Room spec.

Owner:
Steve Corbett, Perth, Australia

E-mail:
jiver@bigpond.net.au

Web:
Steves Tropheus

Amount of tanks and tank sizes:
3 x 680L, 2 x 560L, 1 x 450L, 2x300L, 3 x 220L, 6 x 50L =17 tanks

Racks:
Mostly custom made metal stands to provide good access to bottom tanks.

Heating:
Individual heaters in each tank. In winter, Fish Room is heated to 22deg C approx as safety backup and to limit use of individual heaters.

Lighting:
Individual lights for all tanks, except some of the fry tanks just use the room lighting. Lights are on timers.

Filtration: Eheim external canisters. Sponge filters in fry tanks.

Electric installation:
Standard house fit out. Use power boards off power outlets.

Flooring:
Cement floor covered with carpet.

Substrate:
Minimal substrate – small natural gravel. Fry tanks are usually bare bottom

Interiors, (plants rock work):
Mostly limestone rocks which help buffer the water. Some terracotta pots for caves and household bricks providing small caves.

What could have been done better?
It just evolved as my interest did. I should have got bigger tanks sooner, but the small ones have been put to good use as grow tanks.

Do you have a show tank in your livingroom?
Yes. Four! 2 x 680L and 2 x 560L. Though most people would not call them show tanks. All my tanks are set up for the fish to be happy and breeding, not to be pretty to look at – though the fish look gorgeous of course!

Fish

What cichlids do you keep?
These days I only keep Tropheus.

Your favourite fish in the room and why? (only one individual)
Hmmmm. Tough call. Probably my Tropheus moorii Ilangi No3 male. He got sick and didn’t eat for four weeks. I nursed him back to health and reintroduced him to the adult colony – he is a very pretty boy.

Last fish purchased:
Tropheus moorii Ilangi F1.

Nr. 1. on your wish list:
Bulk F2 Ilangi bred by me.

Maintanace

Waterchange frequency:
Breeding tanks 33% weekly. Fry and grow out tanks 33% every third day.

Method of waterchanges:
Hoses and buckets.

Smart gadgets to help working the room:
Hoses connect to ‘pvc hooks’ to hook onto tank. The pvc ‘hook’ has a tap so I can turn it off at the tank in an emergency. I also have the hoses on a timer so they will turn off in case I am distracted.

Foods for fry and grown fish:
Quality spirulina flake.

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