Tanganyika or Malawi?

M

mr_chris

Registered Member
Aug 30, 2006
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0
Omaha, Nebraska
I would like to start an African Cichlid tank specific to either of these lakes. My equipment includes a 75 gallon aquarium with a sump trickle filter.

To me, it sounds more interesting to try and replicate a particular bio environment than to mix and match fishes from different areas. Although I haven't yet bought a test kit (not sure which to get) I do know that our tap water here is quite hard.

To those who have a Malawi or Tanganyika tank, why did you choose that particular lake? Was it primarily the species of fish it holds, or were other factors involved?

It seems to me that there is more interest in Malawi species, any particular reason for that?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
 
Malawian cichlids are highly colorful and observing their mouthbrooding is interestng...once, but they're too sheep like for me.

Tanganyikan cichlids are incredibly diverse - much more so than Malawians. Shell dwellers, rock dwellers, mouthbrooders, bi-parental brooders, colonial brooders - there is so much diversity and there are some just as colorful as Malawians.

Guess which I prefer?

Eric
 
I have both. My Malawi tanks are much more colorful and have alot more action. My tang tank.....to be honest.....bores me. For the most part, they just sit there. Some are kinda neat looking, but the lack of action is like watching paint dry. I've been considering giving them away and using the tank for something else.
 
My malawi tank is the most active and colorful tank I've ever had. I have a shell dweller tank in my office and its cool to watch but they just chill out. A good friend has a frontosa tank but they're really relaxed as well. Never seen a tang community tank so can't comment on that.

When trying to replicate the environment the most important thing is the large number of caves and hiding places that mine use. In my 55 I tried to get as many hiding spots as possible because its borderline overcrowed. My tank was a SA cichlid tank before so I have gravel but I plan to switch to sand/crushed coral sometime. I have crushed coral in my canister to raise the ph.

I would recommend the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals freshwater test kit, its a liquid test and comes with the test tubes.

I would recommend just browsing the profiles on this site and others for each lake and see which you like better. Some people have had luck mixing certain fish from different lakes together also.
 
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