Setting Up A Tangyakin 'sand Sifter' Tank

[aaronnorth]

1) I have a 180l/ 40g tank, at the moment it is planted but i want to change it into a cichlid tank or biotope (not sure!) stick to cichlid for now - is this big enough?

2) substrate, shall i use coral sand or would a normal gravel be ok, does coral sand raise the ph up to a certain level or does it make the ph rise by a certain amount e.g. up 1 on the scale.

3) I have heard of overstocking, what rough rule would you give as an 'inch per gallon'?

4) Do they like fast flowing water, would i need a powerhead and/ or an air pump?

5) decor, i was thinking of rocks and slate with a couple of hardy plants like anubias dotted around, is this ok?

6) diet, waht would you reccomend to feed them and not feed them.

7) Any additional supplements needed like salt or minerals etc.

8) anything else i have missed? I have read the pinned topic.


I have asked these questions about mbuna but i was reccomended to try the sand sifters as they are smaller, so can you please give me advice on these, thanks

 

[darrel69]

1)For tang's, yes.

2)Sand is best used. You can use coral if you like, it will keep your pH stable above 7.8 at least.

3)Im not sure on stocking for tangs...

4)No, they live in alake not a river. Normal circulation is ok...

5)Sounds good ... but if you decide to keep shellies, you'll want lots of shells.

6)Depends which species you choose..

7)Depends what your tap water stats are ??? i.e ph/gh/kh..

Good Luck

 

[aaronnorth]

are 'shelllies' like a 'sub-fish' of sand sifters? What is their behaviour like?

ph 8
gh 280ppm/ 16
kh 120ppm/ 8

 

[darrel69]

"Shellies" are Tankganyikan cichlids known as Shell Dwellers. They're v.small, cute and live in shells lol... HERES a list of the them.. and HERES some useful info on them..

Btw, are they your test results from your tap water ?? If so, you have very good water for Africans and shouldn't worry about having to add anything, aslong as your pH is stable.

 

[aaronnorth]

it's my current tank water although my tap water isn't to far off, it's a liitle lower, we have always had hard water and i have always though about a cichlid tank.

 

[darrel69]

Ok, well if your sure they're stable enougth at those levels between waterchanges, then you shouldnt have to add anything at all.

 

[jumpman]

Your water sounds perfect, nice and hard. If you want a sand sifter set up Im not sure shellies would be the best idea, as your tank's footprint is not that large. You need a lot of open sand. Some rockwork in the back corners

You could try a stocking something like this perhaps?
3-5 Xenotilapia flavipinnis
5-7 Paracyprichromis nigripinnis
Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps pair
Ancistrus bristlenose

Or if you like the idea of a shellie tank, cover much of the bottom in escargot shells and some rock work at back and corners.
5-7 Multifacitus (you will soon have a larger colony)
5-7 Paracyprichromis nigripinnis
Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps pair
Ancistrus bristlenose

HTH

 

[aaronnorth]

You could try a stocking something like this perhaps?
3-5 Xenotilapia flavipinnis
5-7 Paracyprichromis nigripinnis
Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps pair

And these like rocky tanks with a few plants?

 

[dthoffsett]

You can add some rocks (though not nearly as much as for mbuna) and they should leave plants alone. You'll just want to make sure you have plenty of floor space as they sift through the sand constantly.