vinylman
Essentially Humanoid
Hi all;
I've just been informed that we're redecorating the living room in the next month or two. I'm trying to treat it as an opportunity rather than a pain in the a***, so, as my LFS (a pet shop) has started stocking rather stunning looking Malawi Cichlids I think it's fairly well timed for a change. I have a 48" x 15" x 18" tank, powered by a Tetratec EX700 external filter (plus a spray bar). The calculator on the PFK site has given me a probable volume of 42G. I'm interested in a non-Mbuna tank, as I'd like a more open look and I'm not too keen on overstocking (or aggression). I'd prefer fish around 4" maximum. I've looked at a lot of tanks on t'internet and a lot of people seem to use ordinary gravel (some even seem to keep them in an ordinary planted tank). My water is at a constant ph of 7.2, and the water is described by the local water company as 'moderately hard'. I have three large pieces of Mopani wood, presumably that would have to go?. I've heard that ph can be raised to around 8 by adding baking soda, but how does this work - do you add it every so often, or do you have to keep adding it at water changes?. Be gentle with me, please. BTW, my tank (freshwater) has been up and running for three years without any problems.
I've just been informed that we're redecorating the living room in the next month or two. I'm trying to treat it as an opportunity rather than a pain in the a***, so, as my LFS (a pet shop) has started stocking rather stunning looking Malawi Cichlids I think it's fairly well timed for a change. I have a 48" x 15" x 18" tank, powered by a Tetratec EX700 external filter (plus a spray bar). The calculator on the PFK site has given me a probable volume of 42G. I'm interested in a non-Mbuna tank, as I'd like a more open look and I'm not too keen on overstocking (or aggression). I'd prefer fish around 4" maximum. I've looked at a lot of tanks on t'internet and a lot of people seem to use ordinary gravel (some even seem to keep them in an ordinary planted tank). My water is at a constant ph of 7.2, and the water is described by the local water company as 'moderately hard'. I have three large pieces of Mopani wood, presumably that would have to go?. I've heard that ph can be raised to around 8 by adding baking soda, but how does this work - do you add it every so often, or do you have to keep adding it at water changes?. Be gentle with me, please. BTW, my tank (freshwater) has been up and running for three years without any problems.
- The good news is that all the colourful fish you have seen in LFS were almost certainly Mbuna anyway and there are quite a few less aggressive species. Here's a few examples:
/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1669
