My 80gal Cichlid Setup - Advice Sought

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

malawi500

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 29, 2011
319
12
48
UK
Evening,

Having bought this 80gal setup complete with all rock, fish, stand etc. and have been running it for ~3mths now I thought I'd post pics after a quick water change and will need advice on several points.

DSC_0193.jpg

DSC_0194.jpg

DSC_0199.jpg

DSC_0195.jpg

DSC_0196.jpg

DSC_0197.jpg

DSC_0198.jpg


It was running a Fluval 405 which I have now upgraded to an Eheim 2028 and a Hydor External Heater returned via a spray bar just below the surface.

Questions
1. Can you identify as many fish as possible for me?
2. Does the tank look overstocked or fine?
2. Can I fit some form of tall sump under one of the undertank cupboards to replace the Eheim?
3. Is the 11" pleco too big for the tank? He does seem to be pretty messy. If so, what would be a good school of bottom dwellers to get on with the others?
4. What snails would be good to keep the algae at bay or anything else worthwhile?

I'm after a 'marine look' tank without the hefty maintenance, what else could I add to liven it up a bit?

Thanks in advance
 
awesome tank.. love the simple tankscaping.
 
I see a possible Melanochromis chipokae (male), several Melanochromis auratus (female), and possibly Pseudotropheus acei 'msuli', but that's all I can really identify with the lighting washing out their colors. As far as suggestions, I say it looks perfectly fine. More rocks could be added based upon your preference but if the aggression levels in the tank are minimal with the layout that you have then it seems fine to me. Based on the pictures your tank look fairly lively already, but adding a powerhead or circulation pump can not only help clean the tank, by circulating water better, but it also seems to make the fish more lively. I choose to keep only mbuna in my tank, so I'm not real good when it comes to suggesting other fish for a cleanup crew.
 
The 11" pleco will be fine in there. I had a 9" one in a lanted 55g. He will take very large poops though lol. As for a sump it all depends how much room you have in your stand underneath the tank. You could run a sump for filtration and your canister for polishing only. Your tank looks very lively already but you could probably fit a few more smaller fish in there.
 
I think its so clear :D such beautiful colours, I think your light is very powerful, it looks like a marine spectrum one, I used one a few years ago and it makes your fish look amazing!.

also is that a big KK parrot? :P
 
The 11" pleco should be fine for now, assuming you are maintaining good water quality, but it will need much more open floor space as it grows. Mine is the same species as yours (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps), and he is about 2.5 years old and about 18, maybe 19 inches long.

As for your other questions that I can answer:
1. The only one I can ID is the blood parrot.
2. Seems fine to me, although I would not mix a BP with african rift lake cichlids.
4. I would just remove it manually, but you could go with nerite snails if you have enough algae to provide a constant food source (they would help with the "marine" theme, as well, since they are similar to some of the marine species).
 
you have 4 Melanchromis Auratus (malawi gold cichlid, all females)
about 5 or 6 mixed zebra Mbuna,
I can see a hap or 2,
and2 pink convicts.
+ the KK parrot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom