will this work

[ewok]

ok, i think i got bitten by the tanganyikan bug after getting to know several people who keep them and seeing their set ups

thus, in response to that i am thinking about settling up the following 100 gallon tank (to be purchased after i move in january) that will house the following inhabitants:

- 8 enantiopus 'kilesa'
- 8 alt. calvus 'kapampa'
- 8 alt. calvus 'yellow'
- 8 alt. calvus compressiceps 'fire fin'
- 4-5 lamprologus ocellatus 'gold'

the altolamprologus will get thinned out as they get bigger. i will probably end up with maybe 1 or 2 pairs inside the tank at the end of the day. they range from around 0.75" - 1.25" at the moment and god knows they take forever to grow out!

substrate will be fine sand mixed with coral sand for pH balance for a depth of around 1" (i know i should have more, but i don't really like substrate in my tanks in general... my pH here is 7.4, so should be a bit harder...
decorations will be rounded beach combed stones and some flower pots. will probably put some anubias nana tied onto rocks for greenery.
i intend to splice up the tank into three discernable 'eco-zones' with a rock pile zone at one end that extends out towards the back half-way through the tank, a group of shells at the other end, with the mid zone comprising of open sand space. in my mind that should keep everyone reasonably happy. i know the altolamprologus will start hating each other once they get closer to the two inch mark and start pairing up.

filtration will be a combination of ultimate sponge filters and external canister.

what do you guys think of this combo?

 

[blkg35]

The fishes and setup sounds good. Your Ph at 7.4 is fine the way it is.
Mine is 7.2 out of the tap and I don't even mess with it. The fishes are happy and still breed like rabbits. Also, go to Home Depot and buy the gray playsand. Its the sand I have in my Moba tank and i really like it.
Its only $3.77 for a 50lb bag. One bag is all you need for a 100gal.
Good luck and look forward to some pics.
david

 

[mahemaheman85]

WOW 7.2 is not fine, just cause they haven't died doesn't make it good for them

 

[Potts050]

Tangs like a pH closer to 9

 

[rogersb]

I have a very similar set up right now. I have a 75 with a breeding pair of black calvus on the left in a rock pile, an open sand bed in the middle for my enants, and on the right I have a shell bed for my multies. My calvus and multies are mature, but the enants aren't. Right now, everything works. I'm worried my set up might be too small, but only time will tell, and you are looking at a little bit larger of a tank. I have been thinking if mine doesn't work I will remove the multies to a 10g, so you might want to keep that in mind as a possibility. The calvus are fine having only a small territory, but the shell dwellers, they seem to take a tank over.

 

[blkg35]

WOW 7.2 is not fine, just cause they haven't died doesn't make it good for them

Are you the fish? How would you know its not good for them?....
I have had them for close to 6 years and 75% of my fish constantly breed. I haven't loss any fish since keeping them and I keep ALOT of different species of Tanganyikan fish. The key is keeping the water parameter constant and not exposing them to a huge fluctation. That's more important.

 

[blkg35]

Tangs like a pH closer to 9

I would like a million dollars doesn't mean I'll get it. I know Tangs like a PH close to 9 but they can adjust to what you offer them. As long as its not a constant change then they'll be able to settle in. I'm speaking from my own personal experience......

 

[mahemaheman85]

I would like a million dollars doesn't mean I'll get it. I know Tangs like a PH close to 9 but they can adjust to what you offer them. As long as its not a constant change then they'll be able to settle in. I'm speaking from my own personal experience......

its not a question of what they like or not, did you research your fish at all, or did you just buy them and assume since they didn't die that what you were doing was right, just cause they can acclimate doesn't mean that's whats best for them, i cant believe that your even gonna go as far as to argue that what your doing is correct, blows my mind

 

[ewok]

I have a very similar set up right now. I have a 75 with a breeding pair of black calvus on the left in a rock pile, an open sand bed in the middle for my enants, and on the right I have a shell bed for my multies. My calvus and multies are mature, but the enants aren't. Right now, everything works. I'm worried my set up might be too small, but only time will tell, and you are looking at a little bit larger of a tank. I have been thinking if mine doesn't work I will remove the multies to a 10g, so you might want to keep that in mind as a possibility. The calvus are fine having only a small territory, but the shell dwellers, they seem to take a tank over.

hmmm ok haha well i got all of them in quarantine now. will set up their tank in the near future! thanks for your comments.
do you have pictures of your set up that i can see?

 

[ewurm]

If a point can't be debated without flaming, it can't be debated on MFK.