New Tank

[adambrum]

where to start i was planning on getting a new tank in a couple of months but have just got one on ebay for a silly price . its 48"l x 15d x18h 210L. i have done some reading on keeping malawi cichlids and was planning to use a special african substrate with lava rock and a big piece of real coral that i found in the loft. as for filters im not sure as what to get or how the flow should be in the tank. fish will be following in about 4 weeks after tanks matured so not an issue yet. does this sound about right and any suggestion about filter.

 

[Ferris]

Sounds good so far. The best advice i can give you regarding filters is to make sure you over-filter the tank as most Malawi Cichlids are messy. A lot of it is down to personal preference and of course, price when it comes to filters. The Eheim pro range is superb for external cannister filters and the Fluval + range are very good for a cheaper internal option.

 

[adambrum]

what sort of flow per hour would i be looking at about 500 ?

 

[rixy]

how much do you want to spend on a filterwe may be able to point you in the right direction.i would personally get a eheim pro 11.the 2026 would be good for your tank.

 

[fishtank]

ive kept malawis for a long time and i would recomend a slow flow idealy from a medium size fluval plenty of lava rocks and coral. I wouldnt worrie to much bout waiting for the tank to mature malawi's are quite a hardy species. i have set up new tanks and put fish in same day never had a prob.

 

[adambrum]

i think i will be going for a fluval +4 hvae been useing a fluval on my other tank with no problems . thanks for the advice . im sure i will be back to ask some more question when its time to get the fish.

 

[Ferris]

Its a good powerful filter and very good value for money.

 

[Luke & Penny]

yeah definately a good idea to over filter, I have my huge jumbo Juwel filter media in one corner and a huge external filter in there too which is pushing 1200 lph together with the 600 lph juwel pump im doing ok.

and i got my external for a bargain at £30

 

[freddyk]

and a big piece of real coral that i found in the loft

real coral tends to be very sharp and these energetic fish can tear themselves up on it.

 

[adambrum]

I have just done a water test straight from the tap could some one let me know if its suitable for keeping cichlids i know i can raise my ph by using bicarb.

kh= 70
gh= 60
ph=7.0