First Timer's 55 Gallon Tank - Going African..

[Ash]

Kind of torn whether I want all males or want some spawning action going on.
I definitely do think the males are nicer looking, but I know that the day I see some eggs hatching .. well it'd be nice.

So far I think I want Electric Yellows, Red Zebras/Red Top Zebras, Moorii and Tretocephalus.

First black sand should be find to use I know a lot of people who like it to bring out color. I dont use it but it is a personal preference/choice on what color to use. Make sure you have LOTS of rock and cave areas/hiding structures.

As for the pH, lower pH=more acidic water, so driftwood as its good for a lower pH tank and higher pH=harder water which is why sand or some rocks are used as buffers for tanks that need higher pH.

As for your stock, if you get mbuna stick to malawi and dont mix fish from other lakes. Tretocephalus is a Tang. lake fish. if I got him I would do a rock dweller/shell dweller tank instead of a malawi mbuna tank. If you want the Malawis then the red zebras/red tops should be fine along with the electric yellows. As for Moorii, which one? Many go by this in name. You mean the blue dolphin (c. morrii)? Which would grow to large. Tropheus? If you mean these guys they are more of a species only type tank and require different needs then a malawi mbuna would. Stick with fish in the 6inch and under range and make sure they are from the same lake (it just makes things easier, esp if you are new with them, imo.). Try looking at the educating mfk on africans thread it will have pictures and information on the fish that may help you pick out other fish that you like. This is just imo.

 

[ibr3ak]

your in toronto too NICE!
NO FEMALES bro
avoid them
the cause massive aggression

Why? For a beginner (even someone with experience) it'll be twice as hard getting the right "equilibrium" with an all male tank, especially in a 55. There will be alot of trips to and from the lfs, trading fish.

I definitely do think the males are nicer looking, but I know that the day I see some eggs hatching .. well it'd be nice.

Most mbuna females look just as nice (with an exception of a few species, afras, greshakei, tropheops, etc..) as the males, monomorphic species in particular.

Also I would try to avoid mixing estherae's and labs, you'd need larger groups to avoid interbreeding.

 

[justinf67]

I suggest maingano, albino socolofi and red zebras... all have pretty females, and you have orange, white, and blue/black... I have all of them and they are awesome looking... or 12-15 demasoni and 7 yellow labs would be nice as well. or in the first one, you could switch labs for red zebras as they cross way too easily if put together.