So, here I am, yet again with a new tank. I'm not sure whether this is my fourth tank, or if it's a replacement for my original tank. After several months of enjoying Checkerboard cichlids (Crenicara filamentosa), I decided to create a strictly cichlid environment. So, I designed the following:


The problem with the tank above is that it lends itself more to Lake Malawi hard-water cichlids than to the South American cichlids of which Checkerboards are a part. To make the above tank more amenable to Checkerboards, I'd have to introduce plants. Not many, just some Anubias and Java fern would do the trick. But if I want to go with a plantless, stone-only cichlid environment, a la Africa, then I'll have to harden the water and say no to any plants.

Ergo, I'm struggling with what to do. I think it's time to go visit Justin, see what he has to say.