Re-done My Malawi Set-up

[fry_lover]

I have been having a change around in my lounge with what tank goes where, including selling two and getting one bigger one. Anyway, with all the movement and the Malawi fish having to be taken out anyway, i thought it would be an ideal time to re-organise the tank.

I also moved on a few non Mbuna and replaced with some Mbuna juveniles. The set-up is going to be a lot more Mbuna dominated. 80% of the fish in the new set-up are Mbuna.

The tank is 48" length, 20" depth and 24" high (22" water level) and it holds about 300 litres, after all the rocks have been added.

Filtration is x2 Eheim 2028's and a Fluval 4+ internal which holds filter-wool. I also like the extra surface movement the internal creates.

I am running with one aqua-glo tube (t8) at the front thats it, after experimenting with lots of lighting over last week or so, this is what i have settled on, i dont want the tank mega-bright, not only because of algae issues, but i just dont like that look anyway, and i think my fish appreciate the more subdued lighting and are less skittish.

So hear goes, criticism welcomed, but when you are setting up a tank, a lot of it is just personal taste i guess.

But in terms of the set-up, i have tried hard to create an environment where there is a lot of cover for the fish, including big enough gaps for the adults in a lot of places.

Lots of pictures, so you can see different angles. This is what the set-up looked like before the fish went in.




It's not going to be to everyone's taste, it's not exactly "natural" looking thats for sure.

Here are some pictures of the tank with the fish in.

What i have noticed is that by having the rocks low down on the left and right, this allows the jet-black background to beautifully show off the fish colours.

I am really happy with this look.

It wont let me post any more pictures

 

[Duck and Dive]

I love It!!!
I love the fish they make such a difference to the tank.

 

[fry_lover]

More pictures of individual fish and groups of fish

I love It!!!
I love the fish they make such a difference to the tank.

yep, sure do!!! Thanks


The stock for this tank is

Mbuna
Labidochromis Caeruleus x6
Pseudotropheus Zebra (Blue) x4
Maylandia Estherae x4
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Ngara) x4
Labeotropheus Fuelleborni x2
Red Top Hongi x3
Albino Cobalt x3
Blue Cobalt x3
Maylandia Greshakei x3

Non Mbuna
Copadichromis Borleyi x2
Neolamprologus Tretocephalus x3
Neolamprologus Meeli x1
Julidochromis x1
Chinese Algae Eater x1


I know this is a pretty useless formula, but its about 1.2" per gallon right now, but a fair few of them are juveniles, if i keep them all for the duration, then a 5x2x2 or 6x2x2 be the order of the day i think


i am particularly chuffed for two reasons....

first being, i had four different females "holding" i.e. eggs or fry in their mouth for peeps not familair with Mbuna breeding habits.

All four females are still holding, despite being netted twice and moved into a different tank in the last week!

How about that for Mbuna female dedication!

The four holding are

- Labeotropheus Fuelleborni
- Maylandia Greshakei
- Maylandia Estherae (Red Zebra)
- Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Ngara)


I am also chuffed as the fish have been in the new set-up for less than 48 hrs and are no-where near as "skittish/nervous" as i imagined they would be.

They've basically had a 90% water change as well.

The colours are amazing, i wish my camera skills were better.

 

[who-izzet]

Can't fault your tank mate, it looks really great.

I'm writing a Christmas list for Santa now and sofar I have a Shrimp tank and now a Malawi Cichlid tank!

 

[Ace Of Spades]

OH MY GAAAHD, These are the kind of tanks that make me want to speed up getting my Malawai Tank So lovley

(P.S That tank would look nice with a plant or two, I know cichlids pull em up but two plants in their at either end would finish it off IMO)

 

[paul_219]

Nice tank. Well done made.

 

[kj23502]

Great Tank!!

You could go celebrate!

The babies will be soo cute! Are you going to move them to a fry tank?

 

[fry_lover]

Great Tank!!

You could go celebrate!

The babies will be soo cute! Are you going to move them to a fry tank?

Thanks i love all the emoticons

I have some Acei fry in my guppy/platy grow-out tank, thats from catching them about 3-weeks ago. There is about 5, and once they get past the 1cm i will put them in the main tank. 1cm gives them a pretty decent chance to make it in my tank.

As for the Malawi that are currently holding, i take a "let nature take it's course" approach. If i see a chance to catch a tiny fry i will try and get it, otherwise, everytime i re-organise the tank and take the rocks out i generally catch some fry to grow on. I dont intend on doing anything with this tank for mqany months though!!!!

I do have one Labeotropheus Fuelleborni fry, that has survived in the main tank and is now about 1.5cm and i think out of danger, he isn't hiding anymore.

 

[jonny]

Are you open to negative comments?

 

[dzsigmond217]

Umm..it's interesting to say the least! Looks a little sparse to me. Like it needs something more, as suggested perhaps plants? I've never had cichlids before so I don't know they're requirements.

 

[fry_lover]

any comments guy's, it's all personal taste when doing up tanks, i seen loads of set-up's that others have said "nice tank mate" and i have thought "awful, would never have my tank like that", so feel free, perhaps i wouldnt be so blunt on someone's thread, so i normally give it a miss if i dont like someone's set-up, or i make a suggestion, but feel free

the main thing is the fish seem to love it, never seen them looking so chilled actually. And i love it my lounge

Importantly, i do think there is enough cover both for adults and young, the pics dont really show the size of the caves and holes etc,

I personally dont like wall-to-wall Malawi tanks (where there is so much rock from end to end)

 

[caboose_122]

i think it looks to "man made" for lack of better words, i think that the lava rock and ocean rock should be split to two sides of the tank like a valley with some in the middle. just my thoughts but it does looks good, reminds me of crystal red shrimp lol.

 

[fry_lover]

i think it looks to "man made" for lack of better words, i think that the lava rock and ocean rock should be split to two sides of the tank like a valley with some in the middle. just my thoughts but it does looks good, reminds me of crystal red shrimp lol.

ooooh man!!!! you got me thinking now! That sounds a good idea about "the lava rock and ocean rock should be split to two sides of the tank like a valley with some in the middle"

Ironically i never intended it to be like this, there was one time when i quickly put the rocks back in the tank and they were jumbled up (i.e. red and white) and i quite liked it.

I still love this look, but the next time i re-do it or if i go for a bigger set-up, i am going to remember what you said.


EDIT: good signature by the way, almost as good as mine

 

[SJ2K]

I think it looks excellent as it is great colour contrasts, dont change a thing .

 

[fry_lover]

good man SJ2K