Lake Tanganyika Bio Tape Setup

[Dutsey]

I am looking into changing my tank to a Lake Tanganyika bio tape and I have a couple of questions:

What is the best substrate to use? I currently have Caribbean Eco complete black as the base would this be ok?

Tank size is 125l is this big enough?

Also any stocking suggestions would be a great help as currently have no idea

 

[Salam]

I have just finished my Tanganyika tank and I am so happy with it. I went for lamprologus ocellatus as shell dwellers and julidochromis dickfeldi for the rock area. A few on this forum have a combo like this - some living in shells others in rocky areas. Tank is 3 ft so I think yours is similar size. Have a look at my thread and maybe you can get ideas. There are a few pictures, if you like it you I really recommend setting up something like it. They are already showing some really great personalities.

Here is the link to my thread: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/395371-tell-me-about-shell-dwellers/

 

[Lufbramatt]

Not familiar with your substrate but as long as it is fairly fine and not sharp it should be fine, many types of tangs like to dig holes in the substrate, either to bury shells, make caves, make territorial boundaries or dig spawning pits, a fine substrate stops them injuring themselves.

 

[Salam]

*waves to Matt*

I forgot to answer the substrate question. I got playsand and they have made it their home already, constantly digging and moving things around so I second having a fine substrate.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Biotope dear.

 

[Dutsey]

Biotope dear.

I know bloomin spell check on iphone

 

[FishFanatic04]

Gets me everytime too.

 

[Dutsey]

I have decided on stocking

Alto Calvas
Juli Dickfeldi x 4
Neolamp lelupi x 3
Brevis x 4

Is this ok?

 

[Lufbramatt]

I'd drop the lelupi, they're just nasty. I'd only do two of those in a 125l tank, calvus and the julies are both rock dwellers, so you're left with brevis and either the julies or the calvus.

 

[Dutsey]

What type of rock should be used? Can I use the same as Malawi?

 

[Salam]

Any rock you like, I used lava rock.

 

[Lufbramatt]

For a proper biotope it should be limestone but I've used slate and granite before with no probs. Just arrange it with lots of caves of different sizes to form territories and hiding places. Slate works well for this as it can be "cleaved" with a hammer and chisel into relatively thin layers so you can make lots of caves without taking up lots of water volume with rock. But anything will do really, a tank set up for malawi will work for tangs with relatively few changes such as the addition of the shell bed if you want shellies.