55g African tank

[JustOneMore20]

I have an empty 55g tank that I had plan to setup, plant, and have some rainbowfish as the centerpiece school, plus other fish.

I have been thinking about it lately and am toying with the idea of setting up an African Mbuna tank. I want to eventually setup an African tank whether it be now or in the future. I really want something different and I think that this would be a little bit cheaper than the heavily planted rainbow tank.

I have some questions though. I want to have some plants. I want to stick to plants that won't be destroyed or uprooted. Am I stuck with java fern and anubias? Has anyone had any luck with any other plants with Mbuna? I would have 2 watts per gallon and use the Eco-Complete African substrate.

Also, I plan to have a group of yellow labs and a group of red zebras. I also want another group, maybe something blue? I'm new to African cichlids and have been looking at the cookie cutter setups on cichlid-forum.com.

Is this possible? Will a 55g be big enough? Do you have any suggestions on fish, either the ones I want or another group to add? What about plants....is it possible?

TIA
Kristin

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I've seen people use types of val in the cichlid tanks...infact I think our own Orion has. Though not with Malawians. Of course Java fern and Anubias is what i'd personally recommend and it is the norm.

As for a blue colored fish with those others, i'd try and get my hands on some Pseudotropheus socolofi.

As for stocking i like to shoot for a ballpark number of 12-15ish mbuna in a 55gal. You can get more as juvis and weed out as you go if you wish to get the right Male to Female ratio in the tank. 1m/2-4f is recommended. You could have a male of each species with 4 females of each species, of course sexing yellow labs is close to impossible so all of this m/f stuff is just general. Shoot for 12-15 fish total.

A 55gal with those sepcies, and that number of fish should produce quite a tank to watch for color and activity. Especially at feeding time.

 

[JustOneMore20]

I did a little more researching on some sites and saw the profile of Pseudotropheus socolofi before I read this post. It is very pretty.

I may replace the red zebras with something else after reading and looking at more pictures. I definitely want the labs though. They are gorgeous.

What kind of rocks do you suggest? I'm not sure what I can get locally, but if I had an idea of what to look for, it might make the search easier.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Pretty much any rocks will do. Have you checked your local landscape business? They have many good types (colors, shapes, etc) of rocks to choose from.

 

[JustOneMore20]

I haven't checked the local landscaping companies, but I know of a few around here, so I'll do that.

I have pretty much decided on stocking...
Cynotilapia afra (Cobue) (1m/3f)
Yellow labs (1m/3f)
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi "Eureka" (1m/3f)

My pH from the tap, if left overnight is around 7.4...so I'll only need to increase it a little. I'm thinking about putting crushed coral in the filter and using pool filter sand/black sand mix for substrate.

I'm going to try java ferns, anubias, and vals...I'm had mixed feedback on keeping plants with Mbuna...but I'm going to try it.

I've still got to gather supplies for this tank, so it won't get setup for a few months...but I'll post pictures when I do! I found someone that I can get both labs and eurekas from...so all I'll have to find are the cobue! I'm excited!

Thanks for the help Cichlid Man!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Just be careful of those Afra and Peacocks. The peacocks tend to be a little more calm and collected then Mbuna. And afra tend to be a pretty agressive species. It 'should" be fine but i'd just keep an eye out. It would be much more difficult adding fish later to an already dominated tank then adding them at the same time. If possible i'd try and get the Peacocks a little bit bigger then the Mbuna to start.

Whats your water like straight out of the tap without sitting? Chances are you will be fine, stable is the key.

 

[JustOneMore20]

Straight out of the tap the pH is around 7. I've got to check the KH straight out of the tap...I haven't done that yet.

Would it be better to put crushed coral under the sand? I don't want to use it as substrate, so what's the best way to get the higher pH that Malawis like? I don't know what kind of rock I'm going to use, but most likely it won't be any kind that affects pH.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Well ph of 7 should be fine, just keep it stable...the fish can adjust. Especially if they are not wilds. Though its good you are going to use crushed coral and such instead of chemicals...easier to keep it stable that way.

I'd put it in the filter box probably. It'd be a pain if you needed to stir the sand and have to go through that crushed coral under it.

Looking forward to seeing pics!

 

[JustOneMore20]

I will put the CC in the filter.

Pictures will come...but will be a few months before I set it up. I am setting up a planted 38g first because I'm shifting some fish around and I've almost got all the supplies for that tank rounded up. Next will be the Malawi tank though.

Since you mention that the Cobue can be a little aggressive (must be that fiesty smaller fish thing...lol), I'll be sure they are the last in the tank. I'll be getting the labs and peacocks from the same guy (hopefully), so they will go in a the same time. They will probably be pretty small, I'm not sure. I know he is growing them out because they aren't ready to sell just yet. I just don't know how big they will be.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[JustOneMore20]

Well I've decided after alot of advice and suggestions to stick with only Mbuna. I'll either have:
Yellow labs
Cynotilapia afra (Cobue)
Red Zebras or Cobalt Zebras or Pseudotropheus socolofi (haven't decided)

or

Cynotilapia afra (Cobue)
Red Zebras
Pseudotropheus saulosi

I just can't make up my mind on 3 types....

