just a quick question on filters...

[keane]

Hi folks,

as you are all probably aware (and fed up of by now!!) i am setting up a 55 gallon mbuna tank....

heaters x2 sorted
substrate sorted
scaping and rocks sorted
choice of fish (going with 12 - 14 mbuna max and 2 bristlenose catfish) pretty much sorted (but not yet acquired)

Filters......i plan on using a fluval 304 external (suitable for up to 70 gallons) and a fluval 3+ internal filter (suitable for 30 gallons and already purchased!). This obviously works out to being enough filtration for a 100 gallon tank but not sure, because of mbuna over stocking, whether it will be enough.

Any views??

Also......lighting. Because i am not having a planted tank I assume plenty of lighting is not hugely important. I plan on a 42" 40 watt flourescnt tube just to light the tank up, along with 2 x 12" blue moonlights for night viewing.

Sound reasonable?

Again any views would be welcome.

cheers

steve B)

 

[freddyk]

Filtration is certainly plenty, though the internal power filters aren't the best for mbuna - their messy nature can clog them quite quickly, so keep an eye on it. With the canister filter going you can clean it as often as necessary anyway.

Lighting depends. I over-light my mbuna tanks to encourage healthy algae growth - grazing algae is a very natural behavior for these guys, which is what I try to promote in all my tanks - and it gives them something to do besides chase and fight and breed. This is also why I avoid algae eaters in mbuna tanks.
Algae aside, lighting doesn't matter at all, as long as they have a day/night cycle (though they do look better with more light).

 

[keane]

cheers freddy (again!!).

will stick with the one internal, one external for now then and see how I go.

have seen a double light starter on ebay. I think i will go for that and have 2 x 40 watt tubes along with the moonlights. Thats if i can fit them all on to my tank hood!!?? Only have about nine inches to fit them all on because half of the hood folds back for access.

is there anything else i can buy to fit my lights on to and place over the tank and under the hood rather than having to screw the fittings straight into the hood?

steve B)

 

[G_Sharky]

You have a good filtration system if your going to go with that set up and in terms of substrate I would get a darker kind, it would make the color of your cichlids more intense...