Still @ work so no measurements on the tank yet. I've done alot of reading today and thinking about Malawi rift. Mbunas sp?
New tank ~ new to cichlids
- Thread starter vequalsir
- Start date
Here are the tank dimensions: 48" long in the back 35" long at the front. Front to back is 12.5" and it has depth of 21"
Should be fine for most mid-sized mbuna, check here, tell us what you like:
http://cichlid-forum.com/articles/african_cichlid_genus_gallery.php
http://cichlid-forum.com/articles/african_cichlid_genus_gallery.php
Thanks vequalsir 
, the all male tank can be very colorful and lively, but it also involves lots of work and headaches, for that reason I would advise anyone who is new to africans, especially mbuna, to start out with groups of species, rather than an all male setup, which can be just as colorful and rewarding.
The problem with all male setups is you need time to establish a sort of "equilibrium" to avoid aggression, stressed out fish and deseases that might result from that stress. You'll also need a very good back up plan to swap out the more problematic fish or those that are not aggressive enough, as well as possible females (either through an lfs who's willing to do trade in's, as was in my case, or other fish keepers), in the end if you're just getting into africans it might prove to be more trouble than enjoyment keeping them.
The tank in my sig has gone through several changes itself, after an all male mbuna I switched it over to an all male peacock, which was fun for a while, very minimal aggression (though some fish did make it back to an lfs for a trade-in), it was nowhere near the difficulty of an all male mbuna tank. Sad to say though the tank crashed one night and a couple hundred bucks worth of adult peacocks were gone. Right now it houses a group of yellow labs (that have already spawned a few times, though only one of the females held to term) and a group of aceis.
But whatever you decide to do good luck and post back.
, the all male tank can be very colorful and lively, but it also involves lots of work and headaches, for that reason I would advise anyone who is new to africans, especially mbuna, to start out with groups of species, rather than an all male setup, which can be just as colorful and rewarding.The problem with all male setups is you need time to establish a sort of "equilibrium" to avoid aggression, stressed out fish and deseases that might result from that stress. You'll also need a very good back up plan to swap out the more problematic fish or those that are not aggressive enough, as well as possible females (either through an lfs who's willing to do trade in's, as was in my case, or other fish keepers), in the end if you're just getting into africans it might prove to be more trouble than enjoyment keeping them.
The tank in my sig has gone through several changes itself, after an all male mbuna I switched it over to an all male peacock, which was fun for a while, very minimal aggression (though some fish did make it back to an lfs for a trade-in), it was nowhere near the difficulty of an all male mbuna tank. Sad to say though the tank crashed one night and a couple hundred bucks worth of adult peacocks were gone. Right now it houses a group of yellow labs (that have already spawned a few times, though only one of the females held to term) and a group of aceis.
But whatever you decide to do good luck and post back.
I didn't realize that the tank was a sausage fest. LOL
I was thinking about keeping 3 species at a 1:2 or 1:3 ration male to females.
I was thinking a group of yellow labs (lion's cove)
cynotilapia afra
and
pseudotropheus saulosi
I was thinking about keeping 3 species at a 1:2 or 1:3 ration male to females.
I was thinking a group of yellow labs (lion's cove)
cynotilapia afra
and
pseudotropheus saulosi
Cool, try to go for at least a 1:3 ratio.
Also I'd be cautious adding saulosi with similar colored afra (blue with dark bars) as that might result in extra aggression.
Also I'd be cautious adding saulosi with similar colored afra (blue with dark bars) as that might result in extra aggression.
P.S. if you're hard set on going with afras, look for white top haras, they mix ok with saulosi and have better looking females (nice blue, not drabby like most other afra females).
