My First Cichlid Tank With Pics

[5teady_2012]

Hi,

Here is my first cichlid tank, it was a community tank but i have changed it to a cichlid tank, all thats in it is 5 yellow labido's..

Here is some pics through the changes of the tank

Hope you like it, any tips or info would be good also, thanks

 

[fry_lover]

someone will be along to tell you one of the plants isnt aquatic and is basically a house plant lol, i guess it me telling you! Well, actually i am not 100%, piccy 11, near of photo, on the right, i think they turn to mush after a few weeks, the labs will probably end up eating it once it rots. I might be wrong though, obviously no biggy, you can remove it if needed.

I keep Yellow Labs, nice fish. They might munch some of those plants, as they look quite "fine" the plants, but again, no big deal, but you might eventually find it easier to go pure rocks as decor. I have other Mbuna that are much more liklely to eat plants than yellow labs i guess.

You gonna add to the stock or just see how it goes?

How's your water parameters up in Yorkshire for pH and hardness, do you know? From memory its hard up there (the water params i mean lol)

 

[5teady_2012]

Ph is 7.5.. nitarte is about 30ppm, water up here sucks lol...

That plant you was on about, the green and yellow looking one right?

Its been in that tank for ages and is doing ok lol..

This is the first time i have kept cichlids and with me getting 5 labidos, i think this as many as i can put it as the tank aint that big (its only 2ft long)

 

[fry_lover]

yeh i might be wrong about plant, it looks just like one that often gets referred to as non-aquatic, but its neither here nor there

Yeh i guess in a 2 foot, you might be limited to any other additions

Would be nice for a colour contrast but there are more important things than colour i guess

My Nitrate in London is usually about 20 but can climb to 30, thats no big deal mate, if you look after all other parameters and do you water changes shouldnt be an issue.

Have you done some reading into their diet? thats not patronising, just some peeps dont knnow about mbuna diet.

EDIT: Mbuna being the type of Malawi these lovely yellows are! You may well know that. Quite peaceful for a Mbuna (generally, obviously can be exceptions like any cichlid)

 

[5teady_2012]

yeh i might be wrong about plant, it looks just like one that often gets referred to as non-aquatic, but its neither here nor there

Yeh i guess in a 2 foot, you might be limited to any other additions

Would be nice for a colour contrast but there are more important things than colour i guess

My Nitrate in London is usually about 20 but can climb to 30, thats no big deal mate, if you look after all other parameters and do you water changes shouldnt be an issue.

Have you done some reading into their diet? thats not patronising, just some peeps dont knnow about mbuna diet.

EDIT: Mbuna being the type of Malawi these lovely yellows are! You may well know that. Quite peaceful for a Mbuna (generally, obviously can be exceptions like any cichlid)

I read that they like, flake, live and frozen food such as, bloodworm, daphnia, glassworm and tubifex..

I dont know much about these fish except thier diet and they are mouth brooders lol

How do you sex them?

What age do they start to breed?

Any other useful in fo plz?

 

[fry_lover]

not sure on sexing, dont feed bloodworm though, got to dash, check the pinned topics on the Malawi Forum (on here) mate

 

[dthoffsett]

Here's a great article on feeding.
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/98179/Feeding-Mbuna/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-.../Feeding-Mbuna/[/URL]

They'll generally start breeding once they reach sexual maturity, which is around 3 inches. Although, they may take several months after to start.

 

[jgray152]

May want to get a different filter. small internals only with africans.....don't mix. Good for backups, but not as primary filtration. Would be better getting a HOB filter. Looks like a 15 gallon? I suppose you may be aight with that internal.... Which type of whisper filter is it?

IF thats sand you have in your tank, becareful not to let the internal or any HOB (Hand on back) filters suck it up, it will destroy the impeller. I have experience in this lol. My AquaClear 110 got the worst beating by the sand.

 

[5teady_2012]

Thanks for info,

The internal filter is a tetratec that came with the tank, its not very powerful, its like a waterfall one..

I actually enquired about the filter and was told the one i have would be fine so hopefully it will be

Here's a great article on feeding.
<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/98179/Feeding-Mbuna/" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-.../Feeding-Mbuna/</a>

They'll generally start breeding once they reach sexual maturity, which is around 3 inches. Although, they may take several months after to start.

Thanks had a good read of that and it was helpful