Beginner Questions

Jonno · 08-27-2005, 08:53 AM

Hi i'm getting a new tank (180 litres) and i have kept community tanks and some bettas, angels and other fish but i would really like to keep lake malawi cichlids first questions will this tank be big enough.
I also knw you have to keep them in hard water but i have been informed the water from my area is soft is there any chemical to make it hard thanks for your replies.

- Jonno

blixem · 08-27-2005, 09:54 AM

If my conversion is right, that's 47gal tank, which is a good size for a small cichlad tank. I'd wait till the experts reply on stocking levels though..

As for hard water, I'm pretty sure you can use crushed coral sand, or other means to buffer your water to the correct hardness/pH without having to resort to chemicals. It is usually much easier to make your water harder, and raise the pH than it is to make it softer or lower the pH. (softness and pH being two different things.)

**Cichlid Man** · 08-28-2005, 06:25 AM

I use limestone in my tank. The water won't exeed pH 8.5 no matter how much dissolves.

IloveCichlids · 08-28-2005, 11:56 PM

You can use crushed coral, argonite, or check out this special cichlid substrate http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...&N=2004+113553. These will all buffer your water to get you a higher PH. If you have a substrate such as Tahitian Moon Sand, gravel, or silica sand you can use dead coral or any limestone to buffer the water as decorations.

As far as hardness they do make chemicals for that. I use cichlid essential. It is specialy formulated for African Rift Lake tanks.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113003

As far as stocking it kind of depends on what is available in your area and if you want Mbuna, Haps and/or peakocks. If you want Mbuna stick with those only. You can mix Haps and Peakocks together, although some of those get a little bigger than some of the Mbuna.

Hope this helps some.

Orbital · 08-29-2005, 05:38 PM

What are the dimensions of the tank? Longer tanks are generally better suited for Mbuna. Since territory is important with them. Alot of the Haps will get too large for that setup I think. You could do a group of Aulonocara (Peacocks) but they don't mix well with most Mbuna. Although I'm mixing them at the moment and so far so good.

If you go with mbuna, I would stick to just two species. Possibly a 3rd if its Acei since they are open water swimmers for the most part and won't really take up a territory other then when spawning. They will find a flat rock or just spawn on the substrate. Shoot for one male and multiple females, 3-5 or more. Male Mbuna are generally intolerant of eachother, although you can "fine-tune" setups to house more then one male with experience, time & effort, and a close eye on the situation.

Jonno · 08-29-2005, 05:45 PM

its a bow front long and curved at front not sure on dimensions but i might order it 2 moz

08-27-2005, 08:53 AM	#1
Jonno Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Devon, UK Age: 20 Posts: 512	Beginner Questions Hi i'm getting a new tank (180 litres) and i have kept community tanks and some bettas, angels and other fish but i would really like to keep lake malawi cichlids first questions will this tank be big enough. I also knw you have to keep them in hard water but i have been informed the water from my area is soft is there any chemical to make it hard thanks for your replies. - Jonno

08-28-2005, 06:25 AM	#3
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	I use limestone in my tank. The water won't exeed pH 8.5 no matter how much dissolves. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

08-28-2005, 11:56 PM	#4
IloveCichlids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 29 Posts: 456	You can use crushed coral, argonite, or check out this special cichlid substrate http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...&N=2004+113553. These will all buffer your water to get you a higher PH. If you have a substrate such as Tahitian Moon Sand, gravel, or silica sand you can use dead coral or any limestone to buffer the water as decorations. As far as hardness they do make chemicals for that. I use cichlid essential. It is specialy formulated for African Rift Lake tanks. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113003 As far as stocking it kind of depends on what is available in your area and if you want Mbuna, Haps and/or peakocks. If you want Mbuna stick with those only. You can mix Haps and Peakocks together, although some of those get a little bigger than some of the Mbuna. Hope this helps some. __________________ When you feel like this... , just watch your fish, & have a tasty beverage (of your choice, I like Kool-Aid)!

08-29-2005, 05:38 PM	#5
Orbital Pimpin' fish ain't easy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Quad Cities, IA/IL Age: 30 Posts: 138	What are the dimensions of the tank? Longer tanks are generally better suited for Mbuna. Since territory is important with them. Alot of the Haps will get too large for that setup I think. You could do a group of Aulonocara (Peacocks) but they don't mix well with most Mbuna. Although I'm mixing them at the moment and so far so good. If you go with mbuna, I would stick to just two species. Possibly a 3rd if its Acei since they are open water swimmers for the most part and won't really take up a territory other then when spawning. They will find a flat rock or just spawn on the substrate. Shoot for one male and multiple females, 3-5 or more. Male Mbuna are generally intolerant of eachother, although you can "fine-tune" setups to house more then one male with experience, time & effort, and a close eye on the situation. __________________

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08-27-2005, 09:54 AM	#2
blixem Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Athens, GA Age: 33 Posts: 145	If my conversion is right, that's 47gal tank, which is a good size for a small cichlad tank. I'd wait till the experts reply on stocking levels though.. As for hard water, I'm pretty sure you can use crushed coral sand, or other means to buffer your water to the correct hardness/pH without having to resort to chemicals. It is usually much easier to make your water harder, and raise the pH than it is to make it softer or lower the pH. (softness and pH being two different things.)

08-29-2005, 05:45 PM	#6
Jonno Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Devon, UK Age: 20 Posts: 512	its a bow front long and curved at front not sure on dimensions but i might order it 2 moz

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