New Guy Looking For Help!

[Stampos]

Hey guys,

I have just set up my new tank (Fluval Roma 200) in which I hope to keep mbuna!

It's 200l, so about 50 US gallons, 100x40x55cm, filtered by a Fluval 205 cannister. I know that patience is a virtue but I am keen to speed up the cycling process by seeding from an already well established filter - I would like to know the best way to do this please?

The established media comes from a Fluval 2+ internal that is in my livebearer tank, so it has handled a lot of ammonia in its time! Could I take one side of the foam and put that in a media tray of the 205 as a "seeder"?

I was also thinking of using some of the gravel from my established tank and placing that in some netting to then be placed on the sand of my new tank to promote bacterial growth, any good?

Finally, stocking.

I adore Labidochromis Caerules so would like a small group of them, but would like some nice colourful and relatively peaceful tankmates for them.

I love the colouring of Pseudotropheus Demasoni, but I'm concerned about my tank being too small for them and contrasting reports of their aggression - would a single specimen be ok?

Finally, some recommendations from yourselves please. My aim is to create a tank that is pleasing to the eye, but also well balanced and not too hostile.

Many thanks!

 

[kj23502]

Technically if you'd shoot for 10x tank turnover for filtration(that'd be 500 gph), you could do 10 demasoni and 5 yellow labs. Make sure to only get one male demasoni. Normally I'd say 50's are a tad small, but demasoni's are only about 3" and will generally leave labs alone and quarrel amongst themselves...or so I've read Try it!! if you like.

I don't know much about fluvals, but if the filter pads or whatever you're going to move are similar then you could probably use them. Don't bother w/the gravel. like 95% of the good bacteria are in the filter.

AND

to the forum!!!

 

[fishlover500]

I thought mbuna tanks were supposed to be 48 inches long. This tank is only about 40".

Is this because if there is low aggresssion they don't get chased around the tank as much?

Oh and btw make sure you have lots of hiding places.

 

[kj23502]

Yep, a 4 foot tank is ideal. But there's been people that have done it in smaller tanks. Demasoni are highly aggressive which is why they should be kept in big groups. Also the idea is yellow labs are so different from them, that they don't see them as a threat to their herem.

Maybe Ferris will come on here and tell me I'm wrong. But it has been done.

 

[Ferris]

Yep, a 4 foot tank is ideal. But there's been people that have done it in smaller tanks. Demasoni are highly aggressive which is why they should be kept in big groups. Also the idea is yellow labs are so different from them, that they don't see them as a threat to their herem.

Maybe Ferris will come on here and tell me I'm wrong. But it has been done.

HaHa - nope i'll never tell you that you're wrong to have an opinion.

I've done Demasoni and C.Afra in a 40 gal. Always a risk involved with smaller tanks but if you get the decor and stocking levels right, it's worth a try.