My rocks were from my yard as well. I used a hammer and chisel to break them into flat pieces. I live out in the middle of no where so I have well water, which is hard and has a higher ph out of the spigot. I have about 100 lbs in my 55 gallon, but if I had to buy all the rock, I would have just gotten a bunch of PVC and done a redneck tank and made it a nascar theme!
pH and African Cichlids+ Stocking Tank
- Thread starter Darkskies
- Start date
I suppose I won't worry about modifying my pH then, apart from whatever boosts it gets from the crushed coral I'll be adding. Is 7.6 actually high enough? Eastbay, what is your pH at?
African Cichlids are rather expensive. Demasoni seem to sell for 16-20 bucks a pop around here. Does anyone know any relatively less expensive sources to buy these fish? Should I attempt to introduce all of the fish at once after the tank is fully cycled(Would something like Biospira or Stability be all right?) or introduce them in groups over time? Adding 40-50 fish at the same time seems somewhat risky.
African Cichlids are rather expensive. Demasoni seem to sell for 16-20 bucks a pop around here. Does anyone know any relatively less expensive sources to buy these fish? Should I attempt to introduce all of the fish at once after the tank is fully cycled(Would something like Biospira or Stability be all right?) or introduce them in groups over time? Adding 40-50 fish at the same time seems somewhat risky.
When I start new tanks, I use some gravel or filter media from another tank. If you are doing a crushed coral/sand mix (pretty popular among rift lakers) and don't want other different substrate mixed in, you can always put the used substrate in a paint-mixing net from Home Depot (much larger and cheaper than aquarium socks) and set it in your tank temporarily to get the bacteria seeded. Never really tried the bacteria in a bottle deal.... it probably works, but doing the substrate method is free.
Another mbuna to check out would be Labeotropheus trewavasae or Labeotropheus fuelleborni (one or the other, not both as they are closely related and will interbreed). They can be a bit rough, but should be fine around demasoni and yellow labs and look completely different from these two.
In terms of getting stuff affordably, check out the net to see if there's a local cichlid club. Most of these fish breed like rabbits and you should be able to find a good deal from a local breeder on some juvies.
Good luck.
EDIT: and believe everyone who has posted saying that your water is fine. It is fine. I have a ton of tanks, most Malawi and most are breeding and I do not doctor my water any more than with the crushed coral. If you were keeping Tangs, you would have to worry, but Malawi fish are much less picky with their water. I know many local guys that do not even buffer with crushed coral and their fish breed no problem.
Another mbuna to check out would be Labeotropheus trewavasae or Labeotropheus fuelleborni (one or the other, not both as they are closely related and will interbreed). They can be a bit rough, but should be fine around demasoni and yellow labs and look completely different from these two.
In terms of getting stuff affordably, check out the net to see if there's a local cichlid club. Most of these fish breed like rabbits and you should be able to find a good deal from a local breeder on some juvies.
Good luck.
EDIT: and believe everyone who has posted saying that your water is fine. It is fine. I have a ton of tanks, most Malawi and most are breeding and I do not doctor my water any more than with the crushed coral. If you were keeping Tangs, you would have to worry, but Malawi fish are much less picky with their water. I know many local guys that do not even buffer with crushed coral and their fish breed no problem.
7.6 is fine, you dont need crushed coral. Just keep the ph stable(no chemicals) and add a few fish a week or bi-weekly. Some of the most beautiful cichlids are bought from breeders. Your better off buying from someone here(members/vendors) that know what breed they have.
Thanks for all the advice so far. Do you think if I go with a smaller colony of demasoni and yellow labs and then over time add more fish(Trevawasse, maylandia,etc.) there will be territorial/aggression issues? 12-20 demasoni would cost me up to 200 dollars and it seems that if I buy a smaller group of fish, their breeding activities will eventually result in a colony of the appropriate size for a much lower price. Placing 40-50 fish all at once into the tank also doesn't seem to be very safe. My only concern with this setup would be that new additions(like say after 6-12 months of the original introduction of fish) would not be warmly welcomed.
Now for some stocking options. I would ideally like to have 20 demasoni(eventually) and 10 yellow labs. Other species that I am now considering are Labeotropheus Trevawasse, Metraclimia Estherae, and Iodotropheus Sprengerae. Would this result in a colorful, cooperative aquarium(without any hybridization)? I may be mistaken but the three species mentioned are also relatively peaceful. How many of each should I aim for? Other suggestions are welcomed.
I would particularly like to know if starting off with smaller colonies of the demasoni and yellow labs(that grow due to breeding activities) and then eventually adding specimens from the other species over time to build up the population in the tank is a workable method.
