Accidentally got into Africans now need some advice.

[tonyrone]

I've had my tank set up 50 different ways and had mbunas for over 2 yrs they are finally nippers and very obnoxious little fish compared to peacocks, but to answer this post question, that is a very nice setup for your peacocks, I'm jealous... Can't find no flamebacks around here and I don't like ordering fish, my guy who owns Milwaukee aquatics usually orders for me and now I have to get me some flameback3

 

[Achilles1763]

Okay update.. thanks for all the input and I have gone with:
5 Kyoga flamebacks
3 blood peacocks
3 firecracker tropheus
3 yellow laps
3 Freiburg peacocks
1 blue peacock
2 pindani

Slight change I know but I got past over for promotion and was properly P***ed off so I went to another of my lfs and they had all of the fish I wanted.... so I drop £250 on fish lol

I might add in a few blue peacocks to balance the colour as it's a bit red/yellow heavy. But all are happy and health and feeding well on Malawi flakes and NLS cichlid pellets.

 

[james99]

Looks good so far. I think a black background would add to the look. Just keep watching to makes sure the multiple males of each species don't start going after each other.

 

[Achilles1763]

When you mean a black background you mean paint it? I have heard other do it and it really confuses me! How can that look good!? I doubt I will as this is my second/play tank and maybe used for other stuff at a later date.
Regarding the aggression, I have conspicuously tried to get 2 females for every male at least (obviously they are juveniles so it's best guess) so I am hoping for a fairly peaceful tank.

 

[james99]

If you put nice even coats it looks really good. Ive used brush on latex paint and spray paint with good results. You can also use the store bought background or posted board.

 

[tonyrone]

No don't paint it, takes the value out, pet stores have the background really cheap, I bought mine for a little over 10$ and it's reversible black on one side, ocean blue on the other and it did real nice for my 150

 

[markstrimaran]

I got a marine reef light on mine. Over stocked mbuna. Just become one with the faux moss wall.
The fish eating it will keep it short.

 

[tonyrone]

Okay update.. thanks for all the input and I have gone with:
5 Kyoga flamebacks
3 blood peacocks
3 firecracker tropheus
3 yellow laps
3 Freiburg peacocks
1 blue peacock
2 pindani

Slight change I know but I got past over for promotion and was properly P***ed off so I went to another of my lfs and they had all of the fish I wanted.... so I drop £250 on fish lol

I might add in a few blue peacocks to balance the colour as it's a bit red/yellow heavy. But all are happy and health and feeding well on Malawi flakes and NLS cichlid pellets.

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You're tank looks great man... Where did you order your flamebacks from?

 

[Achilles1763]

I just walked into one of my regular 4 lfs and saw the flamebacks... I couldn't really believe my luck given that I have never seen them in 6 years of fish keeping and I had a running tank with space! Must be kismet. Lol
I will check out back ground for the tank and see what the lfs has... something to hide the pipes etc could be nice.
Ah a marine light, I heard a UV light brings up the colours much better than normal light... is this the same thing?

 

[markstrimaran]

A marine reef light, is high on the 660 nm 435 nm. Or reds and blues in the spectrum. Needed for coral photosynthesis. It will also grow lots of algae.
However a 6500k florescent tube is natural day light, and will not grow very much algae.
Modern Led light can be tailored to a specific nm, specturm. The led is very narrow banded by itself. Many different led's can be combined.
Most lights have a Kelvin number. The 2700k is more yellowish, and 10,000k is a bright white.
A 2700k Florescent will grow lots of algea, A 2700 k Led not nearly as much.

A UV Light, is ultraviolet, which causes sunburns. It is used to sterilize water also.