Looking At Changing To Malawi's

[jameshiggins]

basicaly ive got a rio 400 (5x2x2) tank wich is home to some large oscars on a few other fings, this has been running for around a year now. we are looking at getting some malawi's just because they are a lot more colourfull than we have now and the tank is the main feature in our living room. the tank is filtered by 2 fluval 305's and has 4 light tubes in the hood.

just after some advise on how to change over and wot else i need other than fish/rock. and anything i need to know as i no hardly anything about this sort of fish.

do i add all fish at once?
is it best to buy as small fish or my lfs sell them pretty big at £25 each
looking at filling up with quite a bit of ocean rock is that ok?

anything else?

many thanks
james

 

[rocknurworld2006]

basicaly ive got a rio 400 (5x2x2) tank wich is home to some large oscars on a few other fings, this has been running for around a year now. we are looking at getting some malawi's just because they are a lot more colourfull than we have now and the tank is the main feature in our living room. the tank is filtered by 2 fluval 305's and has 4 light tubes in the hood.

just after some advise on how to change over and wot else i need other than fish/rock. and anything i need to know as i no hardly anything about this sort of fish.

do i add all fish at once?
is it best to buy as small fish or my lfs sell them pretty big at £25 each
looking at filling up with quite a bit of ocean rock is that ok?

anything else?

many thanks
james

i assume this is going to be amalawis only

ocean rock will be fine

make sure to have lots of caves etc out of the rock.

u can use granite, crushed coral, crushed shell to raise ph best to put it in the externals.

sand substate is best argos sand will do as its cheap.

you can either my the malawis as young or adults its up to you. but dont buy adults of one species and young of another they all need to be the same size.

about 30 malawis would be good to have in total in that tank but no less than 20

your better to buy half 1 week and the other half 2 weeks later just so filters get use to it.

do not buy in dribs and drabs as if theyre arent enough thwey will kill each other.

you will have to consider what species you want as you cant just mix whatever you want as some are extremely aggressive.
and would kill shy ones.

i wouldnt go above 10 species max

 

[darrel69]

In a rio400, you shouldnt have many problems at all.. plenty of space. You can have OceanRock if you like.. though it will soon turn green/brown (or yellow like mine did!) with algae. And sand is preffered.

You dont have to add them all at once, but try to buy fish in groups. Especially after purchasing your first lot.. You dont really have a limited choice on species with your tank size unless you want to avoid possible aggression. Have you any species in mind ?

A good read you may be interested in.. HERE

Have you got thought about water parameters yet ? ie, pH/hardness. And diet?

Also you may want up your filtration abit before it gets near enough fill.. especially with adults.

Wanna know anything else, just ask. GoodLuck