Hi everyone,
The last time I used this forum was about 5 years before I went to university, so if any of the answers to any questions I have, have come up in previous topics please just redirect me. Since I started university I've barely kept fish and now my fiancee and I have got our own place, we can start fish keeping again. We have a bow fronted tank (approx 225L) we brought second hand in good condition (dimensions 122cm wide, 30.5cm deep at start of bow, 48.5cm deep at max of bow and 43cm high). I was hoping on turning this into a Malawi cichlid tank, keeping it as natural as possible with sand substrate and hardscaping with some nice rocks, something like the image below but on a smaller scale. However, that's about as far as I've got and still need ideas on the following areas:
After speaking to the LFS and doing a bit of research, I was thinking about getting a JBL Cristalprofi e901 Greenline External Filter and the Fluval E200W heater. Are these a solid choice or is there something better for the price (my budget isn't exactly massive)?
Lighting:
I honestly have no idea where to begin with lighting and what's best. I was thinking of using LEDs rather than tubes, as I always have starter motors breaking or tubes dying after what feels like a really short time. Can anyone recommend anything half decent? The tank location will be in the corner of the room away from the window, although the room does get lots of light if we leave the curtains completely open.
Air stones:
I'm not 100% sure where I stand with this. I'm all for promoting ventilation/circulation in the tank, but I don't want it to subtract from the tank looking as natural as possible. What does everyone think?
Fish:
Firstly our tap water is as follows:
GH 180
KH 240
pH 7.5
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 20
I was thinking about getting something along the lines of Pseudotropheus demansoni, Pseudotropheus acei or maybe Labidochromis caeruleus. I'm open to suggestions.
The last time I used this forum was about 5 years before I went to university, so if any of the answers to any questions I have, have come up in previous topics please just redirect me. Since I started university I've barely kept fish and now my fiancee and I have got our own place, we can start fish keeping again. We have a bow fronted tank (approx 225L) we brought second hand in good condition (dimensions 122cm wide, 30.5cm deep at start of bow, 48.5cm deep at max of bow and 43cm high). I was hoping on turning this into a Malawi cichlid tank, keeping it as natural as possible with sand substrate and hardscaping with some nice rocks, something like the image below but on a smaller scale. However, that's about as far as I've got and still need ideas on the following areas:
- Filter
- Heater
- Lighting
- Air stones
- Fish
After speaking to the LFS and doing a bit of research, I was thinking about getting a JBL Cristalprofi e901 Greenline External Filter and the Fluval E200W heater. Are these a solid choice or is there something better for the price (my budget isn't exactly massive)?
Lighting:
I honestly have no idea where to begin with lighting and what's best. I was thinking of using LEDs rather than tubes, as I always have starter motors breaking or tubes dying after what feels like a really short time. Can anyone recommend anything half decent? The tank location will be in the corner of the room away from the window, although the room does get lots of light if we leave the curtains completely open.
Air stones:
I'm not 100% sure where I stand with this. I'm all for promoting ventilation/circulation in the tank, but I don't want it to subtract from the tank looking as natural as possible. What does everyone think?
Fish:
Firstly our tap water is as follows:
GH 180
KH 240
pH 7.5
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 20
I was thinking about getting something along the lines of Pseudotropheus demansoni, Pseudotropheus acei or maybe Labidochromis caeruleus. I'm open to suggestions.