This is the section for plans meant to be implemented within the next year. These often seem concrete when I'm thinking of them, but, well ... 8-29-05: OK. I took a 20 gal to school and bought a couple of Firemouths for it. Obviously they'll need larger accomodations soon, so here's my thought. The 44 is going to move into a more public part of the house soon. I can take that opportunity to move the hecqui pair out of that tank and into this 20, while redoing the 44 (Pangea background, egg crate under a nice but not excessive group of rocks, black (?) sand) for the Firemouths and some colorful tankmates (barbs perhaps?). This should make a display tank that'll please the whole family. The 29 is also moving to a (different) public room; the main change there was to remove the A. lineatus, since they'd be happy to eat comp fry, but I may petition for Texas Holey Rock, and then use the rock from that tank for the 44. 4-19-04: First, let me note of the idea below that the similis are really, really, really enjoying having 6' of space to play with. Moving them to the 125 was a much better idea. :) Here's my thought right now. I was worried (still am) that the 20 c was a bit too small for the leleupi. I obviously can't move them into the 125 (similis, even the cyps might be in danger), or the 29 (same space since it's a paludarium, not safe with the dwarf Comps). Could the hecqui in the 44 take care of themselves? Maybe. But then I thought, hmm. If I move the leleupi to the 44 the 20 c will be empty. So ... I could move the hecqui in there! They'd still be fine on space, and they'd be safe from the leleupi. Then I could add more base rock and shells to the 44 (and it'd be almost more amusing - my only tank at that point without shelldwellers, and it's the one with all those shells!), and use the rock from the 20 for the 125. The only thing I'm not sure of is whether the Julies could stay in the 44. I think probably not, because of the odd layout. They can't go in the 125 because of the Chalinochromis, but perhaps the 20 a with the occies? Perhaps not. I'll think about it, in any case. This is in "Future" and not "Soon" because I have to get the 20 c back from my sister to follow through on the plan. I think that's likely, though; she was never terribly excited about it and she's, ahem, not been doing as well as I'd hoped with the fish she has. 9-2-04: Siiigh. Someone on Cichlid-Forum just set up a 30 gallon breeder as a similis colony tank, which reminded me how much I'd luuurve to have a real colony. Wonder where a 40 long would fit in my house? Basement - very possible, but harder to do water changes, since less gravity pull on the python. Ground floor - there's the living room, but I'm thinking that would be a no, even if it was a very nice tank. The other rooms lack space, mostly, although if we do end up insulating the three season room, hmmm. Top floor - oy, I don't want any more weight up there, who knows what could happen! Basement of three-season room, then. Siiiigh. A billion shellies, a lot of fry, and the little fuzzy lining on the picture that means "dream sequence." 8-4-04: 40 - not going to happen, at least not just yet. We'll move that (in spirit) to the "Distant" page. Very much on my mind, but not possible right now. I'll just be happy with the similis and fry in my 7! Slightly more likely in the next few years - a big ol' koi pond in the back. I figure if we put it inside a greenhouse structure we avoid having to obey zoning laws about not digging deeper than 2', no predation worries, no leaves, we can sit and watch the fish almost year-round, no stealing fish or other dangerous pranks, can hide the filter and plumbing easily, etc. It's the perfect solution! (Although the fact that few if any people seem to have done this worries me ...) 5-1-04 Part 2: Actually, wait. If I put the similis in the 40 then I'd be putting (new) multis in the 7 (or Brevis, possibly, but probably multis). If I instead switched them, then I could start off with more fish in the 40 and could add in new blood whenever it's necessary. The similis would be in my dorm tank and the multi colony would stay at home in the 40. This is a tough decision already! Hmmmmm. Here are two possible layouts. The bottom one is the previously mentioned "Egypt" theme; the top is an oasis/desert scene I think would be cool and less kitschy. 5-1-04: I have permission to put a tank in the basement, although I think they meant my existing 7 gal. But I'm sure once I've got the 40 long in place they'll love it. I prefer the 40 long (4' x 12" x 12") to the 55, which is 18" high, since the fish I'm going to keep are bottom dwellers and don't need the height. What fish? Ah, yes, my F0 similis trio. And yes, just them! I'm going to let them form a real colony. Maybe someday way down the line I'll add a trio of L. caudopunctatus, but probably not. Also, this tank is going to have a fun "theme" - Egypt. I figure a big off-center pyramid, something to represent the Nile (a line of river stones?), Crypts standing in for date palms, and clusters of shells like houses in a village. I think it will be lovely. In case you're wondering, my original list of "how shall I decorate it?" included: Baby's room, since there are going to be fry all the time - dollhouse cradles and pastel colors. Decided this was cheesy. Glass things, while I was trying to think of stuff that wouldn't poison the fish. But, boring and none too pretty, most likely. Africa, since they're Tanganyikans - too broad a subject. Epoxy-sealed plastic giraffes or a jungle theme or tribal masks or ...? Fake reef, using plastic corals - expensive and wouldn't have been all that nice looking. Multicolored - with those technicolor fake plants and decorations, basically. But, c'mon, ew. The Egypt theme, which may become just a desert theme since there don't seem to be any pyramids for sale, allows for "desert" (read: sand), planting but no need to fill the tank with them, and separated "villages" of shell beds. I can't wait to set it up! 4-14-04: Hmmm. If I put a tank in the basement, it would be lovely and decorative, but on the other hand it would really require getting parental permission. But if I put a tank in my closet, no permission really required (own money, own room, they're quite good about those sorts of things). I think the closet fits a four foot tank but it might be just three feet; either way there are great choices. My current thinking is a colony of L. similis (multis stay in the 7, occies get the 10, meleagris are in the 44, no tubs) with some Blue Flash Cyps (about 12-15, depending on tank size). I'll measure the closet this weekend. 4-5-04: Weeeeellllll ... Don't get me wrong, I'd love love love love to have Mbuna, and if the opportunity presents itself, I am so there. Buuuut, it might not. So if I were to have the chance to set up, say, a 40 gal breeder - it would make a kickin' multi or similis colony tank, with my Danio dangilas as dithers. Or, for that matter, a Ps. saulosi tank ... hmm. 03-09-04: I'd like to switch the contents of the 30 and the 10. It may seem odd to move the 3" fish into the 10 gallon and the 1" fish into the 30, but I love the killies and want to really give them a GREAT spawning environment. Of course, I don't know how I'm going to filter it ... the big HOB seems like a bad idea for a tank of baby kilies! Also, I suppose my tubbing plans fall under this heading. I plan to have three tubs this summer: one with some of my goldfish (Shadowfax, the calico, Blue, maybe the red-cap oranda), one (maybe the 30 I'm removing, partially filled (ie not to the silicone area), or a translucent tub) with Kribs, and the last with Endler's Livebearers. This part should be prefaced by the fact that I'm planning to get a summer job at a pet store. The one I most like, and expect will hire me, gives employees a 20% discount. Combined with paychecks, that means ... new tank! Well, I hope. The current plan: a 75 gallon in the basement, with Tahitian moon sand, a big pile of dark rocks, actinic lighting, 8? Pseudotropheus sp. acei, and 10? Labidochromis careulus, "Electric Yellows." Very excited about this, as I've never kept Malawis before. Now I just have to talk the 'rents into it ... but I have plenty of time, and shouldering the cost myself should help a lot.

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