Mbuna Setup Some advice please

[migdem]

Hi all,

I have a 120 litre tank Juwel Lido 120 and would like to change the current setup to an Mbuna setup.

To begin with my tap water source has GH 16, PH 8, KH3. I think this is the perfect setup for Mbuna setup right?

Now for filtration I ordered the Eheim Ecco Pro 200 ( 600 litres/hr ). Also was going to add another water pump to circulate more the water.

Lightning... right now I have 2x 24W T5 with reflectors. High-Lite® Day tube and High-Lite® Nature tube. Should I change one of these (Juwel also have High-Lite® Colour tube enhances natural colours It intensifies red and blue colours)? These have been running for 1 year. Should I change them because of the light intensity? I have reflectors should I remove them? Currently I leave them on for 10 hours a day because I have plants but now I will not have any more plants or will have some plants that do not require that much of plants like tape grass so how much light should be on?

Gravel what should I get? I would love sand. Maybe something from Seachem (onyx sand) or something else?

Now for the fish. I would like to get for sure labidochromis caeruleus (yellow labs), then something to mix with yellow labs are Pseudotropheus demasoni.

How much should I get?

Thanks in advance for your replies

 

[migdem]

anyone?

 

[Fish Whisper]

Here is a amazing calculator, for stocking tanks, (it uses the adult size of the fish)
be sure to fill in the volume in US gallons

 

[migdem]

where is the calculator?

 

[Fish Whisper]

lol and here it is http://www.aqadvisor.com/

 

[STAFFIE]

go for sand its worth it trust me and alot easier to keep clean..

 

[migdem]

Will go for sand then. What about the lightning?

 

[Rayne]

I would go for sand as well... pool filter sand. It's relatively cheap, clean, and is a nice uniform size and is easy to vacuum. Just give it a good washing before adding it to your tank to get the dust out or it may cloud the water.

As for lighting, if you're not going to go planted then just pick a color that you like.

 

[migdem]

Instead of pool filter sand I found this white sand, do not know if appropriate for a cichlid setup. Below a picture of an aquarium with white sand. What do you think?