First Mbuna set up

[DaharkazAngel]

So i bought a 4 foot by 18inch by 18 inch tank. Thats 70 gal or 250 litres. I would like to do a mbuna set up, just waiting for it to cycle and seeking rocks. My ideas so far are:

Idea one:
6 yellow labs, 6 Acei, 6 rustys

Idea two:
6 yellow labs, 6 maingano.

This will be my first mbuna set up and am looking for something on the lower end of aggresion scale. How do my ideas sound??

Im unsure about space, as in size of tank vs fish and filtering. My Internal filter does 800 litres per hour and the tank is 250. Weekly water changes are done with my 100 so the 70 will be too =)

[bikeguy33]

not sure here....but if all indivduals are compatible i`d say option 1. i`d say jon v would be the guy to pipe in.....but a 70 is large enough to allow options...

[Carl]

I too like option One

I have kept all 3 of these, at the same time, but not necessarily in these numbers.

Carl

[DaharkazAngel]

So ive decided to put my Angelfish community (Currently in a 100 gal) Into the 70 gal and use the 100 gal as the mbuna set up. This makes it possible to hold larger cichlids OR more of the smaller ones. Im still keen on yellow labs, rustys and acie but like the idea of haps and peacocks too....choices choices lol. OPEN FOR ANY IDEAS as this is my FIRST MUBA set up and i think 100 gal is a great size!!

[Carl]

Generally speaking Yellow Labs may be aggressive for Haplochromis and Peacock Cichlids, but this is a generalization.

I can say that I have had these together, but in larger aquariums (generally your size and UP). The other aspect is that the Peacocks were more mature than the Labs when they were added together if my memory serves me correctly.

Carl

[babygeige]

Wow, there are so many choices! And you have a lot of great options with that size tank. I couldn't decide what to do with my 50 gal, and ended up scrapping the African cichlid idea. I tried angel fish, bought 7 in a 2 month period, and only have 1 left, so I'm done with them for a while too.

Anyway, I think peacocks would be fun. They were one of the species I was considering. They're pretty peaceful. And I also think it's easier to tell their genders apart, so if you wanted to breed them, it should be simpler to get pairs going.

[jonv]

Hey sorry I been bad about reading up on stuff. Been with a staffing Agency that staffs for the Mars M&M plant here since July. Was mostly straight nights, now on a higher paying position that shifts rotate. On afternoons this week, just got home. Carl asked me to look in. Ty for the tip too Bill


First choice really should not be a problem but I would be very respective towards your gender with the three species. I might get a bit long winded on this but I just want to illustrate a few things I've exprienced and let you make up your own mind.

I primarily use a 75 gallon set up for Mbuna, though I keep a handful in the 100 gallon tank. The 75 occupies a Zebra Red Top Hongi male/female pair, 2 pairs male/female F2 Yellow Labs, (Lab. Caeruleus) A solo male Ps. Crabro, (Bumblebee) A solo male Flavescent, one pretty large common pleco, and a pair of unknown but female hybrid peacocks I'm mixing with the Flavecent.

This set up in terms of aggression is very mild only hyper active when mating goes on, then basically everyone is happy. 2 weeks ago I thought I'd put my lone Tangyangikan in there to see how that would work, a Tropheus Dubosi and well, the bully of the tank, the male Hongi was duking it out with him for about a good hour. I checked back in later that night, and the Dubosi had him up on top of the tank wouldn't move nor color up. He pretty much took over the tank and at the time I even had my very very large male Paratilapia Polleni in there. He wouldn't mess with the Dubosi either.

Long winded as I said but point I want to make here. You can establish a proper set up in that 70 gallon by setting a single male of each group with the balance being females, and that tank should be quite a happy tank. Have your sex ratios go off too far or introduce a hyper aggressive species in there, and it takes no time to end up with a mess to tend to.

Choice 1 I don't have working experience with Rusties to know for a fact good or bad but I haven't heard any killer stories of that species so I think that is a good balance, just watch the male/female count is all.

Choice 2, Maingaino if I believe I am correct are the Johanni? These are quite exceptionally dominant in species, and could pose a significant problem with your Labs if you do not rock up that tank in a manner which would placate the Johanni. Johanni's are exceptionally nice to look at, but males of this species are more of the type to not tolerate others around very well. I would take caution with that set up. It could be done but you will want to monitor that group closely for a long time.

Angel, don't take this time to overlook your Victorian options. I think you would find great pleasure to as well consider the Astatatilapia Aeneocolor (Albert Yellow Bellies) or my personal favorites the Xistochromis Phytophagus (Xmas Fulu's) If you would opt for a more aggressive type along a Victorian line Pundamilla Sp. Crimson Tide or Nyererei have a close resemblance towards a Mbuna look.

All in all option one is your safest bet, but please do consider if your budget allows, a Victorian option.

