Help Stocking My 450l Tank

[j.jarman]

Hi, ive just finished setting up the basic layout of my 450l tank and kitted it out with an Eheim Pro 3 2080 filter. Here's a pic

The piping is very much temporary, as is heater placement. I think i may have too much sand in there too. Personally i like the depth of the sand, but i've read i shouldnt have more than 2" depth (there is egg crate under the sand which the rock lays on).

I also have a bottle of seachem's stability and i was thinking of using that to cycle the tank (i know some people wont like that idea!).

Anyway, i need some help stocking the tank. I've set up a lot of rock at the bottom which is ideal for mbuna, but the tank is very tall and im wondering if i stock the tank with mbuna will all that space at the top of the tank go to waste? Or will they actually use it??

Here's a list of some of the mbuna i like so far (i know they are not all compatible with each other, just that i like the look of them).

Metriaclima msobo magunga

Pseudotropheus Elongatus neon spot

Maylandia callainos

Cynotilapia afra Cobue

Cynotilapia sp. Hara

Pseudotropheus sp. Polit

Pseudotropheus greshakei

yellow lab

 

[KMX]

I love the Mbuna. My buddy sells a wide range. I noticed a pic that is incorrect. "Pseudotropheus sp. Polit" The pic of that is deff. not a polite. A male adult polite is Light blue and when he gets in breeding or frisky mode he turns white with a black line across his face. The Polite is one of my fav. When Polite are growing up they are a dull grey color and thats how the females will stay. Males will change to a light blue.

http/www.safhl.net/davesfish/images/ps_polit.jpg

Also check these guys out. F2 Cynotilapia sp. Mbamba Mpanga Rocks. I was at a auction in San Antonio TX last week and picked these guys up.

http/www.african-cichlid.com/MbambaM600A.jpg

 

[Abyss]

To be honest, Mbuna will probably swim all over the tank anyway.

You could go for a mix of low to mid level agression Mbuna and then some Haps.

Or...like I have done, go for the lower agression level Mbuna (Labs, Rustys, Acei), and gets Haps and Peacocks too.

The Mbuna will love the rocks, the Haps and Peacocks will love the open space at the top.

Just want to say, the tank looks AMAZING. Your rockwork looks brilliant too. Just add a black or blue background to finish off.

What tank is it matel SunSun (aquaerauk), Jinlong (peterclivemartin)? (I have a 310L SunSun from ebay).

ps. try a specialist Malawi site like www.malawiforum.co.uk for more help (say Stanley sent yer).

 

[Realtree]

Mbuna will use the whole tank
You could always build your rock higher giving them even more places to explore and take up squatters rights in