Hey guys

[Explosif]

hey everyone!
Just thought i'd just drop a line and say hello and introduce myself! My name is Alex, and I'm from Colorado. I started in the aquarium hobby keeping cichlids, and i am still enjoying my 40 gallon Mbuna tank! Umm I guess im just getting started in the reef hobby. I've been listening to robs podcasts like a nut, and he's been kind enough to answer my questions on AIM as well. This place seems like a fantastic place to learn about this section of the aquarium hobby! So my next project is going to be a 60 gallon mixed reef, DIY stand and canopy, Retro 2x 250W MH, probably around 60 lbs of base rock and 20lbs of live rock, give that some time to seed, and see where it goes from there!! I'm really excited to be here and thanks for having me!

Alex

[Rob]

hey Alex, glad to see you stopped in :welcome: to our little site.. :)

[iglowce]

nice to meet u, alex. im ryan

WELCOME TO TR!!!!

[iglowce]

dang! rob beat me by a sec =]

[Explosif]

haha ya gotta watch out for that!

[3vilPuffin]

Hello. what cichlids do you have? i love cichlids.

[keyozoxmfc]

hello!! im mark. i had lake malawi cichlids, but that didnt turn out the greatest..many fights and deaths! but now im in reefing=)

[Explosif]

What types of malawi did you have? Mbuna? Haps?

As far as my current tank goes, I have:
3 Cynotilapia sp. "Lion" (Lion's Cove) one being a holding female ; )
3 Labidochromis caeruleus
3 Metriaclima sp. "Msobo"
3 Pseudotropheus saulosi
5 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli)

[JustDavidP]

Hello again Alex..

I kept shell dwellers, dwarves.. neolamprologus multifasciatus, for a long time before getting into marine.

Cichlids are by far, the most intelligent fresh water fish going. Only trumped by the salty kin folk :)

D

[Explosif]

thanks David! thats really cool. It seems like quite a few people made the leap from Cichlids to salt!

[keyozoxmfc]

hahah i have no idea, the store just said , "lake malawi" lol...i had a bunch of the electric yellow ones though...and an orange one i forgot what it was called..but yeah my salt tank is there now!

[Explosif]

theres a good chance that your "electric Yellows" are Labidochromis caeruleus or hybrids.
As far as the orange ones they are probably Metriaclima estherae, or red zebras.
But without pics i cant tell you for sure.

[keyozoxmfc]

yup thats it! red zebra! lemmi get you some pics

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/keyozoxmfc/IMG_1803.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/keyozoxmfc/IMG_1825.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/keyozoxmfc/IMG_1802.jpg

[keyozoxmfc]

yeah i had 2 of the blue one 2 red zebras, and 3 electric yellows

[iglowce]

wow its rare to see some FW fish on here =]

[Explosif]

haha yea watch out!
the problem with the "mixed African Cichlid" bunches, is most of them are undesirable hybrids. I'll need a better pic of your "yellow lab" to tell for sure.

[Explosif]

Most of your yellow labs will not look this good, simply because the specimens pictured here are wild caught or F1 (First Generaton) Africans If they are not cared for properly will breed with other species. A lot of these Mixed African Bunches are things to be avoided imo.

Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum (http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=713)

But im working on getting some ID's on the rest =)

[Explosif]

your second picture is for sure Metriaclima estherae you can also find more pictures in the appropriate section of the cichlid forum profiels section.. Havent quite found the correct 3rd ID yet. ; )

[keyozoxmfc]

haha ohh dont get to into this. remember now, this tank is no longer running. lol i sold and gave away them all over the summer to start my reef. and if you keep talking about it i might want them again!! lol

[Explosif]

Haha they're great fish to watch, Most people dont believe me when i tell them they are freshwater fish!

[keyozoxmfc]

ohh
i picked them because they were really colorful and the looked exciting

[CarmieJo]

Hi Alex and :welcome: to TR.

[Amphibious]

http://www.theculturedreef.com/welcome.gif to Talking Reef Community, Explosif.

You'll find TR a safe, fun and informative place to be. Glad your here.

Dick