pride Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 Hi All, Ive been given the go ahead from the marital minister for war and finances for our small apartment for another tank. After keeping Central Americans over the years I think I’m ready to try my hand at an African display type setup. Tank will be a 4ft, 280L tank and filtered by 2 x cannisters. Unsure which way to go with species. I have kept a tank of saulosi about 15 years ago which I enjoyed. I,m thinking either mbuna, Malawi peacocks or maybe lake Victoria type. Want to see some bright colours and breeding isn’t a priority although if the tank can have male and female ratios without too much aggression that would be great. Anyone able to offer some suggestions with numbers that can be comfortably be housed long term? Do all African species prefer a tank scaped with rock piles? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattG_Sydney Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 (edited) Hey @pride Glad the finance minister was nice to you 🤑 As for fish, I am a lake Tanganyika guy .. However if you are going for colours lake Victoria would be a good idea. Why don't you pay a visit to Andrew @ Labyrinth Aquarium ? They are very close to you and you can see all types of fish he has in stock. Last time I checked, he had the following Victorians... Astatotilapia latifasciata Enterochromis paropius Haplochromis thereuterion (Black Katana) Depending on how brave you are, you can have some Tropheus.. they are nasty little things but worth it if you are up for a challenge.. Edited August 17, 2020 by MattG_Sydney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted August 17, 2020 Author Share Posted August 17, 2020 Thanks Matt, I like any excuse to go visit Labyrinth. Funny as I only ever browse half the shop and skip the bays of African tanks to the right. I never gave any thought about Tropheus...got some reading to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattG_Sydney Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 (edited) Lol.. I am the same .. Have a look at the Tropheus Red variety. (Moliro/Moorii).. As a matter of fact I received 10 Moorii Chipimbi today from Andrew.. Edited August 17, 2020 by MattG_Sydney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted August 17, 2020 Author Share Posted August 17, 2020 Am I getting the mix and numbers wrong if I was to go either: cobalt blues 3M and 6F yellow labs with similar number or less or maybe elongatus mphanga instead of cobalt blues? not sure I’m ready to jump in to tropheus... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattG_Sydney Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 I hear you! All the best with choosing what you keep next .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Hi @pride best move is to do some searching and see what you like but ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'm guessing you still have a soft spot for Malawi Mbuna by your mix list maybe consider Acei Msuli Point powder blue with yellow fins male and female or look at finding species that are hard to find like Hajomaylandi look at groups of 10 fry / juveniles and let them grow into the tank if you get adult excess males with the ratio you mention shouldn't be a problem but each fish can be different in their outlook to the companions they are with Maingano tend to go well with electric yellows and will give a contrast in colour and pattern keep us updated with the journey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Thanks Chris, Will be sure to look into the species you mentioned and will post some pics once tank is up and going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Ended up changing plans and moved my nics into my 90g tank which was setup as a mixed tank and moved on some of the tanks inhabitants to free up the existing 75g for the mbuna. Keeps the wife happy with just the two tanks I dumped a 10kg bag of coral sand in with the pool filter stuff and removed the wood. Water from the tap here seems quite alkaline and ph in the tank 7.8. Picked up from Andrew at Labyrinth some young trio’s of Labidochromis caeruleus, Cynotilapia Afra cobue and some Iodotropheus sprengerae. Here are some pics, hard to get some clear shots with a phone cam as they dont stop moving unlike americans.One of the cobue already starting to colour up as a male. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattG_Sydney Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Very nice mate .. Andrews shop is the place to visit .. Can I ask what type of rocks you have in there please ? They look nice.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Hey Matt, Rocks actually are Aqua one fake basalt rocks, pretty expensive but got them at a shop out kellyville when on sale 50% off. Full price the cost is pretty outrageous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattG_Sydney Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Hey @pride Thanks for that .. I live near Kellyville so will keep an eye out for them. They look good and I like the look .. I am in the process of decorating my CADE display tank so worth having a look these rocks. Thanks again.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucem Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Looks good! Nice selection of fish too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted August 26, 2020 Author Share Posted August 26, 2020 thanks brucem, so far so good. Really enjoying this tank. Im slowing introducing buffer amd salts to bring up the ph and hardness as the crushed coral substrate seem to be having not much influence in this. Kh was low when checked correctly from the tank and tap so will condition water in a drum for water changes. I also added more rock so will take some more pics soon and post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 On 8/21/2020 at 4:52 PM, pride said: icked up from Andrew at Labyrinth some young trio’s of Labidochromis caeruleus, Cynotilapia Afra cobue and some Iodotropheus sprengerae. Nice choice. Andrew's rusties are great quality, they will colour up nicely as they grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 Just added a trio of Labidochromis joanjohnsonae which brings the total number of mbuna in the tank to 12. Would you think I’m maxed out or still room for possibly more of the current 4 species? Tank seems empty now and nitrate barely makes a nudge on the scale as they are quite small but understand their aggression can ramp up as they mature.. what are your thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattG_Sydney Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Top work! Very exciting.. remember they get bigger so don't fill the tank ☺️.. I assume you check ammonia and nitrite levels as well ? Keep an eye out for that.. All the best ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 Hi Matt, Yep water is all good. It was an established tank already as I ended up giving a 3rd tank a miss and rehoming some other tropicals which was a shame as you always want more but had to keep the wife happy. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted September 3, 2020 Author Share Posted September 3, 2020 Trying to get a pic of the male cobue. pic doesn’t give his colour justice. Just under 5cm total length and struts about like a boss 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 @pride looks outstanding mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattG_Sydney Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Awesome looking tank and fish mate .. Keep posting those photos.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 (edited) Should I be concerned with the white on the upper lip of this male cobue? He has been pretty boisterous with some others in the tank so hoping just from some lip wrestling. Hoping not columnaris? Tank water setup tested now shows: ph 8.2 Ammonia 0.25ppm nitrite 0.00 nitrate 5ppm (barely) kh & gh 200ppm funnily checked the tap and showed a reading of 0.50ppm for ammonia? Any thoughts? FullSizeRender.mov Edited September 5, 2020 by pride Vid not working Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 I can't see the video but I would guess the white upper lip is more likely from lip locking than columnaris. If you tank is fully cycled I wouldn't expect to see any ammonia but some test kits do give false readings especially when it is next to zero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 Not sure why the vid doesnt show. Works when i click on it but could be as its on my device. Heres a screenshot from the vid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 15 hours ago, pride said: Not sure why the vid doesnt show. Works when i click on it but could be as its on my device. When I click the link I get the message "This attachment is not available. It may have been removed or the person who shared it may not have permission to share it to this location." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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