Tomorrow Is The Big Day!

[Lisa67]

After 2 months I finially have a fully cycled tank and plan to stock it with mbuna tomorrow. My biggest concern is aclimating them to my water.

I have the temp at 78F, the tank has lots of hiding spots, rocks, etc. My water is hard (I don't have an actual # but I know its hard because it leaves white residue on everything). PH is 7.6-7.8. The bottom has a type of sand for cichlid tanks that is supposed to help keep the PH up.

So, I know that they are supposed to be good in hard water, but they may not be in water as hard as mine at the LFS... I bought air hose tonight so that I can drip the water into a bucket with the fish in it to get them used to it but is this realy necessary? Any other advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[PEneoark]

When you are at the LFS, ask them to test the water in the tanks of the fish you want, then show you what the pH is. Both the LFS I got my malawis at buffered the water with crushed coral as substrate. Good luck.

 

[Squidward]

If your LFS is any good, they will be keeping the fish in water with parameters which they need ie hard and alkaline. And this sounds similar to yours.

What I do with all fish is as a float the bags, I take a tea spoon and add a spoon of water from my tank into the bag every 10 mins or so. I let the fish go after about 3/4 hour.

 

[Lisa67]

Thank you, floating the bags and using a teaspoon sounds much easier than the air hose method. And I will ask the owner about the water... he seems to know his stuff (hope so, I have to drive an hour to get there). Can't wait to have fish in this tank after months of looking at rocks!

 

[Squidward]

Thank you, floating the bags and using a teaspoon sounds much easier than the air hose method. And I will ask the owner about the water... he seems to know his stuff (hope so, I have to drive an hour to get there). Can't wait to have fish in this tank after months of looking at rocks!

Yup, teaspoon method much easier than an airline.
I am sure it will be fine.
Mbuna are tough.

Who are you getting your fish from?
A breeder?

 

[bullit]

I find the drip method to be pretty simple. May aswell keep on the safe side.

 

[Squidward]

I find the drip method to be pretty simple. May aswell keep on the safe side.

The drip method is ok if you have one or two bags.
But I find that if you have more than that, it gets a bit complicated!