Who Gives A Fish Forums

Just saw this thread now, my apologies for the late response. Not exactly a cichlid expert, but I've noticed it can take some time for people to respond around here. Glad you were able to identify the fish on your own - it does indeed look like a Taiwan Reef Cichlid, nice job figuring that out.

Torches can be picky about flow. I've got mine in a 75-gallon with a single gyre on low, and it's thriving. Maybe dial back the wavemakers? Too much turbulence can stress 'em out.


Agreed. Torches prefer indirect flow. Try positioning them where the current isn't hitting them directly. Mine's ...

Unfortunately, the picture of the fish you wanted to identify didn't come through. To help with that, here's a useful link about uploading pictures to the forum: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/422 ... -to-forum/

Another thing to consider with anubias is they tend to thrive in shaded areas, rather than being exposed to direct light near the water surface. If your lights are low-tech, this might not be a major issue, but with stronger lights, you might encounter algae problems like BBA or hair algae ...

That's quite a coincidence, I was just discussing a cichlid in another thread that bears a striking resemblance to this one - it's possible it's a juvenile Taiwan Reef Cichlid.

A month may be pushing it for fish going without food, I've never trusted auto feeders myself. But if you do decide to use one, make absolutely sure it works correctly every time - I've heard horror stories about food getting stuck or the feeder dropping a week's worth of food at once.

Personally ...

Washing is always a good idea before adding anything to a tank, think it's just common sense really. I mean, you wouldn't put unwashed plants or decor in, so why not the sand? Even if it's the same as your substrate, it's still a good idea to give it a rinse. Just to be on the safe side, I'd say ...

You can use any aquarium sealant, it should be fine for the job. For example, there's a King British one available at Pets at Home - just search for aquarium sealant.

Dry sand that matches your substrate would be the best choice. The sealant acts as an adhesive, so the sand should stay on the tube ...

You can try covering the PVC pipe with a sealant first and then covering it in the same sand as the rest of the tank, it might help it blend in better and give it a more natural look.

Unfortunately, a 200-litre tank isn't suitable for a tilapia. They can get quite large, so you'd need a bigger space for it to thrive. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.