Help Me Plan My Tank

[ICEEGRL]

I'm back.
If you have been here a long time you might remember my old thread where my tank I was planning got busted. Well... I am starting again. This time I do know a little more than I did last time, but still not enough. I want to do this tank right the first time. I don't want to have to redo anything.

This is the planning phase of the tank. Here is what I know so far...
The crushed limestone that I got as the substrate is too rough and will not work. I have to pick a new substrate. I need sand. I do know that much. Which one I do not know. I can't decide if I want white or black. I have seen both that look really good. I have black in all my other tanks. White would be a nice change. I'm just still undecided.

I have a 60g all glass tank that they will be going in. I have the egg crate already cut to fit. I have one piece of holey rock and some assorted unidentified rocks that look like reef stuff. I also have some flat rocks that are smaller that I can use.

I am still working on filtration. I am looking at having several filters on it. I don't have one big enough to do the job, but I have several smaller ones.

I want to keep with smaller fish so I can have a few more. I also want to have dimorphic fish so I can add a little more color. I know I want pseudotropheus saulosi. I really like them a lot.

Others I am looking at are metriaclima estherae (red) blue x red strain and maybe maylandia lombardoi. How will those work together?

Once I get the fish worked out that will help with the other decisions.

All info and suggestions are greatly appreciated. I will never get this right alone.

Thanks for looking and helping.
Amanda

 

[fishlover500]

I would recommend black as mbuna are messy fish and poop will stand out a lot in white.
Could you maybe name what filter(s) you have? You will want about 8 - 10 times turn over per hour.
Most mbuna aren't small, almost all grow from 4-7"
You could probably have about 17 fish tops.

 

[kj23502]

I'm back.
If you have been here a long time you might remember my old thread where my tank I was planning got busted. Well... I am starting again.

Welcome back, chica

This is the planning phase of the tank. Here is what I know so far...
The crushed limestone that I got as the substrate is too rough and will not work. I have to pick a new substrate. I need sand. I do know that much. Which one I do not know. I can't decide if I want white or black. I have seen both that look really good. I have black in all my other tanks. White would be a nice change. I'm just still undecided.

Aragonite sand would be good. It will help buffer the water as well.

I have a 60g all glass tank that they will be going in. I have the egg crate already cut to fit. I have one piece of holey rock and some assorted unidentified rocks that look like reef stuff. I also have some flat rocks that are smaller that I can use.

Yep, at the most 17ish fish with that size tank.
Rock might work, or you might need more rock. I thought I had enough for my 125 gallon and it turns out that I needed larger pieces than I bought

I am still working on filtration. I am looking at having several filters on it. I don't have one big enough to do the job, but I have several smaller ones.

5x turnover is a good starting point. If you max out your stocking levels and your fish reach maturity its good to have at least 8x. That generally gives time for an additional filter add on as most people buy their fish as Juvies.

I want to keep with smaller fish so I can have a few more. I also want to have dimorphic fish so I can add a little more color. I know I want pseudotropheus saulosi. I really like them a lot.
Others I am looking at are metriaclima estherae (red) blue x red strain and maybe maylandia lombardoi. How will those work together?

Most fish do grow quite large, I'm afraid. Lombardoi (common name Kenyi) have been known to be really aggressive. I've heard of and read a lot of that. I'd personally stay away from them. They'd be fairly ok when they are little but as they mature they become very territorial.

The Estherae that are blue are wild caught males almost all of the time. The common color for the male in the trade is orange. Females aren't blue.

How about Metriaclima greshakei or an albino species variant of a fish also?



Kj