Pleco is a common name for fish from the family Loricariidae.Hypostomus plecostomus (known colloquially as a sucker fish) is the scientific name for a type of freshwater tropical Central and South American fish belonging to the family Loricariidae. They are large algae eaters, and to differentiate them from small algae eaters, they are often referred to as plecostomus, often abbreviated as plecos or plecs. They are extremely popular in aquariums for their ability to clean tanks by eating algae growth and dead fish. These friendly natured fish can typically be purchased when about 8 cm (3.1 in) and depending on the size of the fish tank, may grow up to 60 cm (24 in). Such larger specimens are impractical for any but the largest aquariums.
Plecos are omnivorous, but in the wild feed nocturnally mostly on plant material. During the day, their unusual omega irises block a lot of light out of their eyes, but they are usually open at night. They can roll their eyes within their sockets, giving the appearance of winking. Plecos are usually skittish and quickly hide whenever they sense danger

courtesy wikipedia

 

@MarcHawke @oscar freak

I will look into getting some ottocinclus(if i can find some) or some snowflake plecos(Ancistrus) if i can find some.

I will clean the driftwood tonight as it was put into a cupboard and i'll put it back into the tank. Then for hiding places for the krib, what type of "structures" do I need? I've got this barrel type of thing that I bought from the pet shop in there and she loves it. Then I also have this huge bell thing in my tank in which my clowns spend a lot of their time, should i take it out and replace with some thing smaller or keep it in there?

 

Thanks, thats quite interesting.

 

post some more pics of the tank

 

Soak it in a bucket/bath with boiling water overnight. If it stains the water heavily you might want to repeat the hot water soaking over a few days. I usually add salt to my bucket at the beginning to deal with any nasties and then I soak it with clean water to get rid of the salt.

 

Nice variety of fishes you got their you can definitely get more Tiger barbs they do much better in bigger schools, just a note on the fish you call a Ruby Tiger Barbs they are actually just Ruby barbs.

Your mix is a bit hectic so rather decide on what you want to keep most fish do better in schools of 6 or more.

You only get 3 variants of Tiger Barbs the plain type the albino/golden ones and then the green Tiger barbs.

I would suggest you get at least another 7 Plain Tiger barbs and another 4 Green Tiger barbs they look great in a bigger school. Go look at my thread I got a Tiger Barb species only tank got 64 in their at the moment. MY 650 Liter of pure Tiger Barb (The ) - Page 64

I would exchange the following fish and rather swop them out for something else.

The 3 widows, the big and small pleco like everyone mentions they get huge.
the 1 x Angel, the dwarf and big gouramie, the 2 paradise fish maybe just keep one.
Rather exchange the 2 Ruby barbs for proper Tiger barbs.

And definitely get another 5 corydoras they like to be in schools.

You can also add another another 2 - 3 Clown loaches or you can exchange them for the smaller Zebra loaches or Pakistani loaches. The clown loaches also get very big and they will also outgrow your 4foot tank.

This is just my 2 cents worth.

HTH