[bikeguy33]

told ya jon is the guy!!! great input my friend.

[DaharkazAngel]

Thanks!! Well due to rain my 70 gal stand is on hold (varnish and staining) so i cant move the 100 gal community as the 70 is set up on the floor and i would literally have to empty most water out to lift it up onto the stand, So for now im stuck. But it gives me time to think. Im having trouble getting ANY decent cichilds here. Am considering going online. My town has about 50 000 - 60 000 people so small compared to say US towns. Victorian sounds cool, i will look into it. Thanks for the help guys, i will get back to you all with my decision. Im also getting another cockateil so im very excited for the new year to come!! Pics and vids on my new HD camera when i can! I do work in a supermarket so this is the Busiest time of the year lol. Havnt had much spare time!!!

[DaharkazAngel]

So what would be a good 'begginer' victorian set up in a 100 gal.?? Jon v?

[DaharkazAngel]

Ok so the stand 'should' be done by thur and i will transfer my 100 gal to the 70 over one day. BUT im still confused on what to get......I walked into the pet shop today and walked straight out again. SO MANY types of cichlids. Ive been studying for days and am no closer to a decision!!!!

[Carl]

Here is a thought;
Can you list the cichlids available to you and that interest you?

This way we can make suggestions based on both what you like and what you can obtain locally.

Carl

[DaharkazAngel]

I think ive decided on firemouths. =) Two in a 100 should be plenty of room. All the loacal cichlids are in scientific names, pain in the rear really. But i think ive decided =)

[Carl]

Jan 3, 2011 18:50:07 GMT -5 DaharkazAngel said:

I think ive decided on firemouths. =) Two in a 100 should be plenty of room. All the loacal cichlids are in scientific names, pain in the rear really. But i think ive decided =)

firemouths are very easy to keep and relatively mild manner cichlids from my experience.

I should note (you already are probably aware of this) that these cichlids are Central American and prefer more softer water than their Rift Lake Cichlid cousins from Africa

Carl

[bikeguy33]

also i will add.....2 in a 100 will get boring. you could easily have more in a 100 gallon...

[DaharkazAngel]

Lol so i got two babys today. They are so cute!! Im smitten with them. But two in a 100 gal is stocked well?? No? What else could go with them. I thought they get like 25cm so basically like 2 oscars?? Either way for now im happy for my two firemouths to grow to their full potential in a 100 gal. =)

[Carl]

I personally would not add Oscars, they get too big (& "pushy") for your Firemouths.

As for Cichlids, consider Salvinis, Uaru, Severums, Convicts, Festivums.

Other fish include Tinfoil Barbs, Silver Dollars, Larger Catfish species.

Carl

[DaharkazAngel]

Lol carl, i was just saying o considered them AS to oscars. LOL as in same size/bio load. Anyway i have a vid up on youtube if anyones interested. Its still early days guys =)

www.youtube.com/user/DaharkazAngel?feature=mhum

AS i said they have ALOT of growing to do lol.

[jonv]

Carl gave a good sized listing of alternatives, but I would say to hesitate on Convicts however. Convicts while size wise and water chemistry are an ideal match, the breeding habits of Convicts are well prolific I would say. The danger of Convicts would be possible massive over population in a short period of time and why I would not elect to go with Convicts myself.

I also am more into the breeding aspect of cichlid keeping too. I tend to want to obtain all the fry I can and grow them out. There is an alternative to consider should you like to go with Convicts. Don't take any steps to reproduce them. Let natural selection take it's course. While the parents will guard over their nest, during night times, many of your catfish bottom feeders will predetate over some and reduce the numbers naturally. Seems a bit cold hearted but this is the nature of it too. The other choice is to protect the breeding and end up with a massive amount of convicts for a short space with, in most cases, not a very viable market for sell or send off. Convicts tend to breed so much, most stores won't even touch them as they can't seem to move them out fast enough.

Severums would probably be my main choice, I feel they are nice for a SA type, as well as Geophagus. With the depth in your bigger tank you can just as well consider going with some dwarves too, such as Apistogramma's which have a nice look. Though breeding among SA's are egg laying and this will put them in proximity in the substrate area, with the spacial dimensions you have, Apisto's would likely just relocate to a different area of the tank.

Which might also be of use to you, species to NOT consider being, Green Terrors, Jag's, or Flowerhorns. I would also consider this species if you like a flashy color look, Aquidens Pulcher (Blue Acara). I've been able to actually keep them with Africans for a short period of time before things got out of hand. Very nice looking species and fairly peaceful for a SA.

[bikeguy33]

i second what jon said about the convicts....they can easily become almost a virus in your tank with NO viable market. another beauty to add if you can find a nice one is a vieja. they are my fav SA and from my experience are very docile for a large cichlid...