Advice On Setting Up A 180l Malawi Tank

[Boids-n-more]

I will agree that 20 fish does seem a little extreme in that size of tank. I would personnaly go for about a dozen and move it up or down from there. As you can see theres differences in overstalking opinions and if you question them then try the middle ground between them.

 

[TreesSZ]

I have had my mbuna set up now fro about 6 weeks in a rio 180l . at the moment 11 fish live therin and are all getting along fine I'm planning for another 4 next week and that will be my personal limit. I have a fluval 104 and a eheim proffessional on the tank. (suffering from an algal bloom but it is almost cleared thanks to advice from here esp Ferris). Fantastic fish and every visitor is amazed by them.

 

[Druchii]

A shot of my tank with 30-40 juve sub adults in.

Taken a few months ago, there are certainly more in there know - however... this is only as they are growing an i cycle through fish, until i get the species i want in the numbers i truely want

Certainly at adult size there will not be that many in, but as most of my fish are only 2.5" - 3.5" i have no issues or worries about them having enuff space to swim in

Yes, i know earlier is was stated about the cost of filling tanks with fiosh that ultimately you won't use, but by careful buying and making a network of good private breeders or contacting fellow members of discussion boards, you can find a way of cheaply stocking your tank and mixing bloodlines so that you are being a responsible fish keeper and for oncew, doing more good that harm..

I'll post an up to date pic later on... brb

 

[Druchii]

here is a shot taken during my weekly tank maintanence.

Think originially i did post something about 15-20 should not be a problem whilst not-fully grown.....

as you can see i have about 30-40 in the tank, but they are certainly NOT fully grown...

I stripped the tank down as i was about to add a nother dozen fish, which comprimsed of 2 saulosi, two elongatus mpangas (all 2.5" WC) and 8 little petricolas..

I certainly won't have a tank of 30-40 full sized fish in the tank, and hope that at some point during the thread it did say this.. but if not I'll say it again

Overstock when young, so you can get the fish and sex ration right and thin out as they grow by removing 'extras'

i would personally hate to have a tank like mine (or yours) with only 10 juve fish in all the time during whilst they are growing (which will take a couple of years btw) just so i don't mess around with taking them out at as later date..

besides - you'll change which fish you want a thousand times in your mind, best to get them if you can ( and they are compatible etc etc) and make your mind up with them in the tank right in front of you

 

[Ferris]

Cheers for posting pics Druchii. I think that's explained a lot actually, the tank is pretty deviod of decoration etc which clearly leaves a lot more room for fish and it looks fine with the fish at their current size.

I think my problem is i hate returning fish so i tend to plan ahead rather than growing out fish and returning a batch at a later date but there is nothing wrong with that practice and a lot of Mbuna keepers do it.

 

[Nick Sw]

Tank looks cool Druchii some nice fish , the large black ones are they Acei "Ngara" ???

 

[Cheffi]

Is that a Duboisi I see there Just?

 

[Ferris]

Good spot Cheffi, it is indeed a Duboisi. One of the hardest African's to keep in aquaria due to its intolerance of poor/fluctuating water conditions.

Your's looks very healthy though Druchii.

 

[Druchii]

Good spot Cheffi, it is indeed a Duboisi. One of the hardest African's to keep in aquaria due to its intolerance of poor/fluctuating water conditions.

Your's looks very healthy though Druchii.

Well, although i am overstock (lol) I do keep water parameters very good - regular water changes and sparse feeding and OVER filtration all help

Yes its a Dubosi, you may say that it's my 'canary' of the tank, it it looks off colour then i know my parameters are on the way out, yet so far, there has been no issues..

.... i am however noe turning more paranoid after i worked out the physical filtration of my tank is only 850 litres per hour rather than the 1600 lph i took from the manufacturers reference (tohse references were with out media i may add )



Oh and Nicksw - it's Justin btw from MK.. nice to see lots of familiar faces out and about, even thou we may not always use the same nick.

 

[Ferris]

Also a good spot nick, i'm pretty sure Druchii will confirm that those are Ngara.

 

[Druchii]

Also a good spot nick, i'm pretty sure Druchii will confirm that those are Ngara.

missed out that.... yes Nick mate - those ARE white tail Ngaras you spot - I have a Trio and the Male is a real beauty...

however I've kinda Hijacked this thread which was not my intention

so, once i've performed another water change on the tank and sorted a few things out, I'll post a new thread just for my tank ?

 

[Ferris]

Good point, i'd completely forgotten the origin of the post - Apologies pmdf.

 

[pmdf]

however I've kinda Hijacked this thread which was not my intention

Not a problem... lots of good knowledge and some more thoughts about what to keep in my forthcoming tank. All contributions to this thread have been gratefully received!