Thinking Of Changing From Tropical Community To Mbuna Or Tanganyikan

[elisew]

Managed to get some pics of the newest additions:







Vid of tank:
http/s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss140/Elisew/Tanganyika%20Setup/?action=view&current=IMG_0666.mp4

I`ve tested the water this morning and wanted to ask what nitrate levels are 'safe' for the Tangs?
Ph 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40

I was using a mix of 3 parts RO to 1 part tap water with the Tropical tank, but wasn`t sure if using RO is a good idea with the Tangs as surely it would reduce the PH of the water?
My tap water results in a reading of 40 for nitrates

 

[doresy]

Mine have been in 40ppm nitrate for years. They are more sensitive than a lot of fish to most things but 40ppm is handleable.

The most important thing to remember with Tanganyikans is maintaining stability rather than actual levels


Looking good girl!

 

[elisew]

Mine have been in 40ppm nitrate for years. They are more sensitive than a lot of fish to most things but 40ppm is handleable.

The most important thing to remember with Tanganyikans is maintaining stability rather than actual levels


Looking good girl!

Thanks doresy, that`s made me feel a bit better
I was just a bit worried as from bits and bobs that I`ve read, nitrates above 20 seem to be a major concern to some people so I thought it best to check here.

Thanks, glad you think it`s looking alright
I`m just wondering whether or not I could use some of the anubia plants that came out of the community tank......are Anubias ok for a Tang setup do you think?

 

[kiriyama]

Nice video, cheers for posting it up, I have to admit I'm getting more tempted by those Leleupi, very nice, liked the shot of the Multi in the shell, it's pretty cool when you see those little blue eyes peeking out at you, there's tons of hiding placing in all that rockwork, again , really cool tank, job well done

 

[elisew]

No worries, thought it would give you a chance to see the featherfins and yes those blue eyes are always a bonus too

I saw the Paracyprichromis nigripinnis on Mikes earlier...they`re gorgeous!! Are they available in the UK do you know?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

You could perhaps add a layer of a fast grow floating plant, to help with the nitrate levels a little, or any fast growing plant come to that. Might be a bit of contraversy though, greenery in a Tang tank!

 

[elisew]

You could perhaps add a layer of a fast grow floating plant, to help with the nitrate levels a little, or any fast growing plant come to that. Might be a bit of contraversy though, greenery in a Tang tank!

I did wonder about greenery in a Tang setup All the effort to get the setup right and then I go and throw some frogbit and Anubias in

I`d love your opinions on the Anubias, they`re only attached to stones by rubber bands so I can easily remove them if they don`t look right



Found a link for a Facebook group, nice pics and vids of Tanganyika scenery and fish
http/www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23780238087

 

[kiriyama]

I don't know anything about plants but have lots of java fern in my tanks, vallis is good in Tang tanks also, I think there is one that s similiar to one that actually grows in the lake
paracyprichromis nigripinnis - yes avaliable in the UK, trimar and wildwoods usually worth a look, some LFS will order them in for you also, the Dutch website has them for 10 euros, I had spoke to someone from another forum and had advised me he could get me juvis for 5-6 quid, mmmm tempting, could swap some sumbu fry
They look there best with dark rocks, dark substrate , low lighting , "shadowy" tank, maybe something to look into for your second or third Tanganyikan tank

 

[elisew]

I don't know anything about plants but have lots of java fern in my tanks, vallis is good in Tang tanks also, I think there is one that s similiar to one that actually grows in the lake
paracyprichromis nigripinnis - yes avaliable in the UK, trimar and wildwoods usually worth a look, some LFS will order them in for you also, the Dutch website has them for 10 euros, I had spoke to someone from another forum and had advised me he could get me juvis for 5-6 quid, mmmm tempting, could swap some sumbu fry
They look there best with dark rocks, dark substrate , low lighting , "shadowy" tank, maybe something to look into for your second or third Tanganyikan tank

Second or third tank??? Pffftttt Hubby would kill me if I even suggested that......yet!

I`m not sure if the nigripinnis would be too much for the tank once my current lot start to grow but they really are gorgeous You ought to snatch mateys hand off if you can get some at that price.

Will be picking up the caudopuncs on Saturday and I`m getting really excited about having them in the tank.....yeah I know sad moo

 

[kiriyama]

Wouldn't put Paracyps in your current set up, BUT if you really go mad with the Tanganyikan bug (very easy) , they would be nice in a shellie tank, i.e. Multies

 

[elisew]

I think it would be very, very easy to get the 'Tang bug'

Especially after picking up the Caudopunctatus today, they are gorgeous!! I`ve moved some of the rocks too to open up a bit more swimming space in the tank.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Wow, the new additions look great!

How are the others doing one week on, especially that Cyprichromis you were worried about?

 

[elisew]

Hi Goat

I love them, their colours are lovely and they`re very confident in the tank. They all seem to be doing ok ta, the poorly cyp is now swimming around and is absolutely fine

How`s everything going with yours, have you managed to chop and change things around ok?

 

[kiriyama]

Stop it you're torturing me I'm really jealous now, I layed my rocks in two piles on the rug today, I come home tonight and you've set it up already, I can't keep copying you
Brilliant minds eh ???
Congrats on the punks, cool fish , you'll love them
I think your set up is going to be an inspiration to a lot of us for a long time to come

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Been a mixed week for me...

• "Mr Butterfly" looks a lot happier in the 620T in much calmer water and I will be finally getting him some mainly female friends in the morning, after Aquajardin let me know via facebook that they have some new stock!
  
• The Barilius hukaungensis are amazingly schoolers, at least on a par with Rummynose Tetras, but they are still so skittish when I phase their two 9W bulbs on/off! I might get a few more of these in the morning too to help give them more confidence, before moving them to the Rio240 now their two weeks QT is over. They are also unbelieveably quick and I've felt a bit guilty couping them up in the 620T for a fortnight, but I was trying to get back to better habits of quarantining before adding fish to long term stock... I reckon they are going to love the 5-footer in the new year with its space and current, but this final move needs to wait until the Humphead Glassfish come inside, which will not happen until the rapidly growing Lionhead fry and Pearl Danios have been re-homed.
• Sadly lost another two injured Yellowtails over 24 hours midweek, despite trying to keep their "jousting" wounds bacteria free with Myxazin and adding four large almond leaves to the Rio240.
• "Mr Stumpy" is still healing his caudial fin (albeit mainly his upper section) nicely and looks so much happier with his eight other Peal Danios.
• Been in contact with a fish store who have four Humpheads who have given me a good quote for adding the group to my four with shipping, which will become a vast majority of the stocking in the Rio240, possibly with the exception of my three Panda Garras. Given their looks and very quicky behavior (one minute schooling quite tightly, the next minute a "domino effect" rippling down the group from the alpha male to "want some space") I will be quite happy to have them behind my PC again, as they were one of my "must have" fish when I finally decided what sort of fish stocking I wanted.
• Good odds on bringing home a 10cm Leopard Bushfish on Monday too from my round's fish store.