New Set-up - Experience?

[rjtaylor]

Hi all,

I've been out of fish keeping for about a year now. I used to run a high tech planted tank - the battle against algae drove me crazy and eventually gave up! Anyway, missed the little blighters, so am getting back into the hobby already. I picked up a second hand Rena 121x51x71 for a great price. As I am wanting to go for something different, and a little less time intensive when cf a planted tank, I am thinking of going for an mbuna aquarium.

I've done the research; Ad Konings books in particular were very useful. I'm now ready to start setting up my tank. As things stand at the moment, I see myself installing the following:

- want a rocky background
- egg crate across the bottom
- ocean rock throughout
- standard play sand

Obviously I want to get the set up right first time, as it’s a pain to change it when set up. So any thoughts based on your cichlid experiences?

- what would you advise on the best background? These get pricy I know, but I don't want to get something that will last 6 months. Tank is 70cm high so not the standard I guess. I will get some catfish - understand they can eat through it? Any better quality ones out there that will last?

- I've searched on forums for tank inspiration, and do like the look of ocean rock over river cobbles. Any pros and cons of the 2 to make me change my mind?

- regarding substrate, I see a lot of fans of eco complete. I used the eco complete planted substrate in my previous tank, but that acted a fertiliser so the expense was justified. I like in London with hard water, so the buffering capacity of eco complete is not a requirement. Again, want to get this right first time. Will play sand do?

Once cycled, I can begin discussing stocking, but that’s a way off so won’t go in it for now!

Thanks in advance.

RT

 

[dthoffsett]

I've been out of fish keeping for about a year now. I used to run a high tech planted tank - the battle against algae drove me crazy and eventually gave up! Anyway, missed the little blighters, so am getting back into the hobby already. I picked up a second hand Rena 121x51x71 for a great price. As I am wanting to go for something different, and a little less time intensive when cf a planted tank, I am thinking of going for an mbuna aquarium.

Welcome back to the hobby, mbuna are great to keep, and the nice thing is they enjoy algae so it's not considered a bad thing in most tanks.

I've done the research; Ad Konings books in particular were very useful. I'm now ready to start setting up my tank. As things stand at the moment, I see myself installing the following:

- want a rocky background
- egg crate across the bottom
- ocean rock throughout
- standard play sand

Obviously I want to get the set up right first time, as it's a pain to change it when set up. So any thoughts based on your cichlid experiences?

Sounds like you've got the right idea, the only adivce I have is buy far more rock than you think you need, IME the tank will handle more rock than you might think, and the mbuna will appreciate having multiple territories to choose from.

- what would you advise on the best background? These get pricy I know, but I don't want to get something that will last 6 months. Tank is 70cm high so not the standard I guess. I will get some catfish - understand they can eat through it? Any better quality ones out there that will last?

Personally I just use plain black posterboard fixed to the tank with double stick tape. The dark color makes the fish seem brighter, and with a lot of rock in front of it, plus a nice coating of algae, an expensive backing isn't going to be anymore noticable than a cheap one. I'm guessing for a rocky background you are wanting one of the 3D ones. I can't find them locally, so I'm not sure which brand is the best. As for catfish, the synodontis species work best with mbuna, and they are unlikely to eat your background.

- I've searched on forums for tank inspiration, and do like the look of ocean rock over river cobbles. Any pros and cons of the 2 to make me change my mind?

Pros of ocean rock are lots of different sized holes for territories and it will help harden your water. The only real cons I can think of are that it is far more expensive and won't keep the nice bright white color once algae starts to grow. It's really up to you though.

- regarding substrate, I see a lot of fans of eco complete. I used the eco complete planted substrate in my previous tank, but that acted a fertiliser so the expense was justified. I like in London with hard water, so the buffering capacity of eco complete is not a requirement. Again, want to get this right first time. Will play sand do?

As long as you have a nice high kh from the tap to keep your ph stable, there is no real advantage to eco complete, though it does have a nice color to it. Play sand will work just fine.

If you haven't already read them, here are some excellent article to browse.
Feeding Mbuna
Lots of tank/fish pics, and journals to check out.
Tank Setup