My tank

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torbayguy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 27, 2009
98
0
0
Devon, England
Hi, I thought Id post my tank and contents ans see what comments I get back.. :ROFL:

My stock list is;

1 male OB Estherae wild
1 male sciaenochromis fryeri (cape maclear) wild
1 male 2 female labidochromis hongi mara rock wild
1 male 1 female pseudotropheus crabro f1
1 male 1 female aulonocara baenschi benga, nkhomo reef, wild
1 male 2 female pseudotropheus saulosi wild
1 male 1 female pseudotropheus socolofi wild
2 male copadichromis borleyi wild
1 male 2 female placidochromis milomo f1
1 male 2 female aulonocara stuartgranti sp chilumba wild
1 male 1 female protomelas taeniolatus sp chilumba wild
1 male metriaclima zebra chilumba maison reef wild
1 male melanochromis auratus wild
1 male 1 female labidochromis caeruleus wild
1 male 2 female metriaclima estherae O wild
5 syndontis njassae wild

They live in a 6x2x2 tank, filtered by 3 rena xp4, (soon to be 4) containing various types of medai, including Matrix, rowaphos, carbon, and a variety of graded sponges.

I keep the temperature to a constant 77degrees, and the lights are on for 10 hours a day.

The substrate is playsand, and rocks are blue slate.

I do approx 35 - 40% water changes every week, and use Bicarb and Epsom salts to bring up the pH and buffer the water.

My params are; pH 8.2 gH 14 kH 13

I feed a variety on vegetable based foods, included frozen 'malawi mix' Hikari malawi pellets, tetra pro veggy, cucumber, shelled peas and lettuce.

These fish have all been together now for approx 8 months.
There have been no deaths, and only minimal squabbles.
I have got so many fry swimming around, you wouldnt beleive!

I know there are a few traditionally naughty fish in my setup, but I honestly havent had a single problem with them so far.
 
haha well I get some awful qualty pictures on my profile....
I keep meaning to get a new camera.... but heyho... Il take some new piccys tonight!!
 
I saw your pictures in your gallery. The tank looks really nice and your fish look healthy and colorful.
 
Sounds like a good mix.
 
Not a very good mix longterm. You are mixing mbuna and haps/peacocks. The aggression level of the mbuna stress the haps/peacocks out, which can lead to bad coloring or disease. Also, mbuna are not pairing fish! They need 4-6 females per male to be happy. Their aggression towards females can lead to deaths as well... I am glad it is working for you, but its not the best mix. I would not expect it to work longterm. It sounds like you care and take care of the fish though. Kudos to you for that.
 
I know what your saying about pairing, and about longterm care, and in principle I would agree, however, the majority of these fish have been together for 3 years now, there is no squabbles, just the odd spat.
The tank now, as it is, has taken months and months of adding fish, and taking away some, upto 8 months ago, where no fish have been added/removed since.

In a smaller tank, this mix wouldnt be possible, however I put this success down to 3 things..
Quality food, plenty of hiding places, and excellent water conditions.

Regarding the peacocks, they are more than capable of fighting their own corner, as they have proved time and time again.
 
I agree, the big tank helps. the fish mix is not conventional, and USUALLY at some point leads to problems, especially with not the ideal amount of females. I am glad you are making it work, more power to u!
 
Your tank looks good and I like the stocklist. I too have had a mbuna-hap-peacock tank for several years. The mbunas were the dom. the 1st year, after that the Peacocks and Haps rule the tank. The exception being my 8" male Carbo. I have a few Victorians in there as well and I can say that I believe stress from the malawis keeps them drab.
 
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