Tanganyika Tank - Ideas

TropicalNorth

TropicalNorth

Bligh..The Demander Of Attention..
Jun 9, 2006
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North Queensland, Australia
Well I'm getting a bit bored with my 55g (currently planted with australian natives) so I'm toying with the idea of converting it into a tanganyika tank based around Neolamprologus (Altolamprologus) calvus, I just love the look of those guys. The tank is 4ft long by 15" wide by 18" high.

My Ideas
My water is soft so I'm thinking crushed coral in the filter, dead coral / base rock for the aquascaping (I can get this cheap plus it will buffer the water), and just plain white sand for the substrate. I would go for a nice white clean look with the fish as the focus.

As far as the fish Calvus are a must, but the others I haven't really decided. I've done a bit of research and come up with a rough list of the ones I like. I don't really want dithers and I don't intend on breeding them.
Neolamprologus (Altolamprologus) calvus (I'm thinking 3)
Neolamprologus leleupi
Cyprichromis leptosoma (bulu point)
Julidochromis ornatus
Neolamprologus Brichardi
My LFS breeds calvus, the owner is a real expert, and has a wide range of africans so I should be able to get the less common ones. I've always got good advice there but I wanted to run my ideas past you guys first.

Is there anything special with heating or filtering? or is it just the usual tropical set-up sort of thing. My water quality is currently excellent in a slightly overstocked tank. If I do the conversion it will be a christmas project so money shouldn't be a big issue but I'd like to spend the money on the fish more than anything. I've got an AquaClear 110, heater and a 315gph powerhead for extra water movement if needed.

All input, links etc welcome and photos of similar set-ups would be great. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
TropicalNorth said:
Well I'm getting a bit bored with my 55g (currently planted with australian natives) so I'm toying with the idea of converting it into a tanganyika tank based around Neolamprologus (Altolamprologus) calvus, I just love the look of those guys. The tank is 4ft long by 15" wide by 18" high.

My Ideas
My water is soft so I'm thinking crushed coral in the filter, dead coral / base rock for the aquascaping (I can get this cheap plus it will buffer the water), and just plain white sand for the substrate. I would go for a nice white clean look with the fish as the focus.

As far as the fish Calvus are a must, but the others I haven't really decided. I've done a bit of research and come up with a rough list of the ones I like. I don't really want dithers and I don't intend on breeding them.
Neolamprologus (Altolamprologus) calvus (I'm thinking 3)
Neolamprologus leleupi
Cyprichromis leptosoma (bulu point)
Julidochromis ornatus
Neolamprologus Brichardi
My LFS breeds calvus, the owner is a real expert, and has a wide range of africans so I should be able to get the less common ones. I've always got good advice there but I wanted to run my ideas past you guys first.

Is there anything special with heating or filtering? or is it just the usual tropical set-up sort of thing. My water quality is currently excellent in a slightly overstocked tank. If I do the conversion it will be a christmas project so money shouldn't be a big issue but I'd like to spend the money on the fish more than anything. I've got an AquaClear 110, heater and a 315gph powerhead for extra water movement if needed.

All input, links etc welcome and photos of similar set-ups would be great. Thanks.
Click to expand...

If the Calvus are a must, I would suggest those with the cyps and a shellie species of your choice (neolamp. multi, occelatus, brevis, etc...). That would cover the different niches: rock, open water, and sand (shell) areas.

I would personally only recommend brichardis in a species tank as they are VERY aggressive when breeding and tank over half the tank. Julidochromis and calvuses would not be the best combo unless there is a lot of rockwork in the tank. The same goes with the leleupi. All three will seek out certain caves as their territories.

Normal filtering should be used so an AC 110 should be fine but possibly get another smaller HOB for backup. Just some optional advise.

So I am thinking:

2-3 calvus
8-10 cyps
3-5 shellies (depends on species)
 
jpappy789 said:
If the Calvus are a must, I would suggest those with the cyps and a shellie species of your choice (neolamp. multi, occelatus, brevis, etc...). That would cover the different niches: rock, open water, and sand (shell) areas.

I would personally only recommend brichardis in a species tank as they are VERY aggressive when breeding and tank over half the tank. Julidochromis and calvuses would not be the best combo unless there is a lot of rockwork in the tank. The same goes with the leleupi. All three will seek out certain caves as their territories.

Normal filtering should be used so an AC 110 should be fine but possibly get another smaller HOB for backup. Just some optional advise.

So I am thinking:

2-3 calvus
8-10 cyps
3-5 shellies (depends on species)
Click to expand...
No shellies and calvus together. In the lake Calvus adapt to eating shellies. That is why they have the protruding snout. They will do the same in your aquarium.
 
tarheels910 said:
No shellies and calvus together. In the lake Calvus adapt to eating shellies. That is why they have the protruding snout. They will do the same in your aquarium.
Click to expand...

Directly from cichlidforum.com

"A. calvus dines on insect larvae, small crustaceans and small fry that they suck out of the crevices in the rocks. They are laterally compressed, the specialization that allows them access to these foods where other cichlids cannot. They thrive on mysis shrimp, krill, salad shrimp, flakes, pellet and brine shrimp in the aquarium. Despite their large mouth size, they should not be a threat to other adult fish in the aquarium, including adult shelldwellers."

Possibley a threat to any fry but other than that no worries...
 
Hmm. Knew it happened in the wild, but I have heard of some instances in the aquarium. Maybe its not much of a problem.

The same thing happens with Livingstoni and small mbuna. In the wild they act dead and wait for a small mbuna to swim by. Snack. But not many people have had problems with them in the aquarium.
 
tarheels910 said:
Hmm. Knew it happened in the wild, but I have heard of some instances in the aquarium. Maybe its not much of a problem.

The same thing happens with Livingstoni and small mbuna. In the wild they act dead and wait for a small mbuna to swim by. Snack. But not many people have had problems with them in the aquarium.
Click to expand...

Could be a possibility but many when many people over there were advising me on stocking plans some suggestions had calvuses and shellies together. I am pretty sure a lot of other people have had the combo work fine. But that may be something to keep on eye on...:thumbsup:
 
jpappy789 said:
Directly from cichlidforum.com

"A. calvus dines on insect larvae, small crustaceans and small fry that they suck out of the crevices in the rocks. They are laterally compressed, the specialization that allows them access to these foods where other cichlids cannot. They thrive on mysis shrimp, krill, salad shrimp, flakes, pellet and brine shrimp in the aquarium. Despite their large mouth size, they should not be a threat to other adult fish in the aquarium, including adult shelldwellers."

Possibley a threat to any fry but other than that no worries...
Click to expand...

Maybe if they are well fed they won't eat the Shellies.....I'm not sure I'd want to test that though. ;) I've seen warnings before from hobbyist about them picking off shellies and IMO I'd believe those with experience before I believe CF.com....I don't agree with alot of things they have on their site.....but, if people who are keeping them together successfully are recommending them...i guess its worth a try......You have to think about how small an aquarium is compared to the wild.....if they do it in the wild, why wouldn't they in a tiny aquarium?
 
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