Malawi time!

CajunCC

CajunCC

I take pictures
Sep 10, 2004
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Harrisburg, PA
www.photobizarre.com
Malawi time! New pics!

cloudy.jpg


There it is, just filled. Filling it stirred up the gravel a lot, hence the cloudy water. I'm sure it'll settle out. I added some water clarifier to bind the smallest particles together to hopefully speed up the process. It's fishless cycling right now using a filter pad from my 29g to jump-start it. It's my first attempt at a natural-looking tank. My other tanks have store-bought artificial decorations and fun colored gravel and such. This has plain gravel and (thoroughly cleaned) rocks from my back yard.

My plan for stocking at this point is 2 each of peacocks, yellow labs, and brichardis. Opinions on that?

Water Params:
Ammonia - 5ppm (fishless cycle)
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 0ppm
pH - 8.2
KH - 10deg
 
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nice! are these gonna be your first africans?
 
Your in for a treat! Do you know what kinds yet?
 
CajunCC said:
My plan for stocking at this point is 2 each of peacocks, yellow labs, and brichardis. Opinions on that?
Click to expand...

:look: :p:

Aulonocara sp., Labidochromis caeruleus, and Lamprologus brichardi if you want scientific names. ;)

I've also been thinking about Zebras (Pseudotropheus zebra) instead of Peacocks, but I'm not sure. Any other suggestions for something that'll really stand out against the yellow labs?
 
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Well Brichardi is from Lake Tang so you might wanna check up on diets. I've kept brichardi before about 2 years ago so dont really remember diets but I know they do way better in groups and will overun your tank to a single species tank and also breed like every 2 weeks. IMO they get stressed when solitary. Aulonocara are for the most part peaceful toward other species unless it's Aulonocara jacobfreibergi. Those guys are pretty temperament. Mbuna are almost always on the move and are pretty territorial. You need to well stock with mbuna. Are you planning on breeding?
 
xhibition said:
Well Brichardi is from Lake Tang so you might wanna check up on diets. I've kept brichardi before about 2 years ago so dont really remember diets but I know they do way better in groups and will overun your tank to a single species tank and also breed like every 2 weeks. IMO they get stressed when solitary. Aulonocara are for the most part peaceful toward other species unless it's Aulonocara jacobfreibergi. Those guys are pretty temperament. Mbuna are almost always on the move and are pretty territorial. You need to well stock with mbuna. Are you planning on breeding?
Click to expand...

I just read some more about brichardi and realized they're Tanganyikan. The stickers on the tanks at the LFS said Malawi. Time to do more hunting.

I'm not planning on breeding really, but I'd welcome any fry that happened to make it. Suppose I went with L. caeruleus and A. sp.. How many of each would you suggest I keep?
 
First and foremost, I want fish that are strikingly colorful. My goal with the tank is to provide a total contrast to my Angelfish tank, where the decor is brightly colored and the fish are very neutral. For the african tank I'm looking for bright colorful fish against a drab, natural backdrop.

I know 99% of african cichlids are very aggressive and territorial and I have no problems with aggression, but I'd still like to avoid some of the most aggressive sepcies.

I definitely want multiple species in the tank. Species tanks can be rather boring at times, IMO.

As for breeding, I know my angels have tried and tried and tried and it's always exciting, but they always fail. The eggs die or get eaten. My water is fairly hard with high pH, so I'm not surprised the Angels aren't succeeding. I'd love it if my Africans spawned, but it's not a sepcific goal to breed one species or anything and if it happens, I'd want it to happen without my interference or "help."

Regarding all that, can you suggest species that would go well in my tank? I'd like to think I've got a good start at picking fish, but if I'm totally off-base, let me know.

One more question... I've noticed that juveniles generally lack the bright coloring of the adult fish. How can I be sure I'm getting the right fish when I go shopping?
 
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I have Yellow Labs and Ps. Acei in my 100g and like the contrast in the yellow and purple colors. That's just my opinion, by no means am I an expert though.
 
I wanted to keep a mixed tank with Malawi and Tang's, in particular Brichardi, but, was talked out of it by a very good source!!!

I'd look into this a bit more if i were you, Lab's are a relatively peaceful Cichlid compared to some and Brichardi can be mean little bu**er's!!!

I've come to realise this in the pass few day's with only Brichardi (1m/3F), and Victorian hap's (Zebra Obliquidens 2m/4F).

Also a mix of Malawi on a veg diet compared to some Tang's on a totally different one could cause problem's. you would need a high protein diet for them, as i've been advised.

They do mix though, and it can work.....

It just require's a little more thought!!

Your tank look's great though, once all is up & running & your fish are in (Whatever you decided on), it'll be FAB!!! Remember to post some pic's when you do!!!
 
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