Malawi tank decor

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lukenewton

Candiru
MFK Member
May 21, 2016
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Hey guys, I am lookingn to set up a 75gal Malawi tank and was just wondering about decor. From what I've seen some people go with loads of cases and hiding spaces for the fish and some go with a fairly bare tank with not many hiding spaces. Can you please inform me on which is better and the pros/cons of each? Any input welcome.
Thanks
Luke
 
Decor is somewhat personal, it's all in what you prefer. I'd say if your going with mbuna you will want some rock work, the more the better though remember with that rock work if you need to get a fish out.....yea. With peacocks and haps I've found they really could care less what you have in the tank, as long as you like it they are happy with whatever, they just want food :)
 
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I'm still in the research phase and will be adding Haps and Peacocks to a 5ft tank later this month. From all the reading I've done, and youtube watching, mbunas will want lots of caves. They hang out at the bottom of the tank and need lots of rock-work. Peacocks also hang out near the middle to bottom, and feed by watching the sand for subtle movements to locate their prey, then strike at the sand. So they will be more comfortable having some open sand. Haps are more mid to top dwelling, hanging out more in open water. Again, I have no personal experience (yet) but this is what I've gathered so far. Good luck! Pics please, when you get them :)
 
I have tanks of both and they don't really care, my Mbuna's are in a 110 with a ton of Base rock and the Peacocks have been in that but are now in a 180 with driftwood and heavily planted. They both will feed from the top and get PI$$ED if I'm not fast enough putting the food in for them, actually breaking the water and splashing water all over. And they both love digging in the sand.
 
My yellow lab mbuna, would probably do OK in an open tank.
My blue pseudo trophus, would beat the cap out of any fish that can't take cover from his 3 second attention span. Out of sight out of mind.
I have females and males. Which is not possible without lots of habitat.
 
Agree labs are the "safe" mbuna to combine with haps and peacocks. I don't find they keep to the levels you describe however. I'd have lots of rocks for the mbuna and open spaces for the haps and peacocks.
 
Okay, looking about I am thinking of going down an all male hap/peacock tank route. So a more open tank will be suitable for this correct?
 
You'd still likely want some rocks to serve as territory boundaries, but I don't think you'd need to worry about creating caves. Lots of open swimming space, as well available substrate for sifting should be good
 
I find thatany time of African you want open space as well as hiding places. When even haps or peacocks become adults there is a pecking order and the fish on the high end of the pecking order will chase and harrass the other fish, I use Texas holey rock to make caves with plastic Amazon swords and bogwood all through the back and sides I keep the front part open.
 
Do they REALLY need a ton of rocks? Every african tank I see they are just at the top begging for food.

Mbuna Marcus on youtube has minimal deco in all of his african tanks and they seem fine.

Just wondering!
 
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