 

[Cichlid-Man]

If it were me i'd go with the first mix with the red zebras....gives the most contrasting colors. Will really stand out.

 

[JustOneMore20]

I like the first option as well...with the Red Zebras, but I've heard they can be aggressive, so I want to be certain on that. I may do them or Rusty Cichlids, Iodotropheus sprengerae (which I didn't put up there ). I'm just not sure I'll be able to get them.
Have you heard of Red Zebras being aggressive?

Also, I have figured out that I'll have to choose either this 55g or the 38g I was going to set up first...for the time being. I'm starting school and won't be able to work as much, so I will only be able to set up one or the other. I chose this tank . I plan on buying a light fixture for it this week but I'm not sure what to get. I originally wanted to get just a 2x55w CF fixture, but I really don't think I'll need that much light if I'm just going to try anubias, java fern, and vals. I am trying to find a regular fluorescent fixture that is around 80 watts. I don't want to have a ton of algae because of too much light.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I like the first option as well...with the Red Zebras, but I've heard they can be aggressive, so I want to be certain on that. I may do them or Rusty Cichlids, Iodotropheus sprengerae (which I didn't put up there ). I'm just not sure I'll be able to get them.
Have you heard of Red Zebras being aggressive?

Also, I have figured out that I'll have to choose either this 55g or the 38g I was going to set up first...for the time being. I'm starting school and won't be able to work as much, so I will only be able to set up one or the other. I chose this tank . I plan on buying a light fixture for it this week but I'm not sure what to get. I originally wanted to get just a 2x55w CF fixture, but I really don't think I'll need that much light if I'm just going to try anubias, java fern, and vals. I am trying to find a regular fluorescent fixture that is around 80 watts. I don't want to have a ton of algae because of too much light.

No more then the Afra would be.

You may not like it but your fish would love the algae. Especially on the rocks, plants etc that they can scrape off. I really can't help with the lights...i don't keep plants so its hard for me to say.

 

[JustOneMore20]

Alright...thanks for responding so fast! I'm going to go with the regular fluorescents and hopefully will have a little algae for the fish. And maybe the Red Zebras will keep the Afra in check. I know I can get them locally, so I think I'll go with them instead of the Rustys.

Thanks.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Alright...thanks for responding so fast! I'm going to go with the regular fluorescents and hopefully will have a little algae for the fish. And maybe the Red Zebras will keep the Afra in check. I know I can get them locally, so I think I'll go with them instead of the Rustys.

Thanks.

I'm fast....like a cheetah....errr maybe its because i have no life and sit around browsing the fish boards constantly.

 

[JustOneMore20]

I'm fast....like a cheetah....errr maybe its because i have no life and sit around browsing the fish boards constantly.

You are certainly not the only one.... I do the same thing...

 

[JustOneMore20]

Need more advice

Cichlid Man, I need more advice from ya!

I am a member of a few fish related website/forums so I've been asking alot of questions there also. And have received lots of suggestions and advice....just thought I'd add that. I do appreciate your advice though! I just don't want you to think I'm pulling stuff out of the air to ask about.

I've decided to definitely get the afra Cobue and Red Zebras. I was told by a person that has kept Rusty cichlids that the ones he had killed off everything in the tank...I don't want to chance that.

I have also been told that Yellow Labs may not be aggressive enough for the afra and red zebras. I am now looking for something else to replace the labs. I want another Mbuna that doesn't closely resemble the afra, but is along the same temperament. Any suggestions?

I'm kind of stumped here, so I need some help!

Thanks,
Kristin

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Hmm. Something along the lines of Pseudotropheus elongatus might work or maybe even Pseudotropheus flavus. Though both can br pretty aggressive. And the Elongatus usually have vertical black bars (sometimes very thick making the fish almost black) on a blue base like the afra.

Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" might be a possibility. Though i've heard these have the same temperment as yellow labs....which is docile comparably to other Mbuna. They can still hold their own though.

Other then that, hmmm can't think of any right off hand. When class tonight gets boring i'll brainstorm and see if i can think of any others.

 

[JustOneMore20]

Thanks for the fast response, as usual!

They can still hold their own though.

Yeah, well I guess as long as they can hold their own, that would be fine. They are a possibility...

What about Pseudotropheus sp. "Lime Nkhomo" ? Do you know anything about them?

Thanks for all the help! I'll be interested to see what you come up with if you have time to brainstorm! I've tried but with my classes, I don't have much time or room in my brain to brainstorm!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Truthfully i don't know much about Pseudotropheus sp. "Lime Nkhomo" other then that they are a newer fish to the hobby, fairly recent import, and that they stay on the small side.