Mbuna Aquarium

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

I have a 55 gallon tank. It is filtered by a marineland Magnum 350 and a BIOwheel 60 pro on one side of the tank and a power head with a quick filter on the other. I cycled it in three weeks using a fishless cycle.

I have some problems with this set up and will probably try a different canister filter in the future.

Anyway here is my current stock:

3 labidochromis caeruleus
2 psuedotropheus estharae
2 psuedotropheus socolofi
2 labidochromis perlmutt?( I don't think this is the actual scientific name ffor them)
1 synodontis eupterus

They are all about an inch to one and one half inches with the execption of one of the caeruleus who seems to be the ruler of the tank at 2 inches(bad temper too).
I can't tell their sex yet, but I think the big one will be the only male.

So do you think I will be ok with this set up?

Should I change anything or add any filters?

My tap water is PH 7.8 so I don't modify it any, but its gh is 22 will this be ok?

The fish seem very happy and are constantly begging for food.

I do have problems with my filter as I get ammonia spikes and nitrite spikes anytime i clean the canister. Seems the bacteria likes to grow there instead of the biowheels. I keep a supply of ammonia lock on hand just in case. Is there anything I can do to help this problem?

 

[thecichlidaddict]

I haven't heard the best things about magums, but since I haven't used one I can't help you there. You might be cleaning it out too often though, you shouldn't need to do it very often with those low stocking levels. By all means between the canister, bio-wheel, and quick-filter attachment you should have more then enough space for appropriate bio-filtration.

As far as your stocking goes, species are fine, it's the numbers that I'm worried about. Unless all of those pairs end up only females, you will have some serious aggression issues. Males are very aggressive toward females, and you will need more females to distribute this aggression (or none at all).

Also, synodontis are a good choice, but they are schooling fish, so it would do best if you can provide some friends for him.

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

Well thank you for the advice.

You think the numbers are low?

That is good because my plan would be to add females when they are older and bigger.

Hopefully that would work. Only one seems to be a male(of course I can't be sure right now). The others seem very peaceful.

The synodontis eupterus is a schooling fish? Its good to know that since my research turned it out as a solo fish but would do well with groups only if the had separate hiding spots.

Can anyone recommend a good canister type filter? I like the fact that I can keep it closer to the wall this way.

Thanks for all your advice.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Yes, caves are important, but I'd assume you have that with mbuna anyway?

Eheim Classic canister filters are my favourate. They are silent, high quality filters that have proven to be extremely reliable.

Is there a reason you are waiting to add the females?

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

I will look in to that type of filter.

I have plenty of caves and will look in to adding another synodontis eupterus. Or I was wondering if I could add a couple of synodontis nigriventris in place of 1 or 2 eupterus?

The nigriventris are smaller and less expensive.

Well the reason I want to wait to get the females is based on the fact I don't know exactly what I have yet.

The only one I am half way sure is male is one of the Caeruleus. It has rapidly out grown the others and is far more agressive.

The permuts are only about an inch long and both get stripped when stressed but lose the stripes most of the time.

The socolofi are albinos both the same size and about an inch long.(these 2 are probably the second most aggressive in the tank)

The estharae are both very docile and only about 1 1/2 inches long.

So unless there is a way to tell make from female as early as this please tell me.

Also 2 of the caerulues have less yellow color than one of them. They have what seems like vertical stripes down the length of there body and more white in them.

What is the cause of this?

 

[thecichlidaddict]

I ask about the females because you may find it difficult (and expensive) to find adults later on What I do is purchase more fish then I intend to keep. Since juveniles are smaller, you can fit more in the tank. As they grow and the males become distinguishable the extras can be weeded out and returned to the store. So if you wanted 4 socolofi (1m/3f) you might buy 6, that way you're allowing for half males, two to be returned. You may end up with an extra male or female instead, but that's not a big deal either way, usually it works out close.

