75 gallon from empty to stocked...need help..

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A

Aussiedogs

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 11, 2009
20
0
0
Rockford, Illinois
Ok guys, I am in the process of setting up a 75 gallon Mbuna tank in my basement. It is completely empty now, I plan on getting it going in the next couple of weeks and just wanted to avoid any screw ups if I can. First off, I am thinking of using the following for filtration, a Fluval 305, and an Emporer 280 (which I have running on a 55 right now). I have always liked Ebo Jager heaters so I am going with the 200 watt, and I am going to order all of this from Big Al's Online, unless you all know of a cheaper online aquarium supply outlet.

I will post pics shortly of the set up, its actually an in wall design, and I will need some advice on stocking the tank as I have been out of the mbuna area for a while.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Sounds like you are off to a good start....they will need some rocks and caves. Have you thought about what substrate you are going to use?

What is the Ph out of the tap where you live?
 
Water is rock hard from the tap, so that is not an issue, I kept a dozen or so kaiser tropheus in a 55 for about 4 years with no issues until they went wacko and started picking each other off.

As far as the substrate, I am going to do the ever popular black pool filter sand, and I am planning on a large rock pile as the center peice of the tank.

Any suggestions for inexpensive lighting would be helpful.
 
Aussiedogs;3107696; said:
Any suggestions for inexpensive lighting would be helpful.
Click to expand...

Sorry, can't help with that. I see that hoods/fixtures are expensive. My tanks are old and haven't replaced a bulb in a long time.
 
Aussiedogs;3107696; said:
Water is rock hard from the tap, so that is not an issue, I kept a dozen or so kaiser tropheus in a 55 for about 4 years with no issues until they went wacko and started picking each other off.

As far as the substrate, I am going to do the ever popular black pool filter sand, and I am planning on a large rock pile as the center peice of the tank.

Any suggestions for inexpensive lighting would be helpful.
Click to expand...




i decent quality shop light will run standard aquarium bulbs fine. still have to pay the pretty penny for the bulbs though.
 
Went with the shop light actually, the tank is set up behind a wall, so it should work perfectly. Got my 3m Colorquartz today, along with some rocks and stuff, so I hope to have water in it by Saturday and pics up soon. BTW I think I am going to go with a tropheus colony instead of mbunas. I just love em and found a good deal on a bunch of 1 inch ikolas that I can grow out in my 55 while I wait for the new tank to cycle. I know 4' isn't ideal, but with overcrowding and overfiltration (I added a Emporer 400 along with the Fluval 305) I think it'll work. At least it worked before in a 55 with half as many.
 
hello fellow northern illinois fish keeper
you can check out petsolutions.com for supplies.. seem to have good prices.. since rockford doesnt have much for fish stores
 
kensfish.com has cheap supplies as well! Sounds like you have your setup in order. In my 4 foot 90 I have around 20 pounds of zebra rock and thirty of lava rock and I could definitely use more so keep that in mind :)


As far as filtration the fluval sounds great but I highly reccomend an ac110 over the emperor because you never really have to change out the Aqua clear media unless its the carbon if you choose to use it. Add to that a little more flow and rock solid reliability.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom