New Set Up - Comments Please!

[manxjason]

Hello, some of you may remember me posting regarding a mbuna setup? Unfortunately that could not happen due to change of circumstances (we have a new house). Living on the Isle of Man, I'm not able to part with silly money for mbuna shipped from Colin at natural world. If it was a smaller tank, then it'd be possible but it's not

Well, it's:

Equipment
5ft 450ltr & cabinet
4x 54w freshwater Daylight/Plant growth lights
1x Jumbo internal filter (black) and hidden by coloured background.
1x Eheim pro 3 external filter
1x 2000lph APS external filter
1x 300watt juwel heater inside internal filter
1x 300w fluval digial heater
1x Digital PH reader (in tank)

Decoration
Black background - back of tank painted
Black sand (need your thoughts on this)
25kg of ocean rock (almost white?) I want to keep a lot of open swimming space.

Stocking??
Here's the difficult bit, our limited LFS (only two stock african cichlids). One of which stocks them in soft water, so that's out of the question...) over here make it difficult to get the right fish. Now i've been into the LFS which use the correct water params and they have a tank labelled 'mixed malawi'. A closer inspection reveals Yellow labs, Peacocks and Haps. I can't see any other type of mbuna in there.

I was planning on cycling the tank with ammonia, and once sorted, purchase the entire stock in one go. Because of the limited availability I was planning on taking any haps/peacocks that I liked the look off. Yellow labs i've heard are quite laid back so mixing a few of these in would be good


what do you guys think?

 

[Tizer]

I think you should talk to your LFS and ask them to ship in the stock you want, not plum for the stock that's readily available

 

[manxjason]

Hi mate, it's Pets at Home - limited stock available I'm afraid. I have asked for a list so we shall see if anything comes through!

what do you think in terms of the black sand and ocean rock. Do you think this would highlight their colours or darken the whole tank down?

thanks

 

[manxjason]

I have to remember that living on the Isle of Man restricts getting large weighty items delivered due to costs.

A lfs sells Silver Sand for £12 per 25kg. I'd like to have a depth of around 1.5", so do you think this would be a better option? Tank is in inches 60 x 20 x 1.5depth

 

[Tizer]

http/www.riftvalleycichlids.com/malawistock.html

Given Mike here a try? I'd say its probably a better idea to get a decent stock of fish and pay a little more for it, than get the scabby junk from your large chain stores. Worth a phone call at least.

Either that or get in a boat and start rowing to the main land

 

[manxjason]

Thanks mate, the fish in their tanks at pets at home actually look in excellent condition. The plan was to take them directly out of their delivery van so the only acclimation they'll get is into my tank.

I think you are underestimating the postage to the Isle of Man lol.. Couriers charge a bomb, and the next day delivery will never be certain due to our ferry's often breakdowns and poor weather cancellations. If I did that, I'd have to come over on the boat which is darn expensive with a car. Could fill me tank with the ticket fee alone lol!!

I'll get photos of their stock tank so you can see them.

 

[manxjason]

Heres the fish from pets at home. not a lot there compared to previously but them and another lfs will give me a list which they can order from

 

[manxjason]

Can anyone identify any from here. thanks

 

[doresy]

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