Also 2 of the caerulues have less yellow color than one of them. They have what seems like vertical stripes down the length of there body and more white in them.

What is the cause of this?

The coloring of the Lab. Caeruleus could just be degenerate genes. This fish is likely the most popular Malawi cichlid in the hobby, and because of this they are often ill bred for reasons of profit. Ideally they are bright yellow, only showing any barring when stressed. I can find this fish in almost any shop in the city, but finding a nice one is a different story.

Or I was wondering if I could add a couple of synodontis nigriventris in place of 1 or 2 eupterus?

Adding a smaller Syno is a good idea if you ask me, that way you can keep more of them in the tank. Nigriventris, unfortunatley, is a peaceful one that wouldn't do well in an mbuna environment. It's also a softer water species. I recommended Petricola because they're small and tough, and thrive in the rift lake enviornment.

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

Thanks for the advice.

I understand the reason for buying the fish now and will do that. Makes good sense after you explained it.

First though I will purchase a Eheim 2217 filter and get it running for a while to replace that POS magnum.

Well hopefully I can find a couple of petricola, I haven't see any around. Aren't they sometimes called Cuckoo catfish. I understand that they really aren't said fish but maybe Ill have some luck that way.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

What is commonly known as the "Cuckoo catfish" is Synodontis Multipunctatus. As it happens I'm growing out a school of 9 to add to my own mbuna tank. They are very similar to Petricola, except larger. This means that they will work if they're all you can find, but seeing as you have a smaller tank, Petricola would be more ideal.

Multipunctatus is very unique in it's breeding habits, and anyone who is going to house them with mouthbrooders should be aware of it.

They are a parasitic breeder that swoop in while mouthbrooders are spawning, eating some of the cichlids eggs and depositing their own in exchange. The mouthbrooders then pick up these catfish eggs along with their own. The cat's eggs hatch earlier and the fry proceed to eat the cichlid eggs, and when the host fish spits, she is actually spitting a mouthfull of synodontis catfish instead! Petricola has also been known to breed this way, but they are also cave spawners.

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

Well Ill keep my eyes open fot the pertricola.

Thanks for all your advice.

I have decided to get a Eheim canister filter. There are 2 Im deciding between.

the 2217 model and 2224 pro model. which one is the better deal?

I do want to get rid of the BIO wheels eventually. Who ever thought a moving part would be a good idea is a moron. If one stops even for a couple of hours I get ammonia spikes. The Magnum does not actually have enough output I think for BIO-wheel 60 pro system. Maybe if I take out the normal outlet completely. it will run better.

Also I think the bacteria is growing in the pre-filter for the carbon insert in the canister and not in the biowheels all.

So my plan is to buy one of the two eheim models and eliminate the bio wheels and (I have a quick filter attach to a power head on the opposite side of the tank for water movement) quick filter, but keep the magnum as a water polisher.

What do you think?

 

[vantgE]

Sorry CA but i did some research into synos i while ago for my tank and heres some stuff i found out that's helped me it counters some of your advice though
(however i doubt CA's really wrong he tends to know everything and if youve read my earlier posts i tend to know little, but these are some straight facts from the people at catfish planet)

If you only want to keep one syno your only option in terms of commonly availible synodontis are the Nigrita and euruptus/eupterus

Syno Nigritventis are too fragile for mbuna

Tangykian catfish are substantially more active then riverine varieties but all of them need schools

Petricola have been reported as both egg scaterers and cuckooish(?) when breeding however they are much harder to breed

Syno petricola are the smallest and the nicest and best syno if you can find them

the last one was my own opinion-but the petricola are small like the nigriventis, are more active then several other species, fit in most tanks are are very nice looking like the multipunctatus, except there fins have more white on them makeing them look better

And to have seen 3.5 inch ones at a store for 35 each that's alot when buying 4-5 fish, but i also met a guy on a local forum who buys fish from breedersa and grows them out
he is selling me some for 45 when my trank is ready