Powerhead In A Mbuna Tank?

[twodoctors]

I'm new to Mbuna setup so would like some advice. I have ocean rocks at the back forming lots of nooks and crannies for them to hide and explore. When I bought them about 2-3 weeks ago the male usually "guard" part of the rocks from inside while the other 7 female will shoal outside. I have a airstone bar behind the rocks to create some water movement. I recently put a 1000LPH impeller into the front part of the tank to create a gentle(ish) current in the front of the tank (open space from L to R) to simulate a river effect. The impeller is running at the "low" setting so the current isn't that strong. They don't shoal as much now and occasionally behave like (what I think) Mbuna does and find a "hole" and sit there. Am I doing ok?

Also the male, or at least I think it is a male, doesn't seemed to be feeding as well as the females. When I drop the flakes in, the female will savage the flakes. The male might come out, start darting around as if to see if someone has turned up to steal his territory, then hides again. It doesn't fight for the food. It's still alive and I have see poo from it so I guess it is eating something. He's still quite pale, similar to what he was like in the shop. Should I worry?

Adrian

 

[Malawi MaD]

Everything sounds ok to me, mbuna can be quite skittish and shy in a new aquarium and if there isn't another or a more dominant, inquisitive fish(male) in the tank then he could be a little shy until he settles and knows its safe to come out. Is he showing any interest in the females?? and do you have a pic of the male? Mbuna are usually very active but if you haven't got many fish in there and its a new tank they will be a little less active and 'in your face' kinda thing until they get the confidence or more are added for confidence in numbers.

The power head will be fine they do like to swim in the currents

 

[twodoctors]

I'm already pushing it with 8 in my 90L. Filtration is fine with the overhead drip filter with loads of filter media. Keeping it species only with 1m 7f to keep peace and minimise fighting etc. Pic as above. I did read somewhere that there is a bit of current in their biotope which is why I added the powehead. They are out most of time, only occasionally hide, while the male is hiding most of the time and out occasionally. Would love to mix it with the pearl lab but as I said this would be pushing it in terms of peace (if not filtration) I think. I just hope the my "male" is actually a male and not a female with wash-out colour by genes. The pic above is not the best quality but the females are bright yellow (one or two have faint bars) and they are all similar size.

And BTW MaD, do you use salt with tap water? My algae are growing nicely but it is brown. Do they eat brown algae or am I wasting my time?

Adrian

 

[Malawi MaD]

Ohh only 90L your going to need a bigger tank, that could be why he's hiding and been skittish. Even jumping upto a 150L will be a big help for your group of saulosi as ideally the minimum size for malawi's is a 4ft 55G, you can get away with keeping saulosi in a 3ft as long as filtration is good and regular maintenance is kept up with. Yep where there from in the lake (taiwan reef) its quite vigorous with the water flow so they do like it. Your females in the pic look ok though, showing good colour apart fromthe 1 in the middle that is a little washed out but shes looking healthy.

Yeah add lake salt when i do my water changes and your brown algae will turn green shortly just takes a little time

 

[twodoctors]

I thought that's a male changing colour...

...and how much salt do you add?

 

[Malawi MaD]

5.5G per 40L only add when i do a water change, To add salt to an established tank, base dose on water being changed. Do not use salt when simply replacing evaporated water. It is best to dissolve the salt in freshwater before use.

 

[twodoctors]

5.5G per 40L only add when i do a water change, To add salt to an established tank, base dose on water being changed. Do not use salt when simply replacing evaporated water. It is best to dissolve the salt in freshwater before use.

That's the instruction from a SeaChem Malawi Salt bottle, right? Just bought one from eBay. Do you not use less in non-RO hard(ish) water?

Adrian