New Setup

[balon]

Cheers. highly recommend an external filter for this. I wouldn't rely on the Juwel internal alone...Your pH is about where it should be as a minimum, 8.2ish is ideal from what I've learnt

I've got rocks about half way up the tank. I'm gonna get some more as the activity is limited to where the rocks are based on observation.

Maybe someone can answer another question for me..
All the algae growing in my tank is brown. I would have expected it to be green. Any ideas why this might be or if this is bad?

Here's a picture:

 

[balon]

Been back to the LFS and discovered my Cynotilapia afras are actually Pseudotropheus demasoni. They look very alike!

Got a few more while I was there, so now I have:

2 Labidochromis Caeruleus
3 Pseudotropheus Demasoni
3 Aulonocara Jocobfreibergi
2 Maylandia Estherae (Red Zebra)
2 Pseudotropheus Elongatus
3 Labidochromis sp. 'hongi'
3 Iodotropheus sprengerae

Still wouldn't mind hearing opinions on compatability. From my own observation, the pictured elongatus seems to want to be the dominant one, but all seem very happy....

Can someone confirm that this is Maylandia Estherae?

Also, I've made some modifications to the tank, added some rocks, fake coral and cleaned as much of the brown algae as I could.

Have a lOOk:

 

[Ferris]

Definately Estherae.

Tanks looks really good, i don't like the coral but that's just a personal preference thing!

 

[balon]

Definately Estherae.

Great, That's settled then!

Tanks looks really good, i don't like the coral but that's just a personal preference thing!

I hear you - I wanted to cover the heater behind, and thought this would do the job fairly well. It looks a little unnatural, but think I'll stick with it for a while....

 

[Mbuna Dave]

Looking good Balon,but i also feel the coral looks out of place.

I know what you mean that you want to cover the gubbins at the back and apart from adding heaps more rock what other suggestions are there,i dont like fake plants and real ones wouldnt last so whats the alternative?

 

[Exiled]

Man I'm pretty jealous over your Pseudo. elongatus.... looks like "chewere". I looked for those forever and a day to have in my first mbuna setup! Yeah, about that coral -- when the fish get bigger they'll be alot of chases (totally normal) but the faster the fish "run" the more they bump into stuff (heaters, rocks, the glass, etc) I'm just concerned that the sharrrrp coral could shred some of them up pretty badly. Maybe take that out and pile the rocks higher?
Congrats on the tank -- looks great, otherwise.
I have the brown algae too. I think it only gets green if you have really good full spectrum lighting.

 

[balon]

Mmmm..... the coral... unnatural, out of place, unaesthetic, potentially harmful to my fish (who are already chasing each other)... and now, it appears, a waste of 40 euro! I'll have to rehome it I think....

Guppy Dave, Had to look up 'gubbins' for a meaning. Would 'thingumebob' be close? Never heard of this word, but will remember it!!!

I was asking the guy at the lfs about lighting re: brown algae. He mentioned that the spectrum from lights diminishes over time and this could be the cause. My initial thought was he was trying to sell me another tube because I recently replaced one and the other is maybe 9 months old. Do I really need to have two new tubes to get rid of this problem? How long should these tubes last before losing effectiveness?

 

[Mbuna Dave]

Guppy Dave, Had to look up 'gubbins' for a meaning. Would 'thingumebob' be close? Never heard of this word, but will remember it!!!

Hahahahaha,i thought everyone knew what gubbins where?Thingumebob will do i suppose.Although i sometimes use Doobrey Perkins............................dont ask.



On your mention of algae and such,would a UV help.I have considered getting one but know not a lot about them.I know why and how they work but how effective are they?

 

[Ginge]

It looks like your done stocking now then???

 

[balon]

Not sure about a UV filter, as I think this would kill all algae? Green algae is OK in this situation from what I understand. The brown algae is just ugly and grows too quickly.

Yeah, Ginge, think that will do it on the stocking for now. Guy at lfs suggested adding a Socolofi or two in in a couple of months. I'll wait and see...

 

[jkrekord]

ooh very nice setup an fish

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

try cutting down on your feeding to get rid of the brown algae, and maybe new tubes would help get rid of it too.