Final Plan

[Fishman1995]

This is my 55 galllon tank plan
--------------------------------
3 X Bumble bee cichlid's
1 X Cynotilapia Afra
1 X electric blue Johanni
1 X Labedotrophes Fuelleborni
2 X Yellow labs
My acei mbuna
1 X Pseudotropheus Elongatus

PH will be maintained at 8.5-8.7 for maximum hapiness of fishy's.
Sand substrate
High filtration to make currents
Large rockwork centerpiece

 

[misterking]

That sounds like a lovely tank fishman and will really look great when complete.

One word of advice, when you're 55 is cycled properly, add some of the new fish before, or at the same time as, your acei, to avoid your acei claiming the tank as its territory.

Also, make sure you buy 1 male and 2 females of the bumblebees if you want to have 3. This can be quite difficult so if your lfs stocks them observe their behaviour in the tank for a while. Dominant fish chasing (but not being aggressive with) passive fish are likely to be males and the passive fish females.

 

[TAL]

TAL is so often misunderstood.

 

[misterking]

In reference to your post on the other thread TAL? How do you mean?

 

[Fishman1995]

how should i cycle it, i liek the fish cycling, i did that with some danios for my 10 gallon, could i put 2 guppys, male and female in there to cycle it and then there bays can be snacks for the Mbuna's when they arrive. Also im planning on adding the fish in 2 equal groups, Scooter bumble bee's and johanni first then the others. but can i do the guppy cycling?

 

[misterking]

Most wouldn't reccommend it. Plus, your filter will only be suitable to deal with the waste of those few guppies.

Transferring media from your old filter to your new one will help the new cycle along, but it's much quicker to do a fishless cycle.

 

[Thyra]

I'm just curious - I looked at the prices of just a few of the fish you are planning to get and they totaled more than the aquarium you don't have money to buy. Are you planning on taking a home loan out on it? lol

 

[Fishman1995]

lol the store i got to the highest price of the fish is like 10$, the fishless cycle will take awhile i can get the money by then

 

[Fishman1995]

How long does a fishless cycle take, it seems like it takes along time?

 

[misterking]

It very much depends, but it does on average take less time than a fish-in cycle. You just need a source of SURFACTANT-FREE ammonia to keep it going. You should invest in liquid testers aswell, the API master test kit is very very reliable. You need to be constantly aware of your parameters while you cycle.

 

[Fishman1995]

whats the average timeing on a fishless cycling

 

[misterking]

It varies greatly so there's really no average. I'll try to find you a good link made by a user on here, missfishy - bare with me a minute.

 

[misterking]

Cycling a Tank

One of the best and simplest explanations on the web and I highly reccommend it. Have a good read through that and it'll explain all you need to know about cycling.

 

[misterking]

^though I must add that the initial description is not entirely accurate. It's the same principle, but bacteria actually converts ammonia to nitrite, and then from nitrite to nitrate. Nitrite and nitrate are not bacteria, they're ions. But I won't go into the ammonia cycle it's farrr too boring!

 

[lauraf]

Fishman, if you do a fishless cycle, you are a rock star. That is the kindest, wisest way to get a tank ready for the fish you do want to inhabit that environment.

 

[TAL]

Cycling is boring ??!!!! No way!

When you think of the chemical reactions, the life forms involved....that incredible rise and drop in ammonia and nitrites that leads to the spike in nitrates and trying to track all of it...

Very exciting!

If you do perform a fishless cycles, you will be one of the few who has ever had the patience !

 

[Fishman1995]

lol i tried it with my 10 gallon and gave up so i just got the fish and they all lived

 

[TAL]

I hear that. I cycled a 3 gallon tank with 10 fish in it once and never lost any.