My New Tanganyikan Tank...

[tubthumped]

After deciding to go the way of the Cichlid, I worked quickly to get the tank setup and cycling.

Here are a few pictures of the tank as it stands, my ammonia has spiked and is settled at 0. The Tufa rock has raised the ph nicely and is buffering it very well. Just waiting for the Nitrite level to hit 0 now - as it has peaked and is lowering gradually each day.

Anyway - I'll update with more pictures as I go.

Tank as it was 2 weeks ago:

Tank as it stands now:

 

[kiriyama]

Tank looking good, job well done, if you like you can hollow out some of the Tufa to be used as caves , nice to see the barnacle clusters, recently picked some up the other day and it's nice to see it in someone elses tank, what's your stocking plan ?

 

[tubthumped]

Tank looking good, job well done, if you like you can hollow out some of the Tufa to be used as caves , nice to see the barnacle clusters, recently picked some up the other day and it's nice to see it in someone elses tank, what's your stocking plan ?

I'm still learning my fish with Tanganyikans, so my stocking list is far from decided.
My only confirmed are 2x Bristlenose I have from my old tropical setup that will make their way into the new setup.

So far these are catching my eye, but I'm still researching what I can have, how many etc...


Lamprologus Ocellatus (Golden Occie)
Julidochromis Marlieri
Paracyprichromis Nigripinnis


Also quite like these...


Tropheus duboisi
Neolamprologus signatus
Neolamprologus tretocephalus

 

[tubthumped]

I've just ordered 20 Whales Eye Shells and 24 Escargot shells for the tank.

Seems impossible to fing anywhere in the UK that sells shells for a reasonable price!

 

[kiriyama]

I've just ordered 20 Whales Eye Shells and 24 Escargot shells for the tank.

Seems impossible to fing anywhere in the UK that sells shells for a reasonable price!

Question - What are the tank dimensions ?

Finding shells in the UK is dificult, have used ebay for tonna, bonnet and conch. Also delicatesen for Escargot and a "crab" place for Turbo, like most of the stuff I have accumulated none of it as actually in the tank

 

[doresy]

Oh to the world of the Tanganyikan Cichlid. Very choice!

Love the tank....is it the 100lt? I'd place the heated down the side so it is so much 'in yer face'

Keep the pictures coming

 

[tubthumped]

Oh to the world of the Tanganyikan Cichlid. Very choice!

Love the tank....is it the 100lt? I'd place the heated down the side so it is so much 'in yer face'

Keep the pictures coming

Yeah - It's a 100l tank, 36" long.
Like the idea of the heater at the side. May move that tonight.

 

[kiriyama]

Hi, the paracyps are generally smaller than cyps, nigripinnis is a goos choice, they like an open space to swim in and some rockwork to cling to Best kept in a group, tank might be a bit tight.
With the Marlieri your tank size is perfect fo a single pair, best way to do it is buy a small group and make sure your LFS will take back the odd ones when they pair up. Once a pair form they will evict and bully the odd ones, also best to leave the rockwork alone once they pair up. Dickfeldi are a nice species, also check out Transcriptus (Gombe/Gombi) variety
Occies are a good choice, they don't requrie a lot of shells, feisty little guys and quite territorial, cool fish.
Tropheus Duboisi is one of my favourite Tangs, best in a group in a big tank, cool fish but still nasty when they want to be...
Hope this helps a little...

 

[tubthumped]

Hi, the paracyps are generally smaller than cyps, nigripinnis is a goos choice, they like an open space to swim in and some rockwork to cling to Best kept in a group, tank might be a bit tight.
With the Marlieri your tank size is perfect fo a single pair, best way to do it is buy a small group and make sure your LFS will take back the odd ones when they pair up. Once a pair form they will evict and bully the odd ones, also best to leave the rockwork alone once they pair up. Dickfeldi are a nice species, also check out Transcriptus (Gombe/Gombi) variety
Occies are a good choice, they don't requrie a lot of shells, feisty little guys and quite territorial, cool fish.
Tropheus Duboisi is one of my favourite Tangs, best in a group in a big tank, cool fish but still nasty when they want to be...
Hope this helps a little...

Your help is appreciated.
My LFS are happy to take back fish once any of a group are paired up. So I could happily take Marlieri back when needed.

What would you suggest in stocking numbers for Gold Occies, a pair of Marlieri and maybe a more open water cichlid? Would I be pushing it too much trying to get shell, rock and open water all in 1 tank?

Cheers.

 

[kiriyama]

Hi, the paracyps are generally smaller than cyps, nigripinnis is a goos choice, they like an open space to swim in and some rockwork to cling to Best kept in a group, tank might be a bit tight.
With the Marlieri your tank size is perfect fo a single pair, best way to do it is buy a small group and make sure your LFS will take back the odd ones when they pair up. Once a pair form they will evict and bully the odd ones, also best to leave the rockwork alone once they pair up. Dickfeldi are a nice species, also check out Transcriptus (Gombe/Gombi) variety
Occies are a good choice, they don't requrie a lot of shells, feisty little guys and quite territorial, cool fish.
Tropheus Duboisi is one of my favourite Tangs, best in a group in a big tank, cool fish but still nasty when they want to be...
Hope this helps a little...

Your help is appreciated.
My LFS are happy to take back fish once any of a group are paired up. So I could happily take Marlieri back when needed.

What would you suggest in stocking numbers for Gold Occies, a pair of Marlieri and maybe a more open water cichlid? Would I be pushing it too much trying to get shell, rock and open water all in 1 tank?

Cheers.

Not at all, it could be done, bearing in mind the Juli you are choosing is larger than the one I had, Occies are quite feisty and territorial, big punch packed into a tiny fish, TBH 3-4 would be fine starting point,or a single pair if you couldget them, Multies are different as they are more at ease with each other and form more of a colony, they also use all areas of the water column so the use of "dithers" is not an issue. Saying that though, Occies are cool I have heard of people using Badis Badis or Cherry Barbs for the open water area, I know not Tanganyikan, I used Dwarf Neon Rainbows and they were fine for a while until I moved them on. If you were willing to keep the numbers low on the Occies and Julis I would be tempted having a small corner with a rock or two and adding a Caudopunctatus and a Lelupi, bit of colour and character and will swim all over the place, the Caudopuntatus will swim with it's fins erect, very nice, I'm sure the Occies and Julies could handle themselves.... Just a thought

 

[festo]

Thats a great looking tank,
what make is it,and where you buy it from please

 

[tubthumped]

Thats a great looking tank,
what make is it,and where you buy it from please

Thanks for the compliment - sadly I have no idea what make it is! I bought it off a friend who used it for his amazonian biotope and then as a bearded dragon viv. Once his beardie moved into a larger viv he sold me this. Sorry I can help no more....

 

[ZoddyZod]

hmmm, if it is possible I will be watching this with great interest. I have a 125L and didn't think I could have a mixed Tanganyikan community.

 

[doresy]

I started Tanganyikans in a Rio 125 ltr. Just remember that you do NOT over stock as you do with Malawis to stop aggression......it's not the way with Tang's

 

[ZoddyZod]

I started Tanganyikans in a Rio 125 ltr. Just remember that you do NOT over stock as you do with Malawis to stop aggression......it's not the way with Tang's

ahhh, since I've got no old world cichlid experience I'm probably confusing the two. Another nugget of info to add to the future stocking pile!