Latest Malawian Cichlid Aquarium for customer.

[Likoma]

Our customers brief was that they wanted a natural looking aquarium that was easy to maintain. We set the filter up as a sump filled with Poret foam including an aquaponics section with LED lighting.

The aquascape is very basic and open to accomodate the large open water species. Lighting is a Marine LED unit that I love. So easy to control with the wifi app. The marine lights do a great job of showing the purple color of the Blue dolphins which are the feature fish of the tank.

I hope you enjoy and make sure you watch in HD.

[Link2Hell]

Nice scaping what substrate did you use

undecided about the rock in the front left

[Donny Brasco]

looks great

[CThompson]

Very much like the aqua scaping, though I don't like the wood in there.

Why is the heater not in the sump? In addition, most heaters are not designed to be fully under water, is the brand you used?

Never makes any sense to have the bio logical the first media in a filter as it will act as a defacto mechanical medium. Never seen/noticed a huge down side from doing it, but theoretically, a gunked up bio media's surface = less access to oxygen the bacteria on the surface (and consequently further within it) will have = less than a maxed out denitrification potential and the greater the potential for an ammonia spike/s. And if nothing else it will necessitate the cleaning of the bio media. That will mean more work (when the customer was looking for something easy to maintain) and will give rise to the possibility of the customer washing the bio media in tap water and killing all the bacteria...

Like the fish choices, though there looked like there will be a large bio load on the tank when the fish are closer to adult (see above bio media sump placement comment).

Don't like seeing the sump area under the tank open like that with an indoor/lounge display tank. It would be okay in a fish room or garage.

I liked the fact you were going to use the terrestrial plant for filtration, but I would find the light it needs a distraction to the fish tank and fish, as mentioned if set up in a lounge sort of area. I once had an African tank...30 years ago now, with the terrestrial plant growing with its roots in from the top of the tank. The plant got enough light from a nearby window, and was good to look at growing above and below the water. Fish didn't seem to hurt the roots.

I definitely liked the rock ttype and substrate used and how it was placed and used balanced in the tank, that took a bit of talent and artistry 10/10 (if the wood was tossed) But for the design of the tanks mechanics/bio etc. ...5/10

Loved the video production and presentation too 10/10

[Likoma]

Thanks for the feedback CThompson, its really appreciated and I mean that sincerely.

The wood was a request form the customer after watching some of our videos from Lake Malawi where there is actually plenty of wood within the lake.

Our approach to filtration is very different to most people, but it seems to be working well for us and our customers.This tank is for breeding bacteria. The more mulm the better in our opinion which fits in with our anecdotal evidence using HMFs. This all fits in with our holistic style for fishkeeping.

The bio area is meant to not be cleaned for many years increasing it maturity. To clean the bio area simply remove the mechanical section swish around the poret squares and turn the pump on, it has a divert to waste.

I have been staging the setups this way for around 4 years with no noticable downside, never having to clean it. Its the beauty of poret foam as the bio media.

I will keep you posted regarding the maintenance schedule. Make sure you check out the vid Ill put up of our own showtank in the next few days.

Its had HMF, that has not been cleaned in a year and a half, and a seperate mechanical filter section. The stocking density of this tank is pretty high.