Saying hello,and getting some help

[discusone]

New member,but long time lurker.
Finally took the plunge and setting up my old 40 breeder tank.Left the saltwater end of the hobby several years ago.So having said that,a couple of many questions.

How are you long time apisto keepers keeping a high O2 level in your tanks?.From all i have read,( and i have read ALL the threads here,no joke),apistos like calm water movement?.Air stones?,powerheads?.

And,as sand seems to be the substrate of choice,how deep a bed is ideal?.And how is that sand maintained in an apisto tank.

And lastly,any good books on identification of species?.The only book i have is, Complete Book Of Dwarf Cichlids,by H.J Richter.

Thanks,and please be kind to this newby!.

[dw1305]

Hi and welcome,
I don't think water movement is a problem, I use 2 sponge filters per tank, usually fixed to a "maxijet" powerhead, this allows you to run a venturi device if you wish. I always have regular water changes, low stocking and planted tanks and I don't have any problems with low O2 levels (even for more rheophilic fish, plecs etc). If you really want very highly oxygenated water a "wet & dry" trickle filter is the best bet.

For essential reading I'd start with a web site rather than book, Bob Wiltshire's (ApistoBob) Web site. It has really useful advice for habitat, water etc. and Bob's practical experience of keeping many dwarf cichlids.
<http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/index.php>

The depth of the sand bed isn't that important, a thin layer will do, it is so the fish can sift it whilst feeding and push it around to enlarge/block up breeding caves etc. Personally I have quite a thick layer, with some leaf mould and clay incorporated as I have lots of plants and Malaysian Trumpet Snails.

I do very little tank maintenance, and I don't clean the sand at all, have a look at this post <http://www.forum.apistogramma.com/showthread.php?p=52830>.

For books
The DATZ Sonderheft/special publication "Südamerikanische Zwergcichliden/South American Dwarf Cichlids", has good I.D's, it is mainly a photographic guide, but it does have some useful cultural information.

The other 2 I use are Linke and Staeke's "Dwarf Cichlids" and Mayland & Bork "SA Dwarf Cichlids" , I probably prefer Linke and Staeke, although both don't cover all the newer species (particularly in Linke and Staeck, which was published 20 yrs ago). These have water parameters for some of the collecting locations.

cheers Darrel