African Set-up

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Dolomite and calciferous rocks will HELP buffer the pH, but if you are trying to replicate hard water (especially in a large-ish tank) that won't solely do the job. I would just recommend letting that rock do whatever it is going to do and leave it at that... seeing as how (probably) all the fish going in there will be tank bred and can live in practically any water fine... just won't breed.

If you really want to buffer the pH (just advice, but personally I wouldn't), use one of the rift lake buffers by SeaChem... they work excellently. As of stocking...I like peacocks... but I don't have a huge expertise in this so I will let you make your own decisions.
 
Thanks for all the comments guys. I buffered the tank prior to putting any fish in there to reduce stress. I used the seachem general lake salt not a specific lake just to raise the general hardness and added the reef rock for the salts to kind of take to so there will always be minerals that africans need to thirve in there. The lfs I go to is very knowledgeable about which ones do best and their different requirements they have about 30 different african tanks with a cpl different species in each. I got the 3 zebra's for a little school and the venustus because he seemed very active even more so than most africans. The red peacock was a fish that belonged to a girl that works at the store and she gave it to me for 25% less than what they wanted for it. They seem to be doing well and I plan on buying the seachem malawi buffer to keep the pH at 8.2-8.4 where it is now and adding a cpl more pieces of reef rock to help out some more. I wanna see these guys breed because I hear that africans breeding colors and habits are second to none.
 
Just wondering, do you already have hard water in your tap? Mine tap is neutral, so easy to adjust PH and water level easily.
 
My tap water is very hard around 7.8-8.0 out of the tap so its even easier to buffer I might cut back on dosing buffers when I do wc because of the high pH out of the tap.
 
since you got the venustus, you dont want shell dwellers (or any other fish that stays small). once that venustus gets big it eats small fish (or anything it can cram in its mouth lol). they are my favorite fish though.

i dont use any buffers (i have an 180 gallon mixed mbuna, and a 90 gallon with a 9 inch male venustus). i use crushed coral in my sump to buffer the ph level. if i believe right, buffers are great, but over time lose their power and the end result can be more damaging.. but since i have never used them someone else can probably give you some great info on them..

post some pics when you can! cant wait to see your fish
 
As of right now the three zebra's venustus, and red peacock are all doing great...I got the pH a little higher where I want it at 8.6...The red peacock is the most dominant but hardly ever gives chase to the zebra's or venustus if he does its only for an inch or two of the tank. My lfs has a Taiwan Reef that I really want he's about 3"...would he be ok with the others? I know africans are pretty territorial but they seem to have their little hierarchy figured out pretty good so far with me.
 
as i been told mbuna dont do too well with peacock...so i may have to make up your mind either with peacock and hap(venustus) or all mbuna ..i got my 75gallon all male peacock and hap(210gallon is coming). they all doing fine ..just make sure if u want all MALE peacock dont ever put any female in there or is gona be a war
 
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