240gal mbuna setup ideas

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R

RedH2O

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 1, 2009
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Saskatchewan
I have a 240gal with central american cichlids as of right now. I was thinking about turning it over into a mbuna setup with lots of colors. I would prefer a more peaceful setup, but any oppinions are welcome.

Currently I have drift wood and rocks in there. I was wondering if i could keep the drift wood in there with a bunch of rocks. I'd imagine theres wood in malawi no?

I have a marineland c530 and 2 emperor 400's as filters. The substrate is pool filter sand.

Thanks guys :)
 
I am pretty sure the driftwood will have no ill effects on the fish whatsoever. In fact some people seem to prefer a bit of driftwood in their malawi setups.
 
Peaceful is not the word used commonly to describe rift lake fish..............even the smallest shellies have huge attitudes. Keeping africans is the opposite of CA/SA's there ususally best kept in an overloaded enviorment to reduce aggression towards an one fish. They like the higher PH range but are adaptable enough to survive in the nuetral CA/SA habitat. Usual substrate is crushed corals helps bring the PH up with stabilty that's hard to get from a bottle.Driftwood is a good buffer but it's usually associated with lowering the ph.........the choice is yours. With 240 gal. you'll have quite the impressive African tank plenty of room for any and all types of Rift lake fish it'll be quite the color splash with fish loaded w/ personality..........enjoy!
 
Peaceful Mbuna, doesn't exsist.

You will however, have a awesome display full of color and movement. There will be some fish w/tattered and torn fins. Probably some scales or even fish missing at times. Nothing that CA's haven't prepared you for. The pool sand is perfect, wood will grow some alage on it, and the gallonage is impressive.
 
If they wood still have tannins lowering your ph. Not really the water quality best for mbuna. If it has no tannins left, some still say it will lower the ph. I am not 100% behind that argument, but it is a belief many hold.
 
you could go for some peacocks instead of mbuna. the aggression may be less and the colors are amazing.
 
mike dunagan;3421605; said:
If they wood still have tannins lowering your ph. Not really the water quality best for mbuna. If it has no tannins left, some still say it will lower the ph. I am not 100% behind that argument, but it is a belief many hold.
Click to expand...

I agree-and as long as you do regular water changes your PH should remain very stable.
 
i have seen some mbuna keepers with driftwood-and the fish look healthy, so i know it can be done.

i have gotten away from mbuna-but with that size of tank if i were you i would go with male peacocks mixed with some haps! thats the only way to go lol.

like a previous poster stated, if you do want mbuna then you do overstock to spread out the aggression (so your most aggressive fish isnt beating down one fish, but everyone equally lol)

as far as haps, look at the male Venustus (i had one and loved him), and also look at some of the big haps like him-they would look great with male peacocks.. id much rather do a tank like that than just strictly mbuna (zebras, labs, acei, etc.. those guys) anyday.
 
I have driftwood in all my tanks, as far as peaceful mbuna there isn't to many choices there as all can be mean as they stated above just make sure you have enough to speard the aggression so you don't have one being beat up over and over. Are you wanting a all male tank?
 
every thing should work just rince very well and do the same to the rocks and ornaments
 
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