You guys wanna see something cool?

[fuzzylogic]

If you have never seen a Green Texas Cichlid in breeding dress I think it is one of the prettiest freshwater fish. I was lucky enough to snap some new pics tonight of what looks like 2000 eggs they are protecting.

[ree123]

Awesome ! What size tank is this ?
And,...where did you ever find such a colorful piece of driftwood ? Is that real wood ? Type of wood?

[fuzzylogic]

This tank is a 120 gallon tall I think its called. its 5 ft wide. I Love the footprint. That stump I drug up a 10-15 foot almost vertical embankment from drakes creek about 2 miles from the house. I'm pretty sure its Oak. I split the roots off the bottom and flipped them for the other side. Its definitely a hardwood and its just aging like that. I don't think it will stay that color too long. Its relatively new, probably been in the tank 3 months.

[fishguy]

Wow Fuzzy. Those fish are incredible. I like those U.S.-made cichlids a lot. They are one of my favorites, too. And that natural looking tank is awesome. I want a big tank with some manly-sized fish so bad now.

[ree123]

5 ft. x ? x ?
How did you prepare this big of a stump for tank use ?
I have many pieces of wood in tanks, but have never tackled a piece that big to boil and soak.

[ree123]

Guy, I have the utmost confidence you will get that want.

[fishguy]

Jan 5, 2012 23:22:22 GMT -6 @ree123 said:

Guy, I have the utmost confidence you will get that want.

Hehe. The wife is warming up to the idea. I need a decent 125 or 135 to pop-up on CL...although Fuzzy makes me want a 2ft deep tank.

[fuzzylogic]

Well it would have taken a bathtub to boil. I pretty much soaked it in a big like rubbermaid type tote from Lowes. I had to flip it still because it stuck out. I did this for several weeks with just water and aquarium salt. flipped it every few days and swapped water maybe every week. replacing lots of aquarium salt. then I took a hard bristle brush and knocked off everything I could, rinsed it with fresh water and probably soaked it with just water for another week. I don't know the exact measurements but I can grab them tomorrow if you want. its the first tank like it I've seen and fell in love with it.

[fuzzylogic]

Jan 5, 2012 23:19:32 GMT -6 fishguy said:

Wow Fuzzy. Those fish are incredible. I like those U.S.-made cichlids a lot. They are one of my favorites, too. And that natural looking tank is awesome. I want a big tank with some manly-sized fish so bad now.

Ill sell you this breeding pair cheap.lol They say finding a compatible pair is the hardest part. Thanks for the tank compliments but it is far from done. I just have too many irons in the fire and not enough coin in the purse

[ree123]

We all have that financial issue, don't we ?
And if it ain't the finances, it's the spouse issue. LoL
I'm impressed that the wood was only treated with salt water.
How much salt ? Not to ask you to be exact, but .......a lot ?
Did you add pounds and pounds of salt ?
And...why aquarium salt and not just any other kind of salt ?
Did you read how to do this elsewhere or was this just your own soup mix ?

You don't have to give me the measurements and go to all that trouble. I was just curious.

[ree123]

I would be willing to bet your coins, that Guy will buy those fish once he gets another big tank.
I understand he is in the market for one.
Just sayin...

[fuzzylogic]

Dont have the measurements but it definitely wasn't pounds. It was a big (32 oz. maybe)plastic container I got with the tank . I researched it a lot and that was probably the best general consensus. I did mainly sprinkle it right on the wood and not just mix it in the water. measurement on the tank its no trouble Im just not quite sure where my tape measure is right now. yeah unless I run into a very beautiful piece that I can't live without I will always get my own for free and cure it. To me it is much more rewarding like that.

[ree123]

The reason I ask you about the salt is I have boiled some smaller pieces, but I have also used non-iodized Kroger brand (cheap) table salt. I have never used Aq. salt. I have soaked smaller wood pieces just as you have done, for multiple weeks. Scrubbed off the bark with a steel brush and then soaked in declor water for a week. I have never had problems, but then I have never tried a large thick piece like you appear to have in there.
I have always been about DIY for my tanks and all things r/t fish and to everything else too.
The house, the car, the appliances, the yard, etc...
I am a jack of all trades, with no trade and don't know Jack. LoL

I have also read, but never tried, soaking the wood for a few days to water log a bit, then rolling the wood and rubbing the wood with salt for a few days, out of the water, then re-emersing into the brine water, and finishing the process as you did. I have also read to use icecream salt. Never have though.
Thoughts ?

[ree123]

You know, you will have to take some more pic's as the eggs change color before hatching and again as wigglers when the parents move them all over the tank, and finally as they swarm around the parents in about 7-10 days. You are in store for some fantastic picture taking over the next week or two.
Don't this just warm up a winter for ya ?
It always does that for me.

[fuzzylogic]

This will be my first time caring for eggs that aren't in the females mouth. I hear this can be quite a challenge with the Green texas so after work Im off to get a tank divider just in case. My other challenge will be with my ropefish and my tiretrack eel. They are notorious for eating fry. Since this will be their first my plan is to net out just a small amount of them for grow out and to just let nature run its course with the rest. Im curious to see how aggressive the male becomes to the female and the other tank mates.