New Malawi Mbuna Tank -

[Harbrook]

Hi... After a lot of consideration, i have decided i want to set up a new tank... My expericence is very limited, and i have only had Guppies etc before... I am totaly hooked on the hobby and want to start a Lake Malawi (mbuna) tank.
I have tried to read a lot and research the species, but feel quite lost in the whole thing...
Please can you give me advice as to what rocks / sand /gravel to use,....
Which fish to keep, I really like the yellow labs and Demasoni's and would like to combine the two, but have been given the advice to keep more species then just those two.....

How many fish should i have in a 180ltr tank?

what about filters and lighting... what has worked for you? any makes to go for /stay away from?

Will a 1200lt p h external be enough?

what has been the key to your successful mbuna tank?

If you can answer any or all of these questions for me , then your advice will be VERY much appreciated and i promise to send pics as soon as it up and running!

many thanks in anticipation.
Darren (harbrook)

 

[sykogngsta]

I used Lava rock and drilled holes and caves in it for my mbuna tank. I like hoe the lava rock looks plus it is pretty cheap, i filled up my tank with lots of lava rock for only about $25

I have yellow labs and they are one of the nicer african cichlid species, so they are pretty easy to keep and they also have nice colors

 

[Harbrook]

I used Lava rock and drilled holes and caves in it for my mbuna tank. I like hoe the lava rock looks plus it is pretty cheap, i filled up my tank with lots of lava rock for only about $25

I have yellow labs and they are one of the nicer african cichlid species, so they are pretty easy to keep and they also have nice colors

DO YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF YOUR TANK?

 

[sykogngsta]

Yeah I do...

I posted them in this other post:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...=0#entry1948093

sorry the pictures arent that great

 

[darrel69]

Hi... After a lot of consideration, i have decided i want to set up a new tank... My expericence is very limited, and i have only had Guppies etc before... I am totaly hooked on the hobby and want to start a Lake Malawi (mbuna) tank.
I have tried to read a lot and research the species, but feel quite lost in the whole thing...
Please can you give me advice as to what rocks / sand /gravel to use,....
Which fish to keep, I really like the yellow labs and Demasoni's and would like to combine the two, but have been given the advice to keep more species then just those two.....

How many fish should i have in a 180ltr tank?

what about filters and lighting... what has worked for you? any makes to go for /stay away from?

Will a 1200lt p h external be enough?

what has been the key to your successful mbuna tank?

If you can answer any or all of these questions for me , then your advice will be VERY much appreciated and i promise to send pics as soon as it up and running!

many thanks in anticipation.
Darren (harbrook)

Its not the number of species you have thats important, its the number of fish. You can keep just two different species fine together, aslong as the numbers are up to suit your tank size.

How long is your tank ??

Its recomended to keep Demasoni in large tanks due to them being really aggressive. They also need to be kept in large groups of at least 10 i think. Anything lower and they'll kill each other untill only one is left. I advice you to pick another species thats less aggressive. What about the Cynotilapia Afra species (which is the first group you will see on the list) ?? or some "Pseudotropheus Socolofi" ?? I mentioned this in your other thread... those, with the Yellow Labs will make a nice contrast of yellow and blue colours, just like the Demasoni would... They're just a few species to name.

Your size tank is recommended by most to house about 12 malawi cichlids. Thats about right, but depending which species you choose, about 16 would be ok imo for aggression issues. If you have two different species, that would be two groups of 6-8, 1m - 5-7f in each. Though Yeallow Labs are that peaceful, two males kept together are fine aslong as you have enougth females. Or three species (maybe you could add Metriaclima Estherae for yellow, blue and red colours ) three groups, 1m - 3-4f.

1200lph will be enougth filteration whilst they're juvies, but when they're adults you may want to add a little more. 1200lph will do the whole of your tank 6 and half times an hour.... when they're adults, closer to 10 would be better

Key - least aggressive species in high numbers with adequate filtration

Good Luck.

Also, any type of rock will do aslong as you provide enougth hiding places, caves and what'not. Sand is prefered, any type, what ever takes your fancy.

 

[kj23502]

Hi...Pretty much any rock is ok. Some have even gone to a regular store and bought some stepping stone type rocks and stacked them! I have slate and granite mix in my tank. I would reccomend sand, as mine like to sift through it and they also move it around(take it in and spit it out). That's harder for the juvies to do and maybe even the adults if gravel is used.

Try looking at the members tanks in the top section of the african cichlid topics page....or look at the journals also, if you want. By looking through members tanks you get a good idea of what to do. They tell how much filtration there is and what substrate they used and many other different things. It's an awesome place to get some ideas to formulate your own look!

 

[SingMeat]

cheap and effective solution:

play sand, lots of cheap rock, Rena canister filter (xp3) and some HOB's

expensive solution:
Eco complete sand, holey rock, eheim canister filter.

I went the first way and don't regret it at all.

i got a pic in the members tanks thread. its a crap pic but it works lol. Sand all the way, gives them something to do. More digging = less fighting.

 

[Harbrook]

thanks for your replies, there very informative....!
after all your advice, due the tank size available to me, i will drop the demasoni's and try and find something less aggressive,, i will keep the yellow labs in the mix and look at the c. alfas....

anyone know whcih of the c. afras would be best suited for me... (blue colour, mix well with labs, midly aggressive)


so lets get down to final number.......

let imagine my 180ltr 3ft tank is set up with ocean rock and coral sand, and im ready for fish....
would it be good with yellow labs 2m 4f, and c alfas 2m 4f ???

again, thanks for your help...

Darren.

 

[darrel69]

anyone know whcih of the c. afras would be best suited for me... (blue colour, mix well with labs, midly aggressive)


so lets get down to final number.......

let imagine my 180ltr 3ft tank is set up with ocean rock and coral sand, and im ready for fish....
would it be good with yellow labs 2m 4f, and c alfas 2m 4f ???

again, thanks for your help...

Darren.

All C.Afra's have around the same temperment, and mix well with Yellow Labs. As for colour, some can be more purple than blue, and some can have orange/yellow markings or fins on them like the 'Cobue'. Really it depends on what you can get hold of.

To have two male Yellow Labs together with enougth females would be ok since they're really peaceful and can just about tolerate that. But to have two male C.Afra together... you may get one (the weaker one) not looking its best (dull coloration) to avoid confliction with the dominant one (toughtest, bigger male).