Nick`s New Mbuna Tank Diary

[Nick Sw]

I really do think your stressing for nothing, you have the plastic tray to take the weight of the rock and on further inspection you have that metal suround, surrounding the base of your tank which will give it xtra strength.

Possibly I`m new to it all but It looks worse than the photo. I`ll have a go tomorrow and see .

 

[brewyn]

just noticed you have that *prime* declorinator, what do you make of it??? I bought some and you only have to use a couple of drops compared to the stress coat!!!

 

[mamafish68]

THATS IT!!!! (slams down pen)
I'm redoing a tank tonight!



my vote, keep the lights like they are, buy a bushy nose pleco or two for any algae growth.

you'll appreciate it when taking pics.

Got a pic or link for that busy nose mama? I think I may overtake nick at this rate, I'm adding my water tomorrow. Jeez you've got to have the patience of Job for this hobby.

hey cheffi, their an amazing little catfish, they stay relatively small, 5 inches and will clean your tank of algae, yes they have a face only a mother could love but they have great personality too when kept in groups. I have one or more in each tank of mine and neither the mbuna or tanganyikans bother with them at all. PICTURE OF ONE MY OWN MALES:

www.planetcatfish.com is the BEST catfish/pleco site IMHO and heres a bushy link: http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loric...cistru/49_F.PHP

 

[brewyn]

nick, the more I look at the photo of your home and tank, the more I think your a bachelor!!!!!!!


you cant be married, or even have a woman living with you, your home is far to clean and tidy.

 

[bobf]

THATS IT!!!! (slams down pen)
I'm redoing a tank tonight!



my vote, keep the lights like they are, buy a bushy nose pleco or two for any algae growth.

you'll appreciate it when taking pics.

Got a pic or link for that busy nose mama? I think I may overtake nick at this rate, I'm adding my water tomorrow. Jeez you've got to have the patience of Job for this hobby.

hey cheffi, their an amazing little catfish, they stay relatively small, 5 inches and will clean your tank of algae, yes they have a face only a mother could love but they have great personality too when kept in groups. I have one or more in each tank of mine and neither the mbuna or tanganyikans bother with them at all.

www.planetcatfish.com is the BEST catfish/pleco site IMHO and heres a bushy link: http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loric...cistru/49_F.PHP

Have you kept bristlies in an Mbuna tank mamaf? Just wondered about how they would cope with harder water as planet catfish quote ph range of 5.8-7.2 and bogwood as part of their diet ?

I have some in a new world cichlids setup but never thought about them in a mbuna tank.

(not trying to thread-jack here Nick, just wanted to ask)

 

[Nick Sw]

Brewyn - You have to be careful what gets into the background in some of these photos, Yes it`s Seachem Prime, not a clue how effective it is or how you can tell. I just picked it up beacuse it seemed really popluar , I think it lasts a bit longer per ml than the API stress coat.
BTW getting some gravel from a friends mature tank (they`ve got some Piranha) for my filter should help to kick off the cycle.
Unfortunately/Fortunately I`ve got a long term girlfriend that I live with and have had plenty of hassle about the aquarium I can tell you, this is a picture of her on Holiday in Nice.
http/i79.photobucket.com/albums/j142/nic...ting/Kirsty.jpg

BobF - No probs I`d like to know a bit more really I like the idea of an algae eater but not the idea of the ugly thing stuck to the front of the glass permantely. I read an article somewhere abou the Bogwood I think just a small piece is enough for them, I`ll try and find it again.

 

[Cheffi]

Awww Nick shame if you have to start all over. I must say from the photo it really doesn't look that bad but I suppose if you're worried about it you will have to. I must say the weight of the whole thing did worry me especially as I didn't use tuffa rock or any of the lighter ones and went for very heavy ones. Plus the nearly 300L of water. eeek.

I washed the sand really well and the water was clear as soon as the tank was full. Today all the air bubbles clinging to the back are gone and I'm quite pleased with it.

 

[Nick Sw]

Sorted it now Cheffi , I`ve just put some 3mm pieces of wood under the middle two rows of feet it`s worked well , got the rocks back in as well water in tomorrow. Didn`t half annoy me having to take everything out and back in though. Get some pics of your tank up when you get time.

 

[Cheffi]

Sorted it now Cheffi , I`ve just put some 3mm pieces of wood under the middle two rows of feet it`s worked well , got the rocks back in as well water in tomorrow. Didn`t half annoy me having to take everything out and back in though. Get some pics of your tank up when you get time.

Oh well done Nick! I've got the camera batteries charging up as we speak, so hope to get some photo's on tomorrow although I don't hold out much hope as I'm not very technically minded with uploading

 

[bobf]

BobF - No probs I`d like to know a bit more really I like the idea of an algae eater but not the idea of the ugly thing stuck to the front of the glass permantely. I read an article somewhere abou the Bogwood I think just a small piece is enough for them, I`ll try and find it again.

They mention bogwood in the diet in the description in MF's link. Main concern about that is that bogwood will lower the ph - problem for me as our tap water is v soft. I use crushed coral and tufa to buffer it and it runs at about 7.5 (6.5 from the tap).

It may be that a little bit won't do too much harm and I guess you could stick it round the back outta sight anyway?

 

[Nick Sw]

added a couple of pictures and update on the tanks progress

 

[brewyn]

Hello nick. I think your tank is looking great, even after the annoyance of having to emptie it again. are you leaving the rocks like they are, or are you going to go a bit higher

 

[mamafish68]

PRIME by SEACHEM rocks!!! it last forever, no slimey feel to tank decorations/plants/rocks like you can get with so many of the other products. also I'm the type that likes the fish to develope their OWN slime coat not some aloe-vera cactus crap that man put in a bottle! w/ prime they're allowed to do this naturaly.

 

[denis coghlan]

Looking good Nick

Glad you got the problem with the floor sorted out, that would have royally got on my goat if I had to take nearly everything apart. Nice to see that everything is underway and the setup looks quality.

I really like the bright hew that the décor of the tank kicks off it makes everything look lovely and clean. Are you ready for the layers of green algae!!!!!!!

 

[Cheffi]

Nick...isn't it about time you updated this thread.

I really need to know how you are getting on with the cycling in a bit more detail. Hoping my new filter will arrive tomorrow so I should be able to start mine off soon. Not sure I have a clue how to work out how much ammonia to add to my 300L's.