Now for some stocking options. I would ideally like to have 20 demasoni(eventually) and 10 yellow labs. Other species that I am now considering are Labeotropheus Trevawasse, Metraclimia Estherae, and Iodotropheus Sprengerae. Would this result in a colorful, cooperative aquarium(without any hybridization)? I may be mistaken but the three species mentioned are also relatively peaceful. How many of each should I aim for? Other suggestions are welcomed.
I would particularly like to know if starting off with smaller colonies of the demasoni and yellow labs(that grow due to breeding activities) and then eventually adding specimens from the other species over time to build up the population in the tank is a workable method.
You could start off with smaller numbers: 12 demasoni's and 4 yellow labs (1m/3f), and have them naturally increase their numbers (it shouldn't take long for spawning to occur if this initial group is comprised of mature specimens). There will be a grow out period before the fry become juvies that are no longer of edible size. You may want add the rusties at the same time (that is to say add all the labs, demasoni's and rusties at the same time...in a fishless cycled tank).
At some point in the future (perhaps when your demasoni and yellow lab population has plus'd up) you can add the zebras and labeotropheus. These latter species will have a more aggressive disposition than the rusties and labs. One male and several females for the zebra's and labeotropheus.
In my opinion, if you have and adequate number of females, male yellow labs and red zebra's aren't apt to cross-breed with the other's females. One the other hand other hobbyists may be of the opinion that red zebra's and yellow labs are prone to cross.
I've kept the two species together for over 5 years (4-6 red zebras, 7-9 yellow labs) and the only inter-species interaction between the two I've ever seen were:
- sub-adult male red zebra's (2.5"-3.5") occasionally challenging the dominant fully matured (4"-4.5") yellow lab males (with fully matured, my male red zebra's completely ignored the labs for the most part, except in the following instance...
- my matured male yellow labs would often engage in sparring for breeding rights and dominance among them. My dominant male red zebra rarely tolerates any fights that he's not participating in and would often break up yellow lab sparring bouts, while completely ignoring the female labs.
In regards to red zebra's being "peaceful" I'd say they'd live up to that trait AFTER they've firmly established dominance over all the other fish in the tank. If they haven't established themselves as the dominants they may be somewhat aggressive until that goal is attained. With your planned stocking plan I see only the labeotropheus possibly opposing them.
At some point in the future (perhaps when your demasoni and yellow lab population has plus'd up) you can add the zebras and labeotropheus. These latter species will have a more aggressive disposition than the rusties and labs. One male and several females for the zebra's and labeotropheus.
In my opinion, if you have and adequate number of females, male yellow labs and red zebra's aren't apt to cross-breed with the other's females. One the other hand other hobbyists may be of the opinion that red zebra's and yellow labs are prone to cross.
I've kept the two species together for over 5 years (4-6 red zebras, 7-9 yellow labs) and the only inter-species interaction between the two I've ever seen were:
- sub-adult male red zebra's (2.5"-3.5") occasionally challenging the dominant fully matured (4"-4.5") yellow lab males (with fully matured, my male red zebra's completely ignored the labs for the most part, except in the following instance...
- my matured male yellow labs would often engage in sparring for breeding rights and dominance among them. My dominant male red zebra rarely tolerates any fights that he's not participating in and would often break up yellow lab sparring bouts, while completely ignoring the female labs.
In regards to red zebra's being "peaceful" I'd say they'd live up to that trait AFTER they've firmly established dominance over all the other fish in the tank. If they haven't established themselves as the dominants they may be somewhat aggressive until that goal is attained. With your planned stocking plan I see only the labeotropheus possibly opposing them.
So would buying less than 12 demasoni(let's say 6)most likely result in most of them dying due to the intense unmitigated aggression? I miscalculated and if I were to buy 12 demasoni alone straight from the LFS that would cost me 240 dollars. Maybe if I switch the demasoni for socolofi or acei and get 4-6 each of the socolofi/acei, yellow labs, and rusty cichlids to start with it would work out better?
kay-bee;4389106; said:
6 demasoni will be fine for a bit in that large a tank. They will grow though and when they do, will most likely off each other.
Many have tried it (including myself) and many have wasted their money.
Breeders from local fish club usually sell juvies for $5 or less.
Many have tried it (including myself) and many have wasted their money.
Breeders from local fish club usually sell juvies for $5 or less.
OK. I'll look into emailing some of the board of directors of the local fish club here. How do I ensure that I get the correct ratios of male to female fish? Is it just a matter of trial and error since they are not sexually dimorphic?
