Don't know which way to go.

[Neptune350]

I have a new tank that I did not really know what I was going to put in the tank when it was established. The substrate is a standard "natural" rock that would normally be used for a general community tank.

I have since come to discover the spendor of Mbunas. I have given serious thought to having a species tank.

The problem, my water conditioning is moving close to a nitrite spike and I'm afraid to disurb the tank and create a setback for the growing bacteria.

Should I replace the substrate with the stuff I saw at the LFS that is specially designed for these types of fish? Should I place some of this substrate over my current so as not to disturb the bacteria growth? Do I even need to worry about the substrate and just put the fish in with the current stuff?

One more question. Is it too late to put the rocks into the tank to create the environment that the mbunas like?

 

[semper fi]

i would leave the substrate until the tank is established. then you can change out the substrate little by little. i have small pebbles in one of my tanks and never had a problem with the fish in it.

you can aquascape the tank with rocks now. i wouldn't add any plants to it if you plan on doing so.

 

[MbunaMadKat]

The problem with adding one substrate on top of another is you could kill the bacteria in the buttom substrate ... but I would wait till the tank is done cycleing before you change out the substrate and not add the fish till you make your big changes like the substrate and all because once you add the fish... it makes it more difficult to change rocks/ sand and such because then you have to worry about catching and putting fish in something while you are doiung this or that.. and you cant leave them in the temp place to long... ect... Just a few things to consider..Im no expert.. but this is a few of the things ive run into.. but ohh another thing.. that stuff they sell in the stores .."special made for african cichlids" you can get the same buffering effects by using a epson salt/ baking soda recipe thats has two benefits,,,, you can use cheaper just as nice looking substrate and its cheaper then all those exspensive lake salts and sands..