Ok, MORE questions on future malawi mbuna tank...

[guppygirl]

Hi everybody,
I had a few questions on my soon to be set up 30 gallon Malawi Mbuna tank. ( )

1. I know what kinds of fish I want, I just don't know how many to get!! Here's the list:
Labidochromis caeruleus "Electric Yellow"
Pseudotropheus "Acei"
Pseudotropheus saulosi
3 or more Synodontis multipunctatus?

2. Can I add any other bottom feeders, and how many?

3. I tested the pH of the water that comes out of our faucet (we have well water) and it read 6.2. My 55 FW levels out at 6.0 too. What do I do about buffering the water and what products do you recommend to do so?

4. What kinds of food to I feed Mbunas? What would be a good combination for the tank?

5. What kind of filter(s) should I use on the tank? I was thinking the AquaClear powerhead model 301 with the quick filter attached filled with bioballs in the core, but I don't have too much experience with filters.

Thanks in advance!!!
~Robin

 

[freshmike]

#1. Good choice of fish ...will be nice color. The syno-multis are awesome too, although I hear they can be quite expensive in some regions, mine were 20 each.

#2 If you don't want to have to scrub the algae too much, I would add a small pleco (possibly a sailfin) unless of course you are going for a biotype. I would only get one.

#3 You can use crushed coral as a substrate, that will raise the pH...also tufa rock would help. It is a really nice looking rock as well, usually holey, great for mbuna.

#4 Any higher quality flake or pellet, preferably smaller pellets if the fish are small (obviously ) I feed Aquarian and Veggie8 (HBH) to my mbuna, both are flake food. Be very careful how much you feed as well, mbuna are pigs and won't stop eating until they kill themselves. Very susceptible to bloat if overfed.

#5 I don't think the powerhead should be used as the main filter at all. I would get an aquaclear300 if you are familiar and comfortable with that brand and use the powerhead for current, mbuna love current anyway. Any filter that has a turn-over of around 300gph should be fine for your tank as you are probably going to be stocking it quite well. Mbuna are pretty messy sometimes.

Good luck, mbunagirl!

 

[gixer]

that water is going to take some buffering.

as allready said coral sand or argonite will help but might not do the trick with water so acidic and i assume its really soft too.

forget products sold for this. bicarbonate of soda will do the trick nicely and bring the ph upto 8 easily.

feed you mbuna little and often, i feed 3 times a day for no more than they will eat in 20 seconds avoid using too much tropical flake. spirulina sticks are ideal as well as lots of vegatables. I feed a mix of steamed carrots, cauliflower, pease, cucumber and prawns all blended then frozen.
Groowing algae on the rockwork will feed them too. they naturally graze on algae on rocks.

variety in the diet is the key to keeping healthy mbuna

the best mechanical and biological filtration you can afford will do. the more filtration the better. these fish should be overstocked to reduce agression so good filtration is a must

 

[vantgE]

You cannot add synodontis multipunctatus to a tank that size you are aware that they are schooling fish that grow 7 inches, your best choice is a synodontis petricola in a school of at least four these look similar plus some added whit on the fins and grow 4-5 inches.
so for fish numbers I think 4 of two of those only and then botom feeder(s)
But I'd wait as i'm not sure what really should fit in the tank, snuff has a 30 malawi so he should know if he posts

You the buffer will work much better in the filter so I suggest buying a filter bag and adding putting some gravel in their and placeing in the filtration system like, as Freshmike suggested an aquaclear

Best get some sort of spirulina food and some mbuna need it i know the labidochromis caeruleus doesn't but it is a great supplement, spirulina flakes don't have alot in them so it is best to by a brand with it near the top of the ingredients list I also feed frozen krill from time to time (don't really need this but i have a predator in my tank too but will add variety if you want to try that) but my main food is a simple cichlid flake with vegetable and some fish a invertibrate ingredients

 

[Snuff]

Actually, my malawi tank is a 50.

My 30 is the future home to some kribs, congo tetras, and upside down cats.

 

[vantgE]

really? did you used ta have them in their?

 

[Snuff]

I had a couple, but I had mixed Africans and NW. Now I know better.

 

[guppygirl]

Ok, so how many fish of each species can I normally keep in the tank? I didn't really understand.

On the subject of filters~
Hey, I hadn't even thought of Aquaclears! My mom's tank has a little one on hers, and I really like the little bag that comes with it. That would be a good primary filter. Thanks for the suggestion FM!!

Bottom feeders~
Are you sure I can't keep S. multipunctatus in a 30 gallon tank? I guess I could put S. petricola in there, but I was sort of hoping for the latter. also what kind of pleco could I put in a 30 that tolerates the ph that cichlids do?

Also~ What do I do about water changes? do I pre-treat the water before I put it into the tank?

An overview~
For a filter I'll use an Aquaclear 300 with the media bag and a powerhead for extra current. The media bag will be filled with crushed coral (just plain stuff, nothing special) and bioballs.
I'll have the Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater 100w for a heater also. (or else 2 50w, what do you think?)
If you think of anything I should add, tell me!!! As I have said before, I want to do this tank right the FIRST time!!!

Thanks again!!
Robin

 

[vantgE]

ok if you plan on doing a pleco you could try a multi but i felt they were going to be to big for my tank when i was decideing on my fish and it is a 90g you should also keep at least four of them makes alot of diference compared to three I hear

 

[yhbae]

I've done quite a bit of research, and started setting up a tank. Mine is a 33g tank (3ft long) with similar planned selection of fishes.

- 1M/3F Yellow Lab
- 1M/3F P Acei
- 1F Albino Bristlenose Pl*co
- 3 x Synodontis M

I've been told I shouldn't add any more than what I have above.

I might put ONE demasoni in the tank as some have suggested. These guys keep their aggression within their own species so if you have one, apparently they don't start any aggression.

Currently, the tank is holding sub-2inch sized 5 Yellow Labs and 5 P Aceies. I will thin them out as I discover their sex.

As for the water chemistry, my tap pH is 7.0 and GH is low, at 3. I use baking soda and epsom salt to raise pH, GH and KH. I try to keep pH at 8.2, GH at around 10. I only add them during water change. I melt them in a warm cup of water first, then add them slowly while adding new water into the tank.

So far, it is working well.

Curious, why do you prefer Syn. M over Syn. P?

Good luck with your tank!

 

[guppygirl]

Wow yhbae, you have the exact same size tank as I do!! Good luck, I hope I have a tank similar to yours!!

On synos- well it's just a personal taste thing. I could go for either, I dunno!!

I was want to put some Texas Holey Rock in there too ( here's a link ) , but what happens when I put crushed coral AND Texas Holey rock AND baking soda (at water changes) in the same tank? Does it just buffer it to a certain level or does the pH go out the roof?
Thanks again for all your help guys,
Robin

 

[yhbae]

I don't know about enough water chemistry to determine if that rock will move pH beyond 8.2. I know that baking soda will not go higher than 8.2, which happens to be ideal for most african cichlids. All I can suggest is to measure often...

 

[Ferris]

Just thought I'd add to the good advice that you have already had. With regard to the Plec, I had a sailfin in my Mbuna tank but I had to move him to my other tank last week as the Mbuna started nibbling his fins persistently. I had no problem for months as the Plec is fully grown and the Mbuna were all bought as juveniles and were pretty scared of him. They are now approaching full size and became very interested in his algae wafers and would nip his fins to scare him away. They weren't overly agressive but the situation wasn't improving so I moved him. You also mentioned you might get a Demasoni, wonderful fish but mine is agressive to my Auratus, which looks similar.

Hope this helps