African Cichlids

[tiggeryoda]

Thanks for the feedback guys

Will see what I can do about pictures.......

Noted on the carbon, will be removing it....

I have two synos in the tank

I avoid bloodworm, having been advised its a common cause of malawi bloat. Saying that I do feed the occasional brineshrimp, mysis mosquito larvae etc. When I first had the fish, I fed a lot of beef heart which is very high protein to help them fill out, no problems but maybe I was just lucky.

Any thoughts on plants? Temped to try java fern on the bog wood since they would probably trash anything else, but does java fern contribute to water quality? If not, I would be more concerned about rotting plant matter behind the built up rocks reducing water quality?

 

[TaffyFish]

Looks like you're started a new thread instead of replying to the previous. Oooops! Easily done.

 

[Somonas]

I didnt see the other thread so I'll reply here
the only plants I've seen survive in other african tanks (not mine) are bolbitus (african fern) large anubiases and various java vern (ie windelov)
if I wanted to attempt it I'd try and get a bright light and use co2... so the plants could out compete the cichlids (ie growing faster than they could uproot them)

I do have some java fern in the fry tanks and it works quite well

afterthought: some people might jump on me for suggestion co2 with the reason it will drop the ph. well if your water is the right chemistry for malawis a little co2 wont make it go anywhere.

 

[steve535]

i use co2 with malawis. yes your pH will drop.i buffer with lime stone( about 75 lbs)and one of my filters has crushed coral in it.even with the co2 i can keep my pH at 7.6 to 